Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-25

was sitting In . tall-0ackeo cnalr. AM
making his first shy speech Il
Dorothy jefferson in. the colonia
kitchen.
Hetty shrank back into the wing
and pressed her hot cheek against thu
boards. Her pretty dark eyes were
half shut. She heard and saw moth
ing.
1T has comet las comet" she
kept saying to herself, blissfully. Yes
now that it had come she realized how
much she had wanted it, and admitted
it to herself bravely.
| She had not known him long, but
Well, there was no use in trying to ex'
plain it; she was happy, that was al
happier than anybody else alive, she
was certain, unless it was John.
'.Ain't she daisy, thought" some.
body was saying just behind her, in q
sepulchral whisper. necessary now
that the play had begun.
1t was Chauncey Dean and Belle
Bennett, as Mr.. and Mrs. Jefferson.
respectively.
Hetty looked around at them, still
dazedly.
mice to be the father of such q
GIRL" Mr.. Jefferson added, jocularly.
Mrs. Jefferson giggled.
'.Look?' she murmured. pinching
Margery. ''Isn't she q pretty little
thing? You know Mag Carpenter had
to give up her part at the last minute.
didn't you? She's sick; and that girl
Mack is her name-she's staying at
the Liddells. John asked her only a
day or two ago to take Mays part and
see how we'll she's got it already!
Isn't she clever? She does it better
than Mag. don't you think. really?
She's been in amateur theatricals be-
fore. John said, and he knew she could
do it."
"Ohr' said Hetty, family.
She looked at Miss Mack, where
she sat listening to Johns mimic love-
making.
Johns mimic love-making had never
been an agreeable thing for Hetty to
hear 1t had been bad enough with
Mag Carpenter as Dorothy jefferson
Mag, who was rather plain, and en-
gagged to Will Lane. And with this
person for Dorothy-this person who
had sprung up as though by fairy
means. without warning-this ex-
tremely pretty and gentlelooking
person from nobody knew where-this
person, with blonde locks and blue
eyes, and dimple-with her for the
colonial heroine, Johns love-making
was agonizing.
''Who is she?" Hetty demanded, her
hands clasped tightly.
why. l told you, Miss Mack, Belle
responded. staring . little. ''She's
visiting at the Liddells. That's all 1
know. Some friend. of course. Still,
come to think of it. she must be rath-
err more than a iend-visiting there,
you know. Shouldn't wonder if Johns
engaged to her. He's back from the
East somewhere lately. you know.
She's engaged to him if Johns asked
her--1 know that / don't know who'd
say no to John Liddell; l couldn'tp'
Belle declared. with cheerful candor.
Eyes. suppose that must be it.''
'How you girls gossipr' said Chaun-
cey Dean, with tail of his brass-but-
toned blue coat on either arm. '.All I've
got to say is if John gets her he's got
a mighty pretty girl. Yeup! Stun
ming" said Mr.. Jefferson, with start
ling lack of dignity. considering his
gray wig and careful wax wrinkles.
Mag lent her her costume, of
course" said Belle. studying her.
''How much sweeter she looks in it
than Mag did. Poor Mag! I'm
actually afraid we'll all be glad she
can't play. I'm positive John Liddell
will Just hear him! He does ten
times better than he did with Mag.
It's more inspiring, you see."
Hetty saw. 1t was surprising. the
sudden prettiness of Mays short
wasted. big-figured gown, with its
square neck and pulled sleeves.
1t was astonishing. the new bright
ness of the amorous dialogue of Chris
TOPPER and his sweetheart
He was leaning toward her with a
most realistic devotion; his handsome
eyes looked intent, and her fresh
cheeks were aglow.
Hetty could hear the applauding
murmur of the loOkers-on. Her own
fair face was growing colorless and
strained.
''She is staying therep' she re-
peated. stiffly. ''She is visiting the
Liddells?'
Yes Belle responded, her eyes
widening with a sudden recognition,
and she faltered thereafter, with
gentle sympathy: ''Ye-es. She's been
there several days I saw her out
driving with John and his mother
yesterday"
Belle found HettyNs cold little hand,
and pressed it
'-Never mind. There isn't fellow