Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-24

she said Mr.. Rochester had become suddenly
incoherent OF speech that--really. my dear,
am ashamed TO tell YOU blush 10 repeat itl
~ vas the mot amazing. the most preposterous
thing; you will-you viii actually laugh, Hetty."
snail ~ returned hotty demurely She
hsd recovered her self-possession in q mo-
ment-it was an astonishing thing. Indeed the
He'ty OF Old childlike DAYS had never looked
quite 50 wiiif1l 30 arch, 30 provoking, 20 adora.
bly, bewilderinc. as Hetty now
lit was so absurd" said the moor r,rofe..,r
looking apologeticAlly at the clock III Wa.
the widest notion. the one least likely 20 have
any foundation in reality that 1 have evsY
heard. My only hope is that Won viii Danish
IL nom your mind. NV child when once have
told You about II and kept nv word 70 Rachel
Don't think OF il again. Regard il as OF sbso-
utely no consequence"
Il viii try 20, Mr.. Rochester, IN You'll tel me
what IL was, rejoined Hetty. looking very hard
at the IRE score OF little dimples were peep
ing out In cheek and chin. but the professor
never looked her way to see them.
You will not be surprised at my want of
courage when 1 tell YOU what IL is You viii
wonder il my books have turned NV head
shall not blame you, my dear; il will be the
most natural thought with you. have been
mad and foolish enough 20 love Won. Hettv.
but never mad enough 20 dream for a moment
that you could even think Of me. told Rachel
your confidence" said the professor. with sud-
den desperation, that you fancied a lover
study, who was bald-headed. And she re-
turned" he added Miss Rachers utterance
must have beef. a singularly lncoherent one il
II in anywise resembled her brothers nowl
" Why don't you ask her yourself, Johng"
There was dead silence. Il was broken al
last by the falling Of a coal out Of the CRATE.
and the professor started at the sound Of il AZ
II he were criminal dreading arrest He
stopped and hastily picked up the poker. app
parently under the impression that it was O
pen.
pray Danish il from your mind he said
agitatedly. Don't think Of il: it's not OF the
slightest consequence. IL is. as You saw the
most absurd thing you ever heard in your life.
l merely mentioned IT,"
Hetty had raised her head She suddenly
turned. and the freight shone upon her face.
upon smile, and upon q tear.
why didn't you merely mention il before
Johng" she said softly, stretching out her
hands.
"And So" said the professor in the tone of an
astronomer or geologist who had just discov-
all the time,"
And any one but yourself would have found
IT out long ago." Hetty supplemented giving A
button on Mr.. Rochester's coat disdainful but
tender twist.
1T is astoundingy ejaculased the professor
gravely.
lit is astounding. ! don't profess to UNDER
stand u; leave the explanation 70 you, " re-
turned Hetty demurely
"Inexplicable indeed"' repeated the profess
sor once more, and ar with inexpressibie ten
derness he drew closer 10 him the little figure
already nesting near his countenance be-
came still more reflective.
There Is only one explanation" he said
musingly. Heaven knows nv child what YOU
could have seen IN ne. But you are a woman,
betty, and there appears to be a universal con-
sensus Of 'yirn Of thinkers on the subject in
ali ages-roman is an enigma"
And nan, 4" said Hetty, in a supplementary
tone, 'is--sometimes-occasI YOU know,
donkey. "-Belgrduia.