Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-08-24
PLEADINGS OF 4 CHILD.
By Harriet Lane Wallace.

SO saving, HcpSy IrOtwOOd brought
down her hand with a decided thumr
upon the kitchen toblc, thereby scat.
tering dozen or more rosy-cheeked
apples upon the floor.
Mrs. Trotwool had quite forgotten
that she was a dcacon's wife when she
lost her temper in the midst of making
apple dunplings for the good mans
supper.
But, auntio, l love him." was the
apology, given while soft blush rose
to the girls face.
love him? Tiddlcsticks! Don't
talk to me about loyc!" And again
Mrs. Trotwood's gray eyes flashed dis
approval.
Tail, thin, hard-fcaturcd, the doa
cons wife was a woman from whom
little mercy could he expected; still,
within her heart this childlcss woman
built n shrine. the idol of which was
IIetty. the child of her dead sister.
Her life had one object in yicw-to see
Hctty n great lady. She gave the
girl the advantages of an excellent ell.
Tea ion. Her wardrobe far outshone
(hat of The ncighboring farmers dnugh
tcrS. 1T was the intention of Mrs
l'rotwood TO mako her niece hciroas to
her wealth, of which she possessed a
soodly amount
Ilctty was the acknowledged belle
for miles around. Never was there a
"a her of Young folk vi hout her pres.
nee. and many n country swain would
awe sacrificed Goa il"rahl' for II smile
ii encouragement. She was the apple
# the old Gc1con's eye.
Mother" he would say to his good
wife, Il must send little Hctty tC
will be falling in love with some great
nnIkmg country fellow, not half good
ano@gh foo her"
"Aon>ensc" would his wife reply,
'Ihc child never dreams of such
| thing"
But the child did fall in love, ard with
none other than the student of the vii,
lagc doctor, handsome, good hearted.
"cnnilcss Dick Barry; and this falling
in love was the cause of Mrs. Trot'
woods burst of indignation.
"To think of it." she would say,
Our Hcfty marrying this penniless
| YOUTH
The old lady's fondest hopes, all he,
air castles, would be completely cast to
the earth should this marriage even
take place.
The apple dumping proved fail
ure. The deacon and his wife ate
their meal in silence. Hctty was not
present. She was having a good cry
Town by the garden gate Very lovely
she looked in the dim twilight, in a
lrcss of soft texture clinging in grace
| full folds to found, shapcly figure,
Was it any wonder that Dick Barry
lost his heart to her? The Young man
who had resolved never to take unto
himself wife until he had attained
the dignity of Nj. ID. and made hi.
name in the world, forgot his firm
resolution.
He was coming up the big country
road, whistling merry tune. He met
his lady-loyc with kiss
"Oh, Dick" sobbcd Hetty "Aunt
Hepsy says | can never, never marry
you" And she cried as if her heart
would break.
Poor Dick tried to console her as
best he could, departing at length, re
assured of the girls love and conf
| lcnce.
IIctty returned to the house, wrote
a dainty little note, left it on the dca.
cons desk, and kissed the old couple
80 fondly that they began to thinl
they were unjust in their accusations
that the dear child would never so far
forg It them as TO marry without THEN
| consent. But the little note found the
following morning told its own story.
Then the country for miles around
rang with gossip: The deacon's niece
had run away and married Dick
Barry"
Mrs. Trotwood closed her heart, put
ting away the books, birds and dainty
little treasures belonging to her way
ward niece, never again mentioning hei
| name. The Deacon, grown suddenly
| old, missed his darling. There was nc
one now to get his slippers or kiss
away his cares and troubles.
Many time he was tempted to pay
visit to the little white cottage dowG
the road, the cottage where Dick Barry
took his bride; but the thought of his
wifes wrath kept him away.
To the young couple adversely anC
cares had come. Poverty had entered
the door, but love had never flown out
of the window. Dick was obliged tt
give up for time his cherished hope
of entering his profession; he worked
in the mill, in the evening devoting his
leisure hours to study. The young
wife bore with patience her cares, al
though the roses were fast leaving hei
face.
A baby came, almost unwelcome.
Poverty casts damper over all our
joys. The old village doctor shook his
head almost despairing of the young
mothers life. Her mind wandered
she kept calling for Aunt Hepsy. The
young husband struggling with pride,
sent for Mrs. Trotwood, but the old
lady was determined, ard refused to
see her niece. When the white Grape
emblem of SORROW hung upon the cot
tage door she was still unmoved
though she watched from behind her
drawn curtains the village seYton carry
away the wee coffin that held Hetty's
baby. Then the country folks declared
that old Hepsy Trotwood was cruel and
unjust.
Days, weeks, months, years rolled
by without bringing reconciliation.
Hetty was the mother of a second