Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-07-25

OO---O
proper time Tonight. Miss Burton"
said Mr. Ryer, as she passed him in
the wings Even at that wretched
moment she dimly admired his meek
patience. Mrs. Jefferson had ruined
her best speech with giggle, and NJ.
Jefferson had knocked over two chat, ..
"And put a little more expression into
your lines, please, Miss Burton"
YES. said Hetty, drearily.
Dorothy Jefferson made her exit at
the same minute, and Hetty was bend
ing her tagging energies to the task of
escaping her.
Miss Mack was not, however, to be
escaped. The murmur of applause
had risen to clapping OF hands and
stamping OF feet.
Miss Mack's blue orbs were bright
and her red lips smiling with excusa-
BILE triumph. Evidently she wanted
sympathy and congratulations.
She put her round arm, in its bal
loony sleeve, through Hetty's, and
pushed her into chair in the green
room, and drew another close to her.
Hetty sat rigidly straight, with an
icy smile.
She was young, this fiancee of John
Liddelrs. She was not more than sew
enteen at the most. She made Hetty,
who was twenty, feel suddenly old and
faded. And she was the prettiest lit
tie creature imaginable, from the top
Of her high shell comb to her dizzy
heeled slippers.
She was an artless little thing with
al. She seemed to have taken fancy
to Hetty. Hetty nodded grimly. She
burst into confidential prattle; Hetty
had never heard anybody talk SO fast.
"How did l do it?" said she, with
pretty anxiety. 81 was almost sure
I'd break down. Why, I've only had
a few days to study it. But John just
made me take it; he said he knew /
could. I've practiced with John lit
tie at home, of course; but that's all,
every bit How did do?"
"You did very WE'LL" said Hetty, in
a voice which sounded like somebody
else's.
"Oh, did ~" cried little Miss Mack.
"You are SO good to say it! I'm SO
glad! l wish Harry was here,
though" she declared, impetuously,
looking up at Hetty with a babyish
sweetness. Don't your"
Harry LiddellP" said Hetty, vague.
ly. She had heard of him.
"Why, of course said Miss Mack.
blithely, as though there was no other
Harry in the country, "but he's away,
you know. He's in college yet, you
know. At first" said Miss Mack,
with as guileless candor as though
Hetty were lifelong friend, ''at first
l was going to wait till he had gradu-
ated and was at home to visit his peo'
pie. But we're to be married immedi-
ately after that, you know, and he
was so anxious to meet them now, and
so was l; and so l came. Mamma
thinks we're too young, and I'm afraid
Mrs. Liddell does. Do youP Why,
Harry's nearly twenty-five. But il
won't make the least bit of difference
in the world what anybody thinks
not bit! Would it to you? We're
going" Mr.. Rycr's careworn face
was visible, in anxious searching
Little Miss Mack rose hurriedly, hel
charming infantile face ripping with
smiles, "we're going to get married
anyhow" she ended, as she ran away
Hetty put her luttering hand ovel
her lips, The dear little thing! tn,
dear little thing! She looked after he
lovingly. In that first blissful breatl
she did fairly love her. Was She
Hetty-the same girl she had been
moment before? And this the sam
placer 1t did not seem so.
| Somebody bending over her fror
behind laughed in her ear.
: what do you think of my sister-in
lawp" John Liddell demanded. eth
| babes in the wood, we call them. Blu
never mind my sister.in-law. Yo
: didn't tell me whether could have tina
Q waltz, Hetty"
He slipped around to the front, an
S with an arm round his sweetheart
, waist, pressed her against his ruf1le
] shirt-front.
n The sound of Dorothy's lifting voic
t came to her from the stage, dimly
r soothingly. Hetty smiled into John
beaming eyes. And-surely there wa
!, no need of 1.-THE never knew abot
her bad half-hour. Saturday Night.