The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-04


they had no cure for heartache.
The closing of the autumn evening
seemed to have brought an added melan-
choly with 1t; even the fire, burning
brightly in the dining-room, where Hetty
sat, gazing into the red heart of the flame,
had lost its accustomed cheeriness, and,
as Mr.. Rochester paused at the thresholds
moment, it wayered, and seemed to say,
warningly: Better not presume" The
professor had been heavy-hearted enough
before, and full enough of forebodings,
but he had made up his mind, and. having
done so, had masculine tenacity of pur-
pose, and he had given his word to Miss
Rachel. The philosophers themselves, in
massed phalanx would not have deferred
him now.
1.-THE child'' was alone; the sooner it
was over the better. The sooner ne met
her incredulous gaze, and heard ner as
tonished words, and the sad. heart-break-
ing little comedy was played out to the
last scene-the bent, middle-aged man
talking of love to this little queen rose"
in the rosebud garden of girls"-so much
the better. When a man has a surgical
operation to undergo he does not often
ask the doctor to stay his hand.
The professor gave a long-drawn, trem-
ulous sigh. Hetty heard it and looked
up. She must surely have recognized
some subtle change in his face and man
ner, for the color began to forsake her
cheeks, and they had been tinted with
the prettiest wild-rose flush only mo-
ment before
81 have something to say to you,
Hetty," said the professor most emphati-
cally. 1t was better to begin at once, to
| spare himself nothing; the sooner it was
he - .
ever forgive me, and indeed nv dear. |
would not have done it if l could have
| helped it. / took your confidence to
Rachel"
Hetty's face was ruddv enough now
the rose-color was leaping into it. Her
| temples, her neck, the very tips of her
| ears were scarlet, but she said nothing.
! Il told her the various innocent confes-
| slOns you had made to me, nv child, and
! she said-she said'-Mr. Rochester had
| become suddenly incoherent of speech
! ''that-really, my dear, ] am ashamed to
| tell you l blush to repeat it, 1t was the
most amazing. the most preposterous
thing; you will-you will actually laugh,
! Hetty."
"Shall II" returned Hetty, demurely.
She had recovered her self-possession in a
moment-it was an astonishing thing. In
deed, the Hetty of old child-like days had
never looked quite so willful, so arch, so
provoking, so adOrably bewildering, as
Hetty now.
at was SO absurd" said the poor pro-
lessor, looking alphabetically at the clock.
at was the widest notion, the one least
| likely to have any foundation in reality,
that l have ever heard. My only hope is
that YOU will Danish it from your mind,
my child, when once l have told you
about it and kept my word to Rachel.
Don't think of it again. Regard it as OF
absolutely no consequence"
81 will try to, Mr. Rochester, il you'll
tell me what it was" rejoined Hettv, look
ing very hard at the fire. A score of little
dlmples were peeping out in cheek and
chin, but the professor never looked hel
way TO see them.
"You will not be surprised at my want
| of courage when 1 tell you what it is
You will wonder if my books have turned
my head. l shall not blame you, my
dear; it will be the most natural thought
with you. l have been mad and foolish
enough to love you, Hetty. but never mad
| enough to dream, for moment, that you
could even think of me. / told Rachel
your confidence" said the professor, with
sudden desperation, that you fancied s
lover rather old, who was distinguished
in Greek study, who was bald-headed
And she returned" he added Miss
Rachel's utterance must have been 8
singularly incoherent one, if it in any
wise resembled her brothers now
"'Why don't you ask her yourself
John?"
There was a dead silence. 1t was broken
at last by the falling of coal out of the
CRATE, and the professor started at the
sound of it, as if he werea criminal dread
ing arrest. He stooped and hastily picked
up the poker, apparently under the i'm
preston that it was pen.
"Pray Danish it from your mind" he
said. agitatedly. Don't think of it; it's
not of the slightest consequence. 1t is, as
YOU say, the most absurd thing you ever
heard in your life. merely mentioned
it."
Hetty had raised her head. She sud
denly turned, and the freight shone upon
her face, upon a smile and upon tear.
"Why didn't you merely mention i
before, John ?" she said softly, stretching
out her hands.
"And So" said the professor, in the tone
of an astronomer or geologist who has jus
discovered an amazing scientific fact, ''you
loved me all the time"
"And any one but yourself would have
found it out long ago." Hetty supple
mented, giving button on Mr.. Rochester
coat disdainful but tender twist.
at is astounding calculated the pro
fessor gravely.
at is astounding. 1 don't profess to un
derstand it; l leave the explanation tC
YOU" returned Hetty, demurely.
"inexplicable, indeedw repeated The
professor once more, and, as with mex
pressible tenderness he drew closer to hin
the little figure already nesting so near
his countenance became still more re
Elective.
"There is only one explanation, ht
said, musingly. Heaven knows, my child
what you could have seen in me. Blu
you are woman, Hetty, and there APP
pears to be universal consensus OF opin
ion of thinkers on the subject in all ages
woman is an enigma"
"And man." said Hetty, in supple
mentary tone, Observation-Disclosures
ally, you know-a donkey"
Statistics of Breathing.
In each respiration an adult inhales one pin