The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-11-28
SELECTED
HETTY'S THANKSGIVING

| will tell you why all my wealth ant
luxury did not have the power TO maxi
me happy and contented.
Ten years ago this very Thanksgiving
was TO have been married to Richait
Farnsworth Then | was poor little
country girl who lived away back 10 lit
tie village Ia Maine. Richard Farnsworti
happened TO drift down there one sunme
to hunt and fish, and meeting ME, be
siraightway fell in love. They we're hap
pv DAYS that summer, and when the tim,
came for him to return 10 the city, h
carried with him my promise to MARI
him on Thanksgiving day, it being IN,
birthday.
In October came a long, loving lette
telling me he should leave for Europe fo
six weeks on business for his uncle, wit!
whom he lived "But God willing, ! vii
be back in time for that happiest OF hap
py days" he wrote.
Then In few days he sailed awal
not, however, until he had run down t.
Maine for day or TWO.
And now was thirty years old, ant
during all these years | have never seei
Richard Farnsworth.
He wrote twice, tender, loving letters
assuring me again and again OF his un
diving affection. One day paper can'
directed in his familiar handwriting.
tore open the wrapper eagerly, and fount
a copy heavy marked in ink.
Two hours afterward they found mt
/, ing limp and cold, face downwart
among the lilac bushes, with the papel
crushed tightly in my hands.
Some one unclasped my clenched hand'
and this is what they read;
Married At the residence OF Thu
American Consul, at ten A. NJ, Bessi,
Lindell Malcomb, of Barnetshire Eng, Il
Richard Farnsworth, of Boston, L. 5. A
| think nearly lost faith in everything
during the fortnight that followed th'
receipt Of this paper. Then came let
ter with a "dclayed' stamped on its back
Some excuse thought bitterly As | re
mailed it, unopened with brief not
that MIR. Farnsworth need not troubl
himself to write or call again, as afte
this we would of course be strangers"
A letter from an aunt in New York de
termined my next step. She wrote inyt
ing me to make her a visit for an unlimlt
ed time She was rich, alone and child
less. Summers she made US short visit
and had taken quite fancy To the nice
who was named for her. Aunt lielty de
cided to spend the winter in the south
and so south we went. Then nOthin,
must do but we should 90 abroad So il
Europe we spent the next half dozel
years,
Twice | heard from Richard Frans
worth. Once when he called at my HON,
in Maine and they told him | was travel
ing 10 the south and once when in Wash
ington he called at our hotel, and sen
his card to my room with an imporinl
little note for me to see him "for the oil,
loves sake.
think if it had not been for this claus,
in his note | should have seen him. Blu
no woman likes to be twittod of loyin.
a man who cares nothing for her, an,
who merely killed time by summer
Irritation, regardless of how cruel ;
wound he was Uniting. And 50 | declin
cd once and for all to have any commnni
cation with him. After that | was no
troubled
Then after our many years OF travel
Aunt Hetty desired to return to her ole
home She was quite an invalid now
and when we reached New York, she fail
ed rapidly, and shortly afterward died
leaving me her immense fortune.
lily with whom | had always lived il
Maine had broken up and gone elsewhere
and so came TO Boston, and furnished i
suite of rooms in quiet hotel, where
had been living ever since.
All these things had been reviewing
as sat before the open gate in my cham
Der.
| ], Hetty Coring, thirty years old in two
more days, alone, and with no one near
er than Auntie Barker to miss me If
were to die. True, had friends, for the
rich always have some one who pays
them attention; and while many really
loved me, and were sincere, yet 1t was
not like the tender home ties that no pain
sorrow can SKATER,
But | would not give away to such
sentimental thoughts, said, rous!ng my
sslf from my dream.
Are YOU going out?' said Auntit
Barker, in surprise, as went into the
parlor few moments later, equipped fol
walk.
yes, Auntie," answered, kissing heI
warm cheek. II am going for an houi
or two"
walked rapidly for an hour or SO
when found myself down on one of the
| Iuln InDTOuR Ill ditS THAT plhLCp WIN hS'
lit stores.
Just then the crowd pushed me TO
shop window that was filed with veget
ables and provisions. Great plumb tur-
KEYS and piles of chickens, boxes of Gran
berries and potatoes and apples, Will
lunches of celery, beets and turnips' on
ions and squashes, arranged invitingly II
not artistically. Even the clerks had Il
| 81 F.,r al If thnV
well fed. | was turning away when {
remark in child's lisplDg voice at
tracted my attention.
"Oh, Bessie, may be bod will send u
turtle :"
II wish he would, Mabel answer &c
the older sister, with sigh.
turned in surprise. One of the tive
children could not have been more thar
four, the other | judged about seven,
Were they poor? IL did not seem poss
ible, for they were neatly dressed in sof'
brown dresses of rich material, and hat
little knitted hoods and mittens.
| resolved to question them, so throw
ing back my veil | stopped down anc
and said kindly;
Would you like turkey very much
little grip
"Oh, yes, maam, ever so much, on'l
mamma tan't buy one lisped, in hel
sweet voice.
But perhaps mamma will one fol-
your | suggested,
"Oh, no, Sc tant SEES velly poor, ain
Sc Bessic?" looking up at her elder sis
ter, whose hand she held.
Yes, Mabel. But come now; man
ma told US not to speak to strangers, IL
a little apologize aside to me.
But please tell me- persisted, kind
ly. II am rich, and perhaps can hell
your mamma
oh, would you?" she said, clasping
both hands gratefully. But am afraid
mamma wouldn't like it, she added, hes
itatingly
"Oh, but I'll tell mamma 1t was ever.
bit nv fault" said reassuringly.
And so we walked along together. ant
| discovered that their father was dead
and their mother was "yelly, velly poor,
as Mabel aolemnly assured me.
They lived away up in an attic, the.
said and quite believed them when WI
reached their home At last. II was on
nice street, in a large brick house. Or
the door was placard with "Rooms u
Let in large black letters.
Up i've long flights of stairs we went
to tn. chamber at the back of the house
A loud, shrill voice, raised TO an angr
pitch, came from the half open door.
AN Is, then, II you don't pay, out yo
go9 =,
The door opened, and Il very irate look
ing female emerged so suddenly As Y
nearly upset us.
81 beg your pardon, num-" she said
her voice changing the moment her eye
lit on my sealskin sacque.
Ibowed coldly as we entered the ROOF
and closed the door behind us.
The room WAS poorly furnished, an
on the bed In the corner WAS couched
woman sobhing bitterly. She did nc
notice our entrance until the little gil