Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-25

Her anger surged hotly In hsr
humping heart, and helped to keep
back her tears
She reflected, with bitter shame,
that probably he had not thought
seriously of it-a mere squeezing Of
her hand and whispered word or
two. But she had thought-she had
thought
She shivered in her blank misery.
A tragically fippant little skit came
into her head: s
"Oh, would were dead now,
Or up in my bed now,
To cover my head now,
And have . good cry!'
s.Nfiss Burton" said Mr.. Ryer. in .
loud whisper.
And looking up Hetty perceived that
he must have been saying it for some
time.
He looked stern, and the occupants
of the stage were waiting stock-still
for Margery.
Hetty went on.
She did not know how she got
through her part-how she busted
the mantel and answered Mrs. Jeffer
sons inquiries and flirted with the
man-servant in the background, and
even spoke to Dorothy; but somehow
she did.
"You must try to come on at the
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 Mr..
Jefferson had knocked over two chairs.
':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 a 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
Liddell's. 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 1 do it?'' said she. with
pretty anxiety. Il 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 I
could. I've practiced with John q lit
tie at home, of course; but that's all,
every bit How did 1 do?"
''You did very WE'LL" said Hetty, in
a voice which sounded like somebody
else's.
''Oh, did II" 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 you?''
Harry Liddell?" 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 a 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 80 I came. Mamma
thinks we're too young, and I'm afraid
Mrs Liddell does. Do you? Why.
Harry's nearly twenty-five. But it
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. her
charming infantile face ripping with
smiles, we're going to get married,
anyhow" she ended. as she ran away.
Hetty put her futtering hand over
her lips The dear little thing! the
dear little thing! She looked after her
lovingly. In that first blissful breath
she did fairly love her. Was She
Hetty-the same girl she had been a
moment before? And this the same