The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-07-17

Il
She reflected, with bitter shame.
that probably he had not thought
seriously of it-a mere squeezing OF
her hand and a whispered word or
two But she had thought-she had
] thought
She shivered in her blank misery.
A tragically flippant little skit came
into her head:
| "Oh, would were dead now,
| Or up in my bed now,
| To cover my head now,
| And have good cry"'
"Miss Burton" said Mr.. Ryer, in a
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 firted 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, I"
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 a giggle, and Mr..
Jefferson had knocked over two chairs
"And put 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 a 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 soy
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 itp'' 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 a lit
tie at home, of course; but that's all,
every bit How did l dop"
"You did very WE'LL" said Hetty, in
a voice which sounded like somebody
else's.
"Oh, did I?" cried little Miss Mack
"You are so good to say it! I'm sc
glad! l wish Harry was here,
though" she declared, impetuously
looking up at Hetty with babyist
sweetness. Don't youp"
Harry Liddelle" said Hetty, vague
I ly. She had heard of him.
"Why, of course" said Miss Mack,
t blithely, as though there was no othel
| Harry in the country, "but he's away
, you know. He's in college yet, yo,
know. At first" said Miss Mack
! with as guileless candor as though
Hetty were a lifelong friend, lat frs
l was going to wait till he had gradu
, ated and was at home TO visit his PEG
: pie. But we're to be married immedi
} ately after that, you know, and h
was so anxious to meet them now, an,
: so was 1; and so l came. Mamm
: thinks we're too young, and I'm afrai
Mrs Liddell does. Do youp Why
a Harry's nearly twenty-five But j
g won't make the least bit of differenc
b in the world what anybody thinks
not bit! Would it to youP Weir
g going" Mr. Rycr's careworn fac
n was visible, in anxious searching
d Little Miss Mack rose hurriedly, he
charming infantile face ripping wit
: smiles, "we're going to get married
9 anyhow" she ended, as she ran away
Hetty put her futtering hand owe
s her lips. The dear little thing! tn
/, dear little thing! She looked after he
b lovingly. In that first blissful breat
n she did fairly love her. Was She
It Hetty-the same girl she had been
r moment before? And this the sam
placer 1t did not seem so.
|, Somebody bending over her frol
behind laughed in her ear.
" 'What do you think of my sister-il
Q lawp" John Liddell demanded. ''Tt
q babes in the wood, we call them. B,
d never mind my sister. in-law. Yc
didn' tell me whether could have tn,
n waltz, Hetty."
d He slipped around to the front, ar