Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-08-17
PLEADINGS OF A CHILD.
By Harriet Lane Wallace.

@Hetty, be you mad-gone clean out
Of your senses? Remember, if YOU
marry that scamp you are nothing tt
me. would rather see you in your
cofinp
So saying, Hepsy Trotwood brought
down her hand with decided thumI
upon the kitchen table, thereby scat
tering a dozen or more rosy-cheeked
apples upon the floor.
Mrs. Trotwood had quite forgotten
that she was deacon's wife when she
lost her temper in the midst of making
apple dumplings for the good mans
supper.
3But, auntie, I love him." was the
apology, given while soft blush rose
to the girls face.
Love him? Fiddlesticks! Don't
talk to me about Lowell" And again
Mrs. Trotwood's gray eyes flashed dis
approval
Tall, thin, hard-featured, the dea-
cons wife was woman from whom
little mercy could be expected; still,
within her heart this childless woman
built a shrine, the idol of which was
Hetty, the child of her dead sister.
Her life had one object in view-to see
Hetty great lady. She gave the
girl the advantages of an excellent ed
ucation. Her wardrobe far outshone
that of the neighboring farmers daugh-
tiers. 1t was the intention of Mrs.
Trotwood to make her niece heiress to
her wealth, of which she possessed a
goodly amount.
Hetty was the acknowledged belle
for miles around Never was there a
gather of young folks without her pres
ence, and many country swain would
have sacrificed considerable for a smile
of encouragement. She was the apple
of the old deacon's eye.
Mother" he would say to his good
wife, Il must send little Hetty to
brother Johns, in the city, or else she
will be falling in love with some great
hulking country fellow, not half good
enough for her."
@Nonsense!" would his wife reply.
@The child never dreams of such a
thing"
But the child did fall in love, and with
hone other than the student of the vii
1age doctor, handsome, good hearted,
penniless Dick Barry; and this falling
in love was the cause of Mrs. Trot-
woods burst of indignation.
ITO think of it," she would say.
Our Hetty marrying this penniless
youth!"
The old lady's fondest hopes, all her
air castles, would be completely cast to
the earth should this marriage ever
lake place.
The apple dumping proved a fail
IRE. The deacon and his wife ate
their meal in silence. Hetty was not
present. She was having a good cry
down by the garden gate. Very lovely
she looked in the dim twilight, in a
dress of soft texture cinging in grace
full folds to round, shapely figure.
Was it any wonder that Dick Barry
lost his heart to her? The young man,
who had resolved never to take unto
himself q wife until he had attained
the dignity of M. D. and made his
name in the world, forgot his firm
resolution.
He was coming up the big country
road, whistling merry tune. He met
his lady-love with kiss.
ooh, Dick!" sobbed Hetty. Aunt
Hepsy says I can never, never marry
you'll" And she cried as if her heart
would break.
Poor Dick tried to console her as
best he could, departing at length, re-
assured of the girls love and conf
dence.
He.ty returned to the house, wrote
a dainty little note, left it on the dea-
cons desk, and kissed the old couple
SO fondly that they began to think
they were unjust in their accusations;
that the dear child would never so far
forget them as to marry without their
consent. But the little note found the
following morning told its own story.
Then the country for miles around
rang with gossip: "The deacon's niece
had run away and married Dick
Barry"
Mrs. Trotwood closed her heart, put
ting away the books, birds and dainty
little treasures belonging to her way
ward niece, never again mentioning her
name. The Deacon, grown suddenly
old, missed his darling. There was no
one now to get his slippers or kiss
away his cares and troubles.
Many time he was tempted to pay
q visit to the little white cottage down
the road, the cottage where Dick Barry
took his bride; but the thought of his
wife's wrath kept him away.
To the young couple diversity and
cares had come. Poverty had entered
the door, but love had never flown out
of the window. Dick was obliged to
give up for time his cherished hope
Of entering his profession; he worked
in the mill, in the evening devoting his
leisure hours to study. The young
wife bore with patience her cares, al
though the roses were fast leaving her
face.
A baby came. almost unwelcome.
Poverty casts damper over all our
joys. The old village doctor shook his
head, almost despairing of the young
mothers life. Her mind wandered;
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