Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-11-22

after q time It came to be understood
that she was fixed for life an old maid.
What reasons impelled her to this course
were not known. but possibly the reader
will be furnished with q clue before he
finishes this narrative.
Meanwhile, the invariable effect OF q
single and solitary life combined at
tended Hetty. Sho grew precise, prim
and methodical to painful degree. 1t
would have been quito relish II one
could have detected stray thread even
upon her well-swept carpet but such
was never the case.
On this particular day-this Thanks
giving day Of which We are speaking
Miss Hetty had completed her culinary
preparations, that is, she had stuffed
her turkey and put 1t in the oven, and
kneaded her pudding, for, though but
one would be present at the dinner. and
that herself, her conscience would not
have acquitted her II she had not made
all the preparations to which she had
been accustomed on such occasions.
This done, she sat down to her knit
ting, casting q glance every now and
then ut the oven to make sure that all
was going on we'll. 1t was quiet morn
ing, and Miss Hetty began to think to
the clicking Of her knitting needles.
"After all" thought she, 'it's rather
solitary taking dinner alone, and that
on Thanksgiving day. / remember a
long time ago, when my father was liv-
ing, and my brothers and sisters, wha. a
merry time we used to have round the
table. But they are all dead, and II
alone am left!'
Miss Hetty sighed, but after awhile
the recollections Of these old times re-
turned. She tried to shake them of,
but they had fascination about them
after all. and would not 60 at her bid
ding.
''There used to be another there,
thought she, ''Nick Anderson. He. too,
/ fear is dead"
Hetty heaved thoughtful sigh, and
faint color came into her cheeks.
She had reason. This Nicholas Ander-
son had been medical student, appren-
ticed to her father, or rather placed
with him to be prepared for his profess
sion. He was, perhaps, year older
than Hetty, and had regarded her with
more than ordinary warmth Of affection.
He had, in fact, proposed to her, and
had been conditionally accepted, on a
years probation. The trouble was, he
was little disposed to be wild, and
being naturally Of lively and careless
temperament, did notexercise sufficient
discrimination in the choice OF his asso-
ciates. Hetty had loved him as warmly
as one of her nature could love. She
was not one who would be drawn away
beyond the dictates Of reason and iudg-
ment by the force of affection. Still, 1t
was not without feeling Of deep sor-
row-deeper than her calm manner led
him to suspect-that at the end OF the
years probation she informed Ander-
son that the result OF his trial was not
favorable to his suit, and that hence
forth he must give up all thoughts OF
her.
To his vehement asseverations,
promises and protestations she returned
the same steady and inflexible answer,
and ut the close Of the interview he left
her quite as full OF Indignation against
her as Of grief for his rejection.
That night his clothing was packed
up and lowered from the window, and
when the next morning dawned 1t was
found that he had left the house, and,
as was intimated in q slight note pen
ciled and left on the table in his room,
never to return again.
While Miss Henderson's mind was tal
back in the past, she had not observed
tie approach of o man, shabbily at
tired, accompanied by little girl. ap'
parently some eight years OF age. The
mans face bore the impress OF many
cares and hardships. The little girl
was Of delicate appearance, and an &C.
casional SILVER showed that her gar
ments were too thin to protect her suf-
ficiently from the inclemency OF the
weather.
"This is the place, Henrietta" said
the traveller at length, pausing at the
head Of the graveled walk which led up
to the front door Of the prim-looking
brick house.
Together they entered, and a moment
afterwards, just as Miss Hetty was pre-
pairing to lay the cloth for dinner q
knock sounded through the house.
'GoodnessT said Miss Hetty, fiustered,
"who can 1t be that wants to see me at
this hour?"
Smoothing down her apron, and Civ
ing look ut the glass to make sure that
her hair was in order, she fastened to
the door.
"Will it be asking too much, madam,
to request seat BY your fire for myself
and little girl for few momentsP 1t is
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