Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-22

one would be present at the dinner, and
that herself, her conscience would not
have acquitted her if 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 a glance every now and
then at the oven to make sure that all
was going on we'll. 1t was a quietmorn-
ing, and Miss Hetty began to think to
the clicking of her knitting peedles,
after all" thought she, Its rather
solitary taking dinner alone, and that
on Thanksgiving day, | remember a
long time ago,w when my father was liv-
ing, and my brothers and sisters, whats
merry time we used to have round the
table. But they are all dead, and IL
alone am lefti'
Miss Hetty sighed, but after awhile
| the recollections of these old times re-
turned. She tried TO shake them OIL,
but they had a fascination about them
| after all, and would not go at her bid
ding,
''There used to be another there"
thought she, "Nick Anderson. lie, too,
| fear is dead
IIctty heayed a thoughtful sigh, and
a faint color came into her checks.
She had reason. This Nicholas Andcr-
| son had been a medical student, apprcn-
ticcd to her father, or rather placed
with him to be prepared for his profess
sion. He was, perhaps, a 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 a little disposed to be wild, and
being naturally of a lively and careless
temperament, did noteXercise sufficient
| discrimination in tho choice of his asso-
ciatcs. lIetty had loved him as warmly
as one of hcr nature could love. She
was not one who would be drawn away
beyond the dictates of reason and judg-
| ment by the force of affection. Still, it
was not without a feeling Of deep sor-
~row-deepcr 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 assovcrations,
promises and protestations she returned
the same steady and inflexible answer,
and at the close of the interview he left
her quito 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 it was
found that he had left the house, and,
as was intimated in a slight note pen
ciled and left on the table in his room,
never TO return again.
While Miss llcnderson's mind was far
back in the past, she had not observed
the approach of a man, shabbily at
tired, accompanied by n little girl, APP
parcntly 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 oc-
casional SILVER showed hat her gar
mcnts were too thin to protect her suf-
ficicntly 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 lIetty was pre-.
pairing to lay the cloth for dinner a
knock sounded through the house.
Goodness said Miss Hetty, clustered,
"who can it be that wants to see me at
this hour?"
Smoothing down her apron, and Civ
ing a look at 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 a seat by your fire for mysel
and little girl for a few moments? 1t i
very cold
Miss lIetty could see that it was cold
Somehow, too, the appealing expression