Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-10

and confded TO mo many secret which,
owing 10 solemn pledges made At that
time, I am not at liberty to divulge,
before he invited me 10 dine aud
spend an evening with the family. ! ac-
cepted his invitation gratefully, and the
next evening Phil took me over. II was
hearty welcome that received at the homo
of the Chafins. Ny enjoyment OF their
simple hospitality would have been perfect
but for tho embarrassment felt az the
many apologies with which u was Offered.
Mira. Chailln knew as low the tea was not
~ good az l was used 70 drinking, but she
'oped IL didn't taste "murky," / assured
her that IL did not taste murky, although
little doubtful az 10 the exact signifi-
canoe OF the word when applied 70 tea.
But In spite of my declaration she insisted
who was accustomed 10 better things. The
ham was never too good in Liverpool, but
she 'oped that it wasn't, "reesty." 4
solemnly declared that 1t was not
"reesty." But Mrs. Chatfin and MIR. Chat
fin out of the goodness Of their hearts con-
tinued to condole with me on the score
that such ham tasted and must taste
''recsty" TO one not used TO 1t. had no
sooner satisfied their misgivings concern
inc the ham than was compelled TO take
issue with them az to the bread, regarding
which they entertained lurking suspi-
cion Of staloness. During all OF this dis
cusSon about the ham, the tea, and the
bread was conscious that q pair OF big
brown eyes, darkly shaded with long
lashes, were staring ct me across the table.
Whenever had the courageto glance, that
way observed that they had been look
ing at me intently and were suddenly
averted. These wondering eyes belonged
90 the only daughter in the family.
"They've ali been boys" said Mrs.
Chaffin, "snce Hetty was born"
I thought 1t strange that The II in her
daughters name was the only one that the
good woman had shown the. ability TO
manage.
"Hctty Is tho only one Of the lot that
takes TO books" she continued. Inc
head master told me she will make good
scholan and dear me she does nofning
but read books from mornln' till night"
While Hetty and her mother removed tne
| dishes we drew our chairs about the IRE;
and Mr.. Cnaffin, blunt, supplemented
man, entertained me with sage observa-
! tions regarding politics and the weather.
/ He spoke rather loudly and IN key
which, as / learned afterward, he only
employed on very special occasions fres-
| emily the youngest lad IN the famlly;
| who sat on his fathers knee, demanue9
q song. The response was prompt ana
generous. Tho selection with which MIR:
| Cbafin favored us contained upward OF
| forty stanzas relating the unhappy story
| Of n fair maid and bold sailor. both OF
| whom met n tragic death in the last stanZa
| inst before the day of their marriage. Inc
| song being finished, Hetty and her mother
| drew their chairs up to the f1re Hetty SAT
/ next TO me, and after severe inward
| etrugcIe 7 summoned the courage to ask
| her question. She answered me IN the
| fewest words possible, but in voice SO
sweet and low that | wondered then and
often nfterward at its contrast to the other
voices had heard in that house. She
wore n bome-spun frock and neat white
| pinafore set of with dainty ribbon ted
| about her throat.
she's uncommon still when strangers 10
| here, sir" said Mrs. Chafiin, but law me
| she goes rompitin' about the mouse llke as
| II she was crazy, sometimes t1cklln' her
| father and tryln snip on MS peoIu WIN
/ the scissors
That night was the beginning of happier
days tor me. When at last rose to go 1T
was near midnight. forgot my WEAKNESS
as walked TO my lodgings, thinking OF
those simple, honest people and OF ther
| kindness to me.
Ienioyed high jinks at the house of the
Chaffins ut least once week during "a o
next wear of my apprenticeship, near the
close of which began to gel, ready for
visit TO my stepmOther IN fultlmeDt or
nromjse / had made by letter. 1t had
been. on the whole, happy year to me.
| had known many lonely hours, to be
sure. but those visits to the little old
weather-stained house, in which l found
NV first friends after leaving home,
cheered me from week to week.. l knew,
too, that Hetty enjoyed those long eve
nings as much rs | did, which meant more
4Io,, I mould bava dared IN confess
TO her. thought of her good deal, butit
waysresulted in the wretched feeling that
we were both very young after oil. III IS
NOT likely that | would have decided TO 90
home for a fortnight but that | thought II
would be pleasant to observe the effect OF
saving good-by to Hetty. l had no doubt
that she would DO quito overcome with
grief and loneliness after / had gone, and;
reckless youth that was, nothing coulo
known that she really felt grieyed on my
account And yet when l called TO bid
them all good-by the evening before
started she seemed so much happier than
usual that | worried ab6ut it for weeks,
even after had gone so far away that IT
seemed doubtful whether we would
ever meet again. 1t did not occur
10 me that l had been less Skill
ful than she in conceallng my emo
tions, and that she might be merry only
because she could perceive that was sad.
Mrs. Chafin was the only member of the
femilv who seemed to entertain feelings as
serious as my own. She had dreamed that
i would not come back again, and we ell
laughed at her then, but when the swift
wears had revealed some Of their secrets,
we thought Of this prophetic dream with
SADNESS deeper than any that comes to
childish hearts. Hester and Phil. walked
with me TO the gate when left the house.
The radiance of the full moon fell on our
faces through the flying clouds. Phil, stu;
MD fellow had 50 much to say that did
not get q chance to speak to his sister be:
fore she darted back TO the house. as 1t
pursued. On reaching my lodgings l was