Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-11-05
THE REVOLT
OF HETTY
ccopyngAt. I,a, y Dally story Pun. oo-1
By H. HERBERT MORTON

questions and many Others Of like pur-
port IN the weary days and nights since
lie went. The quarrel had been incon-
sequential-a mere matter Of pique and
pride. He had tried In his grave. man
IL. serious way 10 patch il up-this She
had remembered many, many times
and she had stuhbornly rehuifed him.
She loved him-had loved him before
the quarrel, during its progress and
ever since he had gone away. How
dearly she had never known until the
long, lonely mor--s after his depar-
ture.
She had consoled herself at times
with the thought that isfoolish ieal-
ousv had brought - On. But the COM
fort turned TO thc-ns at the further
reflection that be was just the least bit
justified. and, after al, ii was his great
love for her that made him jealous;
and after he had goi.s and she reviewed
81 an dispassionately, she admitted to
herself that she loved him al the more
because he was jealous Of her.
But il was all ancisnt history now.
He had faded from her life-had Joined
the army, and was winning honors for
his reckless bravery in the Philippines,
while she had indeed fallen upou evil
days. Her mother dead her step
father had been named as executor of
the viii and her guardian. and he had
set his heart upon her marriage with
Nathan Trumbull for reasons not dis
family related to his own poeketbook
Upon her indignant refusal 70 consider
the matter, she had been shown very
hointedly and conclusively that the
executor and guardian had full power
10 divert the estate She bad supposed
was hers and which her mother intend
ga should be hers should she cross his
will ca this matter Of marriage She
had become very angry. and had shown
fight, but after fun investigation she
found that the stepfather's powers
were fun and legal, ard If she crossed |
his wishes matrimonially she would be |
n dependent upon his bounty. and she |
knew fun well that such dependence |
meant only the street for her Utterly |
helpless by birth and training, she |
knew she was not fitted TO cope with .
the world. She knew not which way
TO turn or what 20 do. Oh. how she
for the manly independence.
the aggressive resourcefulness of Hoyt |
toadvise and comfort her Oh. how she
would like TO creep within his strong
arms and lay the burden Of it all on his
broad shoulders Eut thatwas all gone
now, and she must fight her own bat
ties alone. There was no alternative
but old Nathan or a squalid existence
in store or factory. From both she
shrank With equal dread
And 50 she temporized and lived on.
her heart a great stone in her breast,
dumbly waiting and praying for
something to turn up" But nothi1e
turned up. Of course. Nothing ever
does turn mp in real life to save discon-
ISOLATE maidens, and the final stormy
scene arrived Her stepfather sum
moned her one day to lis library.
Harriet" he said in those thin. dis
|
the tone that always had crushed her
mother into submission. sit is time we
came TO a definite understanding. As
vou are aware, Mr.. Nathan Trumbull
las done you the honor-the honor"
he repeated, sharply, as he observed the
ook Of contempt upon her face. ito
isk for your hand in marriage He is
/ gentleman OF wealth and standing in
he community, and your marriage
With him will absolutely assure your fu-
-ure. Your foolish sentiment and
prejudice has led you to treat him in
most impudent manner. He is not
he kind of a man TO be dangled at the
lpron strings Of capricious mink. /
approve Of the match thoroughly. Your
iecision cannot be longer delayed. /
Expect him here this afternoon-fo
'our final answer. My advice is most
emphatic that you accept him. The de-
'ision, however, is in your own hands.
desire TO say, however, that should
'ou refuse him, cannot further charge
myself with your support; nor will
eel justified In turning over to you
my part Of the estate left in my hands
n trust for you when you are married
n accordance with my approval. The
rust is a sacred one, and | can only
erminate IL when you marry some
'erson whom I feel competent to han
He your estate"
The girl had listened with paling
ace. She knew him well enough 10
ynow that he was in deadly earnest.
md that he was cold enough to carry
,ut his threat The issue she had
cared for so many months and from
fhich she had shrunk in such terror.
vas before her A great wave ofterror
wept over her al his first words. and
he feared her knees would not sustain
Ter. But as she listened 10 the even.
cy information Of the thin-lpped man
'efore her a mighty food Of anger
ushed through her veins. Like a flash
NJ the horrible injustice Of IL all came
. her. The estate which had been left
By her own sturdy father in her baby
iood 70 the wife in whom he trusted so
implicitly. hut who had been as so much
putty in the hands Of the graspine
chemer who had married her subse-
luently was now being used to en-
compass her lifelong misery. Some.