Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-06-22
CHAPTER XII

near at had attracted Eef attention
Reaching over, she plucked handfui,
then. after bending an ear in the dlrec-
ton her mother had taken to visit a
neighbor to assure herself that she was
not returning, arranged the blossom
coouettishly in the prlm little knot of
hair wound tightly at the back OF her
head saying softly: when l hear her
coming I'll throw them out. Happen
she'll not stay long now darkness hath
fallen"
Sounds of approaching footsteps
crunching the earth heavily fell on her
ears. causing the girl to put her hand
to her head guiltily. Then as a merry
whistle broke out on the evening air
she sank back with an appearance OF
relief. leaving the roses untouched.
"Pah! 'Tis Simon,' she exclaimed.
az might ha' known the sound of his
clumsy footballs, Lord knows I ha'
heard them often enough. The callant's
forever a-passing"
Presently Kempster reached the gar
den gate, paused and, peering through
the gloom, saw the glimmer of white
kerchief.
"Hetty, is't thou?" he said as he came
toward her.
'Yea, Simon, who else but dreary
me, pining all alone| she said, rising,
with an affected sigh. "Wilt enter?
The air is chilli
Stepping into the kitchen, she lighted
q candle that stood in readiness on
= txxvN cl, a PC
the doorway. motioned to her visitor,
who stood hesltatingly at the threshold,
to be seated and took the other one her
self.
"Those pink roses become thee, Het-
ty." Simon ventured to remark, re-
garding the young woman affectionate-
", his eyes glistening with admiration
Of her fresh beauty.
Under the warmth Of his glance Het-
ty flushed slightly. Mother would be
angered an she saw them" she said.
For a time a silence fell between
them, both looking out of doors at the
peaceful night.
Then Simon observed: "At home now
when I sit before the door alone O.
nights l look at my bushes hanging
full of rose blossoms and think how
woman about the house could make
good use o. them to beautify herself.
AS 'tis," with a sentimental sigh and
nervous wriggle, they wither and die
away, the petals blown hither and
thther by the wind"
Under the glimmer of the candle his
round face wore a penslve expression.
Hetty tossed her head as If she did
exclaiming with. .disinterested friendl
ness: ''There's Sarah Ann Dugaine, 81
mon. She maketh her boasts on her
love for flowers. Happen thou could
get her to wear thy blossoms"
Kempster shook his head.
az truth, my mind dwelt not on good
Sarah" he said, signing again. "Nay
Hetty, It's thoughts o. some one elst
that doth disturb my peace-a little
black eyed maid as pretty and as
graceful as-as'-
Hetty, who had been listening to
his words with an alert, suspicious
look on her face, grew quite fidgety as
she saw him mentally casting about
for a suitable comparison.
"Now, Simon, thou hadst best be
CAREFUL she cried hastily in voice of
warning.
At her words the enthusiasm on
Kempster's countenance faded away
81 was but thinking on my little young
heifer, Hctty, so lost the run O. my
words" he concluded lameiy.
"There, knew itr' she exclaimed
angrily Thou vast going to com
pare me to thy heifer!'
She sprang from her seat and, hastily
pulling in the window easement, said
sharply, with no desire to conceal her
pettishness: "If thou hast no better
talk than that, forsooth, thou'd better
be on thy way, Simon. \ body ID love
to look like an old cowr' she wound up
sarcastically.
To Simon, who saw beauty In every
thing connected with his snug little
farm, Hetty's dislike to his gentle fiat
teries was always n mystery to him,
SO he scratched his forehead nervous
ly, knowing that he had offended again
unwittingly and wishing from his
heart that he had not come, when the
reason of his visit occurred to him.
Approaching his companion, he thrust
his hands awkwardly into his breeches
pocket and, pulling out little packet,
handed 1t to her.
"'Tis n trinket for thee, Hetty."
A hot flush was on his face. "There
vast peddler at the Sign OF the Red
Heart a-selling them, and when L saw
the gewgaws l thought at once on thee.
Thou'rt so fond Of trinkets, Hetty."
Had he succeeded in pleasing her
this time? Simons heart beat rapidly,
and he could scarcely breathe with sus-
pense as she slowly undid the wrap
ping, picked up the chain and hung 1t
on the end Of her finger, II daZed ex
preston in her eyes; then she laughed
a low, trilllng, happy laugh.
"Thou didst buy it for me, SimonY
! For thee, sweet Hetty."
The honest fellows voice trembled
with feeling. and tears of delight
sprang to his eyes at sight of her pleas
ure. "'Tis a good luck charm for low
ers, they say"
"Ha' done, Simon"
Hetty, dangling the chain and heart
before the light of the candle, blushed
furiously. Must do foolish things like
spending thy money for trinsets for a
cross patch maid who eer finds fault
with thee wl'out adding on thy silly
nonsenser
"Wllt wear it, Hettyf" he whispered,
coming nearer
"Aye, gladly, simonF she cried, de-
lighted with the gift, then, undoing the
clasp and putting the chain about her
white throat. said: "Could-couldst thou
fasten 1t, Simon? My fingers are all
thumbs, an I'm all a-fluster with sur
prise"
He sprang TO her assistance, taking
the ends of the chain from her small
hands.
"Ah. lackaday," she continued in a
| lower voice, II must wear II meath my
kerchief, ween, as mother Is so wrath
| full ut bodys wearing gewgaw. She
says they are implements Of the devil
y fo rnaka mazda vain and worldly.