The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1908-06-10
Kutb's Hunt
Mebltable.
BY ANNE HELM A N.
Copyrighted, 1903. by Associated
Literary Press

Hetty Peters sat gazing out of her
window across the closely cropped
lawn, past the garden of many hued
roses and away to the woods, all white
With dogwood and purple with violets.
She held a letter In her hand Not IN
many long year had Hetty's face
Worn such an expression of woe.
IF you please, maam,n awakened
her from the trance. She turned to
the cook and gave her orders for the
day. Then, with sigh, she opened
the letter and reread 1t;
Dear Aunt Mehitable-Papa and Jessie
Miller Will be married Tuesday morning
and sail for Europe the same day on an
extended trip. SO | shall leave college
and 10 home to look after you.
The Strings are here for the wedding
You know they are related to Jessie.
Fred looks as old as his father. They
have made mint OF money mining In
Colorado and intend to buy back their es-
tate and sottle down AZ our nearest
neishbors again. No place like the south.
they declare. Papa invited them TO make
our house their home while negotiations
are pending. business will detain Mr..
Stirling In Boston for II few weeks, but
Fred Will come to town with me. Expect
us ON Thursday. Your loving RUTH.
"Jessie's Il dear soul. hope they'll
be very happy" Hetty murmured to
herself, hut never thought John
would marry again. And Ruth coming
back II year before | expected! This'll
never seem like home to me any more"
Hetty Peters was single. She had
never had lover, had never looked
for one and, Incredible rs 1t may seem,
had never wished for one. She had
been altogether too busy, first, In look
Ing after Il younger sister and brother,
and, second, In caring for her delicate
mother, to consider her matrimonial
prospects The brother and sister had
grown up, married and moved north,
Her mothers death had left her alone.
When her elder brothers wife died
she had gone to live with him, and for
several years her existence had been
happy II monotonously nneventful.
Now came the disquieting news Of
Johns second marriage and of her
uiecc's unexpected return.
Ruth had II decided prediction for
managing everything and everybody
she came In contact with. Her aunt
had always trembled before her. Ruth
was the only one who remembered her
bap,lsmal hume, and Hetty detested 1t,
but Ruth persisted In calling her Aunt
Mehilable
Perhaps she intends TO marry
FrcdH' Hetty reflected hopefully. 81
| she does, of course he'll have to CIV,
in. He was II nice looking boy when h
| left remember kissed him goodby
he seemed such boy, and he Is Il yen
older than | am."
On Thursday Miss Peters was at tn
station when the northern train AZ
| rived While she was watching TIN
outcoming passengers from one eur
hand touched swiftly her arm, and
| pleasant voice exclaimed, "Hctty, yol
| have not changed bit since we part
| cd"
1--WE grown fifteen years older" sh,
| answered, giving her hand 10 II tall
| bronzed handsome man, whose darl
| eyes We're scrutinlzlng her admIrlngly
81 know IT,, lie replied. 80 have p
Erred, loosen that checkrein. Aunt
Mehtnble, how could you drive this
horse In such n condition? You really
need some one TO look after your
And Hetty realized, with pang, that
Ruth had come back to her own.
Ton O., "a, a n
the dinner table. Aunt Mehitable, I'm
surprised ut you. Any doctor Will tel
you that tnnnic acid Is n rank poison
It's positively criminal TO use tea oI
coffee when one can have fresh milk. y
The next morning Rlth's sway be
gan.
Just upf' she called out as Hetty
made her appearance at o'clock
I've been up for hours. ! shall move
the breakfast time an hour earlier, and
you must come for Il walk every morn
ing before breakfast. It Will do you d
world Of good" And Aunt IIetty, real
| izing the futiity of argument wher,
| Ruth wns concerned, miserably acqui
| esced.
rs II possible you sleep on II feather
bedl" exclaimed Ruth that evening
unexpectedly invading her aunfs room
| Don't you know that feathers are mo-
sanitary? You need some one to lool
after you, Aunt Mehitable."
I'm not 50 old as that" protested
Hctty.
at Isn't altogether II matter Of age
It's temperament. You take life like {
grasshopper You really do need some
one. or course you'll have me until
Until you marryf" suggested Hetty
81 have been thinking Of It," Rutl
admitted complaeentIy. "By the way
how do you like FredT
81 think he Is In every way desira
BILE / don't believe any woman cout
ask for a better husband"
'Im glad 10 hear you say SO, salt
Ruth "Wns his father a good hus
bandT
Il do not remember Fred's mother
She died when was very young. Blu
| always understood they We're very
happy"
81 met Mr. Stirling frequently a
Jessies," said Ruth. "Iie came t.
Boston on business II Fred is like hi
father I'm sure he'll make good hus
band. We were talking about yol
this afternoon. He thinks you lool
younger than | do, and he thinks, as
do that you need some one to taxi
care of you. lie really takes grea
interest In you, Aunt Mehitable."
Gle takes a great interest In you up
parently, which Is more to the point
CALCULATED her exasperated aunt. "Dt
you mean to pretend that you don
want Fred to be fond of you"
"Why, of course" asserted Ruth az
she rose to leave the room. cor cours'
hope Fred Is going TO be fond of me
| shall have that feather bed taken III
to the garnet tomorrow morning, Aun
Mehitable."
In the days that followed Hetty
found herself taken In hand and look
ed after" with thoroughness that re
| IN, ths <.P In, oh n1i la