The Democratic advocate., 1908-06-05
Rutb's Hunt
Mebltable.
By ANNE HELM AN.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.


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.
cbo held a letter in her hand Not in
many long year had Hetty's face
worn such an expression Of woe.
.If you please, ma'am," awakened
her from the trance. She turned to
tbp cook and gave her orders for the
dav Then, with a sigh, she opened
the letter and reread it:
Dear Aunt Mehitable-Papa and Jessie
miller will be married Tuesday morning
and sail for Europe the same day on an
extended trip So 1 shall leave college
end 20 home to look after you.
The Strings are here for the wedding.
Won know they are related to JESSIE
Fred looks as old as his father. They
hove made a mint of money mining in
Colorado and intend to buy back their es-
tata and settle down as our nearest
neighbors again. No place like the south.
+hey declare. Papa invited them to make
our house their home while negotiations
are pending. Business will detain Mr..
Stirling IN bOSlOu 1Ol q 4S" "CSho, Dol
Fred will come to town with me. Expect
rs on Thursday. Your loving RUTH.
"Jessie's dear soul. I hope they'll
he very happy" Hetty murmured to
herself. "but I never thought John
vould marry again. And Ruth coming
back year before expected! This'll
never seem like home to me any more"
Hetty Peters was single. She had
never had a lover, had never looked
for one and, incredible as it may seem,
had never wished for one. She had
been altogether too busy, first, in look
ing after a 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 if monotOnOuSly uneventful.
Now came the disquieting news of
Johns second marriage and of her
nieces unexpected return.
Ruth had a 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
baptismal name, and Hetty detested it,
but Ruth persisted in calling her Aunt
Mehitable.
perhaps she intends to marry
Fredr Hetty reflected hopefully. eff
she does, of course he'll have to give
in. He was nice looking boy when he
left | remember l kissed him goodby,
he seemed such boy, and he is year
older than l am"
On Thursday Miss Peters was at the
station when the northern train ar
rived. While she was watching the
outc0ming passengers from one car
hand touched swiftly her arm, and
pleasant voice exclaimed, ''Hetty, you
have not changed a bit since we part
ed"
I've grown fifteen years older" she
answered, giving her hand to tall
bronzed, handsome man, whose dark
eyes were scrutiniZing her admiringly
Il know it." he replied. $50 have p
Fired, loosen that checkrein. Aunt
Mehitable, how could you drive this
horse in such a condition? You really
need some one to look after your
And Hetty realized, with pang, that
Ruth had come back to her own.
mo tea for me-" she commanded at
the dinner table. Aunt Mehitable, Pm
surprised at you! Any doctor will tell
you that tannic acid is a rank poison.
It's positively criminal to use tea or
coffee when one can have fresh milk"
The next morning RIth's sway be-
gan.
Just up?" she called out as Hetty
made her appearance at Z o'clock.
I've been up for hours. I shall move
the breakfast time an hour earlier, and
you must come for Il walk every morn
ing before breakfast 1t will do you a
world of good" And Aunt Hetty, real
Zlhg the futility of argument where
huth was concerned. miserably acqui-
eSced
is 1t possible you sleep on feather
Ded? exclaimed Ruth that evening,
unexpectedly invading her aunt's room.
Dont you know that feathers are not
sanitary! You need some one to look
after you, Aunt Mehitable."
I'm not so old as that" protested
Hetty.
1T isn't altogether matter of age;
us temperament. You take life like a
slassnopper. You really do need some
ole. VI course you'll have me untir'-
Until you marry?' suggested Hetty.
nave been thinking of it," Ruth
@unlltted complacently. "By the way,
noW 10 you like Fred?'
u thlnk he is in every way desira-
We l don't believe any woman could
ask for better husband"
I'm glad to hear you say so," said
bandY e
s l 40 not remember Fred's mother.
Tue uled when 1 was very young. But
happy" ' WEI"
1o met Mr.. Stirling frequently at
poSa' ssieS' said Ruth. "He came to
vs'on foS on business. If Fred is like his
hans uer I'm sure he'll make good hus-
tb,a u We We're talking about you
vona ai'ernoon. He thinks you look
dser do than | do, and he thinks, as l
W., ou mat yor need some one to take
in+o,' VI You, He really takes a great
,est 90, IN you, Aunt Mehitable."