Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-02-17
The
Two Hetties

been reading on the table.
"She says that she will come and
take charge Of the house and Allie,"
he meditated. 81 must have some one,
and a poor little old maid like her
will be very glad of a comfortable
home
With romantic visions of Aunt Het-
tvs serene face floating through his
minds eye, and a bundle Of wraps,
to shield the dear little woman"
from rain, under one arm, while a
mammoth umbrella was held firmly
in position by the opposite hand, Paul
Andrus started for the station, nor
did he arrive moment too soon.
Quite number Of gentlemen step.
ped out of the train, but only two
solitary female figures.
One was dumpy little woman,
with a puff of snowy hair showing
under the rim of her ancient bonnet.
There was worried look in the eyes,
turned inquiringly upon the strange
faces about her
please, marin, be you Hetty-Het-
ty-I forget the other name" said an
awkward coachman, approaching her.
"Yes." she said, with an emphatic
nod, I'm Hetty. How kind of my
nephew to send such a fine carriage
for me. He must be rich to afford it."
Paul Andrus had not heard their
conversation, for after mentally decid-
ing that the "dumpy little woman"
~
glanced about in search of his Aunt
Hetty."
A pretty girlish face, with tangle
of nut-brown hair escaping from the
coil at the back of her head, and a
world Of trouble in the blue eyes,
attracted his attention.
''It must be She" Paul soliloquized.
There were only two ladies got off
here. and the other Is disposed of.
What pretty little creature she Is.
Don't look day over eighteen.
never thought it possible for a woman
to preserve her youth like that. It's
risky business taking her home. I'm
afraid that l shall fall in love with
my Aunt Hetty It'll never do for
great six-footer like me to call her
aunt.
"Your name is-ahem! -Hetty,
believer" he said. in evident confusion,
as he approached the lady, quite for
getting to speak her surname in his
embarrassment
ooh, yes!" she said, quickly, in
tones Of relief. Il am Hetty, and
you have been sent for me. l am so
glad. l was quite worried for a min
ute, for fear my letter had miscarried;
and have such a terrible headache.'
Your letter came all right" he
said, cheerfully. beginning to wrap
her in the waterproof he had brought.
81 am so sorry that / have no car.
riage," he continued; "but 1t is only
a little way, and l will see that the
rain does not touch you. Ah!" he
exclaimed, coming to an abrupt stop,
"the crossing Is bad here My dear"
-"aunt," he was about to say, when,
glancing into the sweet, pathetic
young face, he checked himself in
stantly. Madam" seemed too re-
served, and. after a slight pause, he
think you will have
to let me carry you. Such wee lit
tie woman as you are, can do 1t
nicely"
Without waiting for her to object,
and almost before she had realized
what he was about, he had lifted her
in his strong arms, and had borne
her across the muddy crossing.
What a splendid fellow he isl"
Hetty thought, with shy glance into
his face. "She has always been sound
ing her brothers. praises In my ears at
school, but l never thought he could
be so genial 1t Is strange that he
did not introduce himself; and don't
quite like his familiar manner in call
ing me Hetty. But l presume he
feels quite well acquainted with me
through Sue, though l shall stand on
my dignity and show him that there
is proper way Of forming an ac-
quaintance after tonight. l am too
queer now for anything. l don't be-
lieve l would care much If he carried
me all the way in his arms. don't
understand why he didn't bring the
carriage, though"
All these conflicting thoughts made
q tangle of ideas in the girls mind,
and her head was aching so badly that
she did not attempt to straighten
matters.
81 think l can persuade her to re-
MAN," he thought, complacently, and
he banished all troublesome doubts
on the subject.
"Can 1t be that Sues papa has fail
ed in business, and lost his property?"
Hetty asked herself, as they entered
pretty little cottage, not at all like
the fine residence Sue had described
to her so many times.
"No carriage or coachman. Poor
Sue! 1t must be that reverses have