Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-04
nifty PLEAsANToN,s FIRsI lowe

KITTY PLEAsANTON's FIRST LOVE.
cannot remember the time when was not
IN love with Kitty Pleasanton. Tt must have
been begun when we were both babies am
suIe Ioved her as We sat together by the road
stde soaking our dandelion stems in the little
Puudles OF water to make them curl NV pas
SlOn was In no wise abated. when somewhat later
ehmped cherry trees at her bidding; nor later
yet Wnen at dancing school / awkwardly
made by new learnt bow, and asked her to be
my partner nor, / am sure, was nv boyisb
passion at all damped. when on my return fr om
college found my sweet little Kitty changed
by some undefnable alteration, from a lovely
e1lld 70 a oeWltcnlng young woman. She was
almost the same as when / parted from her
three years befOre-the woman was yery like
the chlld-there was the same ROSY cheeks the
same POuting, innocent mouth, the same eurl
ing haiI, but some charm, grace or sentiment
was added, which made my heart thrill with
new emotion as l gazed at her
Kitty said l to her one day, after T had
been at nome week or two, and / found
could restrain myself no longer. kitty, I'm
very much in love with you, as you know as
well as do I've always been in love with
you, and fancy you are in love with me: but
now 1 want you to promise to marry me-, ]
paused, Kitty made no answer. and said:
" You like me, Kitty, don't you1'
" First tell me-, said Kitty, blushing and
with an old mixture Of delight and bashfulness
in her face, = if you've made me what is called
Offer2"
To be sure have, my darling Ireplied;
an oner which trust and hope you II accept"
Don be too sure Of that, said Kitty, de-
murely.
Kitty, You love mel' L exclaimed
d" That's my secret" replied the provoking
little thing; " but at any rate she continued
should not possibly think Of accepting the
very first offer L ever received-I should be
mortlned all the rest OF my life if l did. No,
indeed; no girl of spirit would dream of accept
ing her hrst offer, as if she were afraid she
can possibly accept you till I've had at least
ono other offer"
% But my dearest Kitty" 1 began.
=" Kitty. Kitty. Kitty" she exclaimed; d" will
Mr.. Brant learn to call me by my proper name;
confess did hope that on receiving nv first
offer, the person making it would address me
with proper courtesy, and in a manner beft-
ting the occasion, giving me my name of Kath-
arine, but now you We gone and spoiled it all"
Oh, suppose you wanted stiff, ceremon-
lous proposal In form" observed; - but I'm
no Sir Charles Grandson, Kitty-Katharine
would say; therefore don't be foolish; be con-
tent TO know in plain words that my whole heart
IS yours; and have the good sense to accept
your first ofer, since your second may not be 30
good. -
But in vain were my arguments and reason
Ings- Kitty was determined not to accept her
hrst offer, and finding her resolute / changed
my tone, and acquiescing in her views confess
ed that too had a certain pride on that point,
and should be rather mortified to know that
nv wife had never had any offer but that I
had myself made her; and so promised to sus-
pend my suit till Kitty should be so fortunate
as 10 receive an offer from some other quarter
Now, not far from where Kitty dwelt, there
was fayorite dell, or bower, or something of
that kind, to which she daily repaired with
some chosen volume to sit and read. All my
endeavOrs TO persuade her to allow me to ac-
company her thither had always been quite in
vain Kitty was firm in preferring her undis- |
turbed solitude and was daily doomed TO an
hour or two OF the moses during her romantic
woodland visit.
In pursuance with this custom, Kitty set out !
soon after the conversation / have sketched, |
declining, as usual, my offer of fcOmpanionship |
Not more than half an hour had elapsed after |
she had reached her favorite seat, ere her at
tentiOn was attracted by young gentleman
who was fishing in the brook which flowed near
her. Kitty drew back little on seeing him,
but her curious eye occasionally wandered to-
ward the stranger.
The latter sooner perceived his fair obser-
yer than he bowed with air of politeness, and
advancing II few steps, ventured to address a
few words Of commonplace greeting. The
young mans words were indeed common place,
but his eyes were far more eloquent than his
tOngue-they plainly informed the fair Kitty
that she had found another admirer Kitty,
highly fattered, received the strangers adyan-
ces graciOusly, and the youth being by no means
bashful, half an hour found them chatting east
ly and gaily on various topics Of interest Kit
tys stay in the woods was something longer
zhan usual that afternoon.
What is the matter?'' asked, on meeting
her soon after her return home. Your eyes
sparkle, and You look as pleasant as though
you had met a fairy in your afternoon ramble,'
- Ii IL better than fairy" cried Kitty, /
breathlessly, = it's a young man"
- Indeed" L calculated, with a whistle.
" es, James, she replied, q and he is so
can't say how things might go If he were to
make me one Of these days my second offer"
ou can impose on me in that kind of way !
sweet Kitty, 50 don't attempt it, L exclaimed |
" Ill be bound the impudent fellow, whom |
won't object to speaking bit of my mind to, is !
self
Kitty laughed aloud in derision "He's |
thousand times handsomer than you are," she |
cried, scornfully, and as much more entertain
Ing as he is more handsome ~
- Come, Kitty, don't be too cutting, too CRU
dignity.
They call me Katharine, who do speak to
me sir, she said.
Katharine, 6ddIesticks!' cried. kitty |
= the prettiest and sweetest name in the world,
ana comes more natural TO NEEDN'T pother
1ne with your Katharine
dare say you may like it, said Kitty,
p0uting half angrily, = but don't It's too
iree How would you like it if persisted in
calling you JIM / declare III cali you Jim, if
you 90 On calling me Kitty
DO 80, II You like, replied, :. and it will
soon sound to me like the sweetest name in the
world But may l presume to beg from nv
fair and gracious Lady Katharine description
Of this wOOd-AdOnis she has been encounter ring1,
4" He Is tall, " began Kitty.
Taller than - l interrupted. Kitty al
most annihilated me by look
By at least half foot-and OF an elegant
figure, she continued with marked emphasis.
- lie was dressed in fishing costume, which
greatly became him"
. have an old fishing blouse up stairs, II 4
muttered soto cOce, L think I'll get it out"
The young mans manners were uncom- |
noniy easy and gsntIemanlY, and Mithal per-