The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-02
From DIR. Barlett's Anglo Saxon.
NV Merry itfIe Wife.

,
have been when we were both babies. | a
! sure loved her as we sat together BY Il
.. road side soaking our dandelion stems in II
. little puddles of water to make them curl
;; My passion was in no-wise abated, whe
somewhat later, climbed cherry trees
! her bidding, nor, later yet, when at n dan,
ing school, awkwardly made my new learr
bow and asked her to be my partner; no,
| am sure, was my boyish passion at a
damped, when, on my return from college,
found my sweet little Kitty changed, b
some undefinable alteration. from a Lowell
child to bewitching young woman. Sh
was almost the same as when parted fror
her three years before-the woman was yer
like the child-there were the same ros
cheeks, the same pouting, innocent mouth
the same curling hair, but some charm
grace or sentiment was added, which mad
my heart thrill with new emotion as gaze,
at her.
Kitty" said ! to her one day, ass:er
had been at home week or two and / foun,
l could r strain myself no longer, "Kitty
I'm very much in love wi h you, as yo,
know as well as do. I've always been ir
love with you, and fancy vou are in love
with me; butn want you to marry me-
paused but Kitty made no answer, and
! said, You like me- Kitty, don't vou:"
First tell me-" said Kitty, blushing, and
with an odd mixture of delight and bashful,
ness in her face "If YOU have made me
what is called an 'ofIcrs'"
ITO be sure | have, my darling re-
piled; IAN offer winch | trust and hope
you'll accept"
Don't be too sure Of that" said Kitty
Kitty, you love me-" exclaimed.
:. That's my secret" replied the provoking
little thing. But, at any rate" she con-
tinued, al could not possibly think Of ac-
cepting the very first offer | ever received :;
should be mortified all the rest Of my life
if did. No, indeed; no girl OF spirit would
dream OF accepting her first offer, as if she
were afraid she would never have another,
Excuse me, James, | can't possibly accept
you till have had at least one other offer"
But, my dearest Kitty" began
Kitty! Kitty, kitty'.i" she exclaim-
ed, will Mr.. Brant learn to call Inc by my
proper name? | confess | hoped that on
receiving my first offer the person making
it would address me with proper courtesy,
and in a manner belitting the occasion. giving
me my name of Katherine; but now you
have gone aud spoiled it all"
"Oh, ! suppose you wanted stiff cere-
monious proposal in FORM" observed: "but
I'm no SIR Charles Grandson, Kitty-kathe-
rinc, would say; therefore, don't be fool
ish; be content TO know, in plain words,
that my whole heart is yours; and have the
good sense to accept your first offer, since
your second may not be so good"
Bat in vain were my arguments and rea-
soniugs. Kitty was determined not to ac-
cept her first offer, and finding her resolute
| changed my tone, and, acqulescng in her
views, confessed that, after all, too had 4
certain pride u?on that point, and should be
rather mortified to know that my wife had
never had any offer bat that had myself
made her; and 50 promised to suspend my
suit till Kitty should be so fortunate as 20
receive an off r from some other quarter.
Now, not far from where Kitty dwe't +
there was 4 faycrite dell. or bower or some
paired with some chnS.n volume. 70 sit and
read. Al my endeavors TO persuade her TO
allow me to accompany her thither had al
ways been quite in vain. Kitty was firm in
pryferrinc her unlis;urbod solitude and |
vas thus daily doomed to an hour or two o:
the mopcs during her woodland visit
In pursuance with this custom Kitty set
out soon after the conversation have sketch
ed, declining, as usual, my offer Of com
Not more than half an hour had elapsed
after she reached her fayorite seat ere her
attention was attracted by young gentle
man who was fishing in the brock which
flowed near her. Kitty drew back a li,tlc
on seeing him but her curious eyes occasion .
ally wandered towards the stranger. The
latter 10 sooner perceived his fair observer
than he bowed with an air Of great polite
ness, and, advancing 4 few steps, vcntgred .
TO address her a few words of commonplace .
greeting. The young mans words were In
deed commonplace but his eyes were far .
more eloquent than his tongue-thcy plain 1
" informed Kitty that she had found new .
admirer Kitty, highly flattering. received
the stranger 5 advances graciOusly, and the .
youth being by no means bashlul, half an .
hour found them chatting easily and gaily on
various topics of interest. ktty'S stay in .
the woods was something longer than usual
that afternoon.
What is the matter, Kitty = asked, on !.
meeting her soon after her return home.
- Your eyes sparkle, aud you look as pleased
a tough you had met a fairy in your atthcrs- /,
noon ramble."
at is better than fairy :" cried Kitty,
breathlessly, J." it's young man
Endeed!" CALCULATED, with whistle. /.
Yes, james, she replied, land he is so
agreeabe-so delightful
that can't say how things might go if he .
were to make Inc, some Of these days, my
second Offer"
"You can't impose on me in that kind of
way, kitty-so don't attempt it" | exclaim-
ed. IN be bound the impuden: fellow .
whom won't object to speaking bit Of my
i a., /, ,l.
than l am myself"
Kitty laughed aloud in derision.
"He's thousand times handsomer than !
much more entertaining as he is more hand /.
some"
"Come, Kitty, don't be too cutting-too !
cruel" began; but Kitty drew herself up |
with dignity.
"They call me Katharine, who speak to
me, sirl' she said.
"Katharine fiddlesticksl" cried. "kitty
is the prettiest and sweetest name in the
world, and comes most natural to me-don't
bother with your Katherines :"
:" dare say you may like it," said Kitty,
pouting half angriiy, "but don't. It's too
free How would you like it if | persisted
in calling you jim? l declare I'll call you
jim if you go on calling me Kitty"
"Do so, if you like" replied, land it
will soon sound to me like the sweetest name
in the world. But may l presume to beg
from my fair and gracious Lady Katharine,
a description of this wood Adonis that she
has been encountering?"
"Hes TALL" began Kitty.
"Taler than Il" 1 interrupted. Kitty
almost annhilated me by look.
"By at least half foot-and of an ele-
CANT figure" she continued with marked
emphasis. Z" He was dressed in fishing cos
tune, which greatly became him."
81 have an old fishing blouse upstairs,
I muttered; 81 think I'll get it out
"The young mans manners were uncom-
monty easy and gentlemanly, and withal
perfectly respectful and deferental," con-