The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-02

that perfection, hope, will not be very d
fcult of achievement. I'll begin to-morro,
IS Let me see-tall-handsome- agreeable
st good manners-elegant figure a--mou
N tache! On the whole, | think | am Vel
e much afraid of my new rival"
e The rext Cay when Kitty reached h,
r. little retreat, she found the stranger agai
n in its neighborhood. l must do the lit
It coquette the justice Of confessing that 81
: did look little startled, and indeed vexe,
It when she saw him; but perhaps thinking
;, too late to retreat, she advanced timidl,
] The youth met her with many apologies, an
| a plausible pretence for his intrusion, whic
she could not gainsay, while something fla
tering in his manner made her blushingl
e divine that the hope Of again seeing her ha
been the true cause Of his re-appearanct
BE that as it might, the stranger, perhaps t
give k'tty time to recover her confidence
, Immediately sauntered OFF in pursuit Of hi
sport, and kitty, fancying she had seen tn
, last of her new admrer, drew forth he
book, and, setting herself in mossy corner
began TO read. She, however, had scarcel,
| succeeded n; GA;Dg her attention on its page
before the pertinacious stranger re-appeared
and declaring that fishing was dull work, an,
the fish would not bite, he composedly seat
ed himself at Kitty's feet, and begged t.
know the name of the book she was reading
"Tennyson's Princess" replied Kitty
CURLY.
The impertu-bable stranger declared the
book great favorite of his, and began to
ask so entertainingly of books and authors,
that Kitty, warmed by the subject, forgot
to be dignifed, and an animated discourse
OF favOrite authors ensued. Afterwards the
young man begged permission to read few
admirable passages from the book she held
/ IN her hand, and it so happened that the
/ passages he had selected were the very ones
nifty Low the best; he read them well, too,
ana Kitty seyes sparkled with delight as she
listened. Turning at last to the exquisite
concluding interview between Ida and the
young prince, the strangers voice became
stlll more and more earnest as he read, until
coming TO the words
"Iadeed love tLee: come
Nieli thyself up ny hopes aud thine are one;
Accomplish thou my manhood and thypel!
L4y ny sweet hands IN mine, and trust 10 me-
he suddenly flung the book aside, excaim-
ing What words! what words. What
would | not give for courage to utter them
to the being love best on earth :" The
stranger paused a momeat, and then broke
loIth !nrCtdouSiy
" This forced silence is all in vain-the
words | would repress will come. In vain
have striven TO be prudcut-cautious-t
allow you time-time not to startle you
lovely, bewitching Miss katharine-you are
yourself t-c object Of my secret alteration,
TO whom | would say much if dared"
and thcrcupon the youth rather nelodra-
natical'y fell upon one knee and forthwith
proceeded to make Kitty a very plain offer
Of his hand.
Meanwhile Kitty had risen from her seat.
and recovering from her astOnishment, she
drew herself up with dignity and replied
/" hardly know, sir, what you mean by
your very strange wore and conduct The
liberty you have taken has made me very
sensible Of my o"n imprudence in having
the advances Of stranger SO presuming--
an error shall be careful never to repeat"
50 saying, my proud little Kitty turned
from the st'anger with a distant bow and
walked directly home.
did not see HI ty till some time after her
return perhaps she was recovering her
IairIts ip irrr. rear'' for VIII i'.--. ha- eln
was as full Of mischief As ever.
Well, James. why don't you ask me
about my adventures to-day: :" she inquired
Because" | replied, d" | didn't suppose
=
to-day whore you would be likely to encoun
;cr the inso!cut puppy who presumed to ad-
dress you ycsterday.'
Il didn't in the least expect him to be
there TO-DAY, said Kitty, blushing and some
what confused, "but lie was there
"Ui course | replied, gruiiiy. Well,
was your Adonis as handsome and agreeable
as ever"
More So cried Kitty, recovering her
compoSurc he looked more Massane!lo
like than ever in his fishing dress and for
entertainment, he first read me all the finest
part OF TenuySon' Princess, and then made
a marriage proposal, and | don't think any
man could be expected to do more in one al
tcrnoon.'
II should think not, indeed" said l.
- Pray, what reply did you make to the
young rascal that you had a friend at
home that would be glad to kick him for his
insoiencc:"
Far from it." said Kitty; what my re-
ply was, is my secret-and his but for you,
my poor James, ain sorry for you-its all
over with you and your offer.
Why, you good-ior nothing, little, de
ceitful puss." cried |, losing all patience,
- there never was a more arrant dissembler
living. Behold how plain tale shall put
you down,-for lo!-I myself, disguised
merely by little paint-a fishing blouse, a
false moustache and change in the arrange
ment of my hair was in my own person
this elegant, handsome, agreeable stranger,
whose praises you have 50 layiShly Sounded.'
Poor Kitty was comp!etel. contounded.
How could have been so stupid ," she
murmurcd, land then the voice, too, which
sounded so familiar to me all the time l.
l,, h., T.
TO punish YOU for attempting just now to
palm wicked falsehood on me, shall i'm
pose q two fold fine. First-you shall kiss
me, and then fix our wedding day, which
must be very shortly, for | am going to
Paris in month, and you must 60 with me?"
Kitty gave little scream and declared
that she could not think of submitting to
either of my penalties; but in vain she |
struggled and protested-I had her in my
arms, and finding at last all her efforts 20
release herself fruitless, her jests and laugh |
ter suddenly changed to earnest tenderness,
and closing her arms around me, she said
p" As YOU will, dear-deareSt Jamie!"
One month from to-day, then, my own,
sweet darling Kitty" l began.
katharine!" whispered Kitty.
Katharine, them" repeated, smiling at
her pertinaoity on this point-"just one
month from to-day, my Katharine!'
You never put any adjective before ka-
tharine," murmured Kitty, evasively, hiding
her biushing face.
My own dear, gracious, winning, be-
witching, most kissable Katharine" said l;
g shall it be as say"
eff mama chooses" whispered Kitty.
And so persuaded the sweetest and pretti-
est girl in the country to accept her first
and only |, yer; and though to this day my
merry little wife often complains that de.
frauded her, by my tricks, of her natural
womanly right of breaking two Or three
hearts at least ere she made one supremely
blest; still, she generally concludes her re-