Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-04-09
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KIFTYi'PLEASANTON'S
.s'''-'', >" FIRST LOVE. -.

afa L cannot remember the time when I
was hot in love with Kitty Pleasanton.
It must have been when we were both
babies. I am sure I loved her as we
sat together by the roadside soaking
our dandelion stems to make them curl
Ny passion was in no wise abated, when
somewhat later I climbed cherry trees at
her bidding; nor later yet, when at dan
cling school awkwardly made my new
learned bow, and asked her to be my
partner; nor, am sure, was my boyish
passion at all da1nped, when on my re-
turn from college l found my sweet lit
tie Kitty changed, by some undefnea-
BE alteration, from lovely child to a
bewitehing young woman. She was al
a,ost the same as when Iparted from her
three years before-the-wom was very
like. the child-there was the same rosy
,GheeIs, the same pouting, innocent lips,
the same curling hair, but some charm,
grace, or sentiment was added, which
made my heart thrill with new emotion
as / gazed at her.
a Kitty" said to her one day, after
/ had been at home week or two, and
] found I could restrain myself no lon
ger; kitty, I'm very much in love with
YOU, as you know as we'll as do. I've
always been in love with you, and 1 fan
cy you are in love with me; but now l
want you to promise to marry me-" L
PAUSED, Kitty made no answer, and l
said: t'You like me, Kitty, don't your
-''i s'First tell me, said Kitty, with an
odd mixture. of delight and bashfulncss
in her face, IF you Se made what is call
ed an offer p. .f.,.s..,.
$40 be sure I have my darling re-
piled; "an offer which trust and hope
you will accept"
FDon't be too sure of that, said Kit
ty demurely.
- 'sKitty, you love me y exclaimed.
- s'That's my secret" replied the pro-
voking little thing, "but at any rate, y
she continued, Il should not possibly
( think of accepting the very first offer L
ever received-I should be m ortifed all
the rest of my life if did. No, indeed;
no girl of spirit would dream of accept
ing her first offer, as if she was afraid
she should never have another. Excuse
me, James, but can't possibly accept
you until l have had at least one other
Offer" -H-i
- +, t'But my deares st Kitty" I began
.'z-'sK 'sKittyi Kitty Kittyr' she exclaim-
cd: sswill Mr.. Brant learn to call me by
my proper name? confess did hope
that on receiving my first offer the
person. making it would address me with
proper courtesy, and in a manner be-
fitting the occasion, giving me my name
of Katharine; but now you've gone and
spoiled it all. ~
a0h, I suppose you want a stiff, GER
ennonious proposal in form, ]. observed;
but, I am no Sir Charles Grandson,
Kitty-Katharine, would say; there
fore don't be foolish; be contentto 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"
But in vain were my arguments and
reasonings. Kitty was determined not
TO accept her first offer, and finding her
resolute changed my tone, and acqui-
escing in her views, confessed that too
had certain pride on that point, and
should be rather mortified to know that
my wife had never had any offer but
that I had myself made her; and so I
promised to suspend my suit till Kitty
should be so FORTUNATE as to receive an
offer from some other quarter.
Now, not far from where Kitty dwelt,
there was favorite 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 accompany
her thither had always been quite in
vain Kitty was firm in preferring her
undisturded solitude, and L was daily
doomed to an hour or two of the mopes
during her romantic woodland visit.
In pursuance with this custom, Kitty
set out soon after the conversation l
have sketched, declining as usual my
offer of eompanionship.