The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-02-02

that perfection, hope, will not be very
difficult of achievement. I'll begin to-
morrow. Let me -tall-handsone-
agreeable-good manners-elegant man
ners, and moustache On the whole,
Kitty, I think I'm not very much afraid
of my new rival"
"You have cause" Kitty replied, with
grave dignity.
The next day when Kitty reached her
little retreat, she found the stranger again
in its neighborhood must do the little
coquette the justice to say that she did
look startled, and indeed vexed, when she
saw him; but perhaps thinking it too late
to retreat, she advanced timidly. The
youth met her with many apologies, and a
plausible pretense for his intrusion, which
she could not gainsay, while something
flattering in his manner made her blush
ingly devine that the hope of seeing her
again had been the true cause of his re-
appearance. Be that as it might, the
stranger, perhaps to give Kitty time to
recover her confidence, Immediately saun-
tered off in pursuit Of his sport, and Kitty,
fancying that she had seen the last of her.
new admirer, drew forth her book, and
reclining in a messy corner, began to
read She, however, had scarcely sue
ceeded in fixing her attention on its pages,
before the pertinacious stranger reap
peared, and declaring that fishing was dull
work, and that the fish would not bite, he
composedly seated himself at Kitty's feet,
and begged to know the name Of the book
she was reading.
'Tennyson's Princess" replied Kitty,
curtly
The impurtable stranger declared the
book great favorite of his, and began to
talk SO entertainingly of books and authors,
that Kitty, warmed by the subject, forgot
to be dignifed, and an animated discourse
on favorite authors ensued. Afterwards
the young man begged the privilege of
reading a few admirable passages from the
book she held tn her hand and it so hap
pened that the passages he had selected
were the very ones Kitty loved best. He
read them well, too, and Kitty's bright
eyes sparkled with delight as she listened.
Turning last to the exquisitely concluding
interview between Ida and the young
prince, the strangers voice became more
and more earnest, and he read till the
coming words:
''Indeed I love thee; come,
Yield thyself up; my hopes and thine are one.
Accomplish thou my manhood and thyself;
Lay thy sweet hands in mine and trust to me-"
He suddenly flung the book aside, ex-
claiming, q What words, what words
w hat would l not give for courage to
utter them to the being | love best on
earth.' The stranger paused a moment,
and then broke lorth impetuousl y: "This
forced silence is all in vain; the words |
would repress will come. In vain have
striven to be prudent-cautious- allow
you time-not TO startle you-lovely, be-
witching Miss Katherine-you are your
self the person of my secret alteration, to
whom | would say much if [ dared and
thereupon the youth, rather melo-drama-
tically, fell on one knee, and forthwith
proceeded to make Kitty very plain offer
of his hand.
Meanwhile Kitty had risen from her
seat, and recovering from her astonish-
ment, she drew herself up with dignity,
and replied, 'I hardly know, sir, what
you mean by your very strange words and
couduct. The liberty you have taken
has made me very sensible of my own i'm
prudence in having allowed the advances
of stranger SO presuming-an error |
shall be careful never to repeat" So say
ing, my proud Kitty turned from the
stranger with distant bow, and walked
directly home.
L did not see Kitty till some time after
her return; perhaps she was recovering
her spirits in her own room, for when L
met her she was as full of mischief as ever.
DWELL, James, why don't you ask me
about my adventures to-day 2" she inquir-
ed.
Because" l replied, 'I didn't suppose
you would be so imprudent as to get again
to-day where you would be like to encoun-
ter the insolent puppy who presumed to
address you yesterday"
"I didn't in the least expect him to be
there" said Kitty blushing, and somewhat
confused, "but he was there"
"Of course" replied gruffiy. "Wel,
was your Adonis as handsome and agree
able as ever Z"
"More so y cried Kitty, recovering her
composure; che looked more Massaniello-
like than ever in his fshingdress; and for
entertainment, he first read me all the
finest part of Tennyson's Princess and
then made marriage proposal, and don't
think any man could be expected to do
more in one afternoon"
81 should think not, indeed said /;