Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-10-16
.sCherry Time"
DY AMY RANDOLPH.

LII Al nANOVAEu.
The reapers were busy on the upland inca
dows that sloped towards tho sun, the air
was full Of the vanilla odors Of new mown
hay, and the old brown robin, whose nest " as
in the maple boughs overhanging the Clltfdeau
house was carolling It's very heart out in
liquid rivulets Of song. Every created thing
seemed drinking in the full glory of the sun
lner morning, aud revelling in the mere fact of
existence. -
That is, every created thing, save and sx-
cept little Kitty Clif-she wasn't happy bit.
For, as she came round the densely Swallowed
honey suckle path, in sight of the front porch,
her eye caught sight CT two figures sitting
under the swinging trails of a rOSe-bloom in
an absorbing tete-a-tete-her cousin, Georgi,
Carr, and Mr.. Seymour Olcolt
Tho rosy flush Of color d ed out around
Kity's dimples the long lashes dropped and
grcw misty. Therc-it wa, no USE striving
against that coming flood of tea' s-Miss Kitty
sat down on the grassy bank and cried
heartily.
Il nope they will be happy" s. bbed poor
Kitty "but oh how [ wish Georgia mad
never come here. Twas so happy in fancying
taat Seymour liked me a little, and now"
And Kitty cried again.
The path to the giant cherry-tree was short
and shaded. as Kitty crept through it, never
once looking back to the porch where Georgia
and Seymour were SO happy together; and
the green gloom, studded with the ruby
sparkle Of lnnumerable, ripe, dewy cherries,
made her think Of the 'jewel-trees" she had
read about in childhood, when the Arabian
Nights seemed veritable truth, and Fairy Land
an established fact
II wish were little child again !" sighed
Kitty, her lip beginning to quiver. I'D dn't
have nice times then, with never lover to
disturb Them? Didn't l climb up this old
tree half a.duzsn times a day to see the blue
eggs in the brown thrushs nest? l wor der
il the nest is there now! | dvn't care y
calculated Kitty, 81 don't care single bit, if
am eighteen mean 20 climb up INTO the
old cherry tree again and fill my basket. 1
want to feel the cool leaves against my hot
cheek. want to be all alone with the blue
air and the wind, and the brown thruShes.
know Aunt Rachel would scold dreadfully.
but don't carer'
gnarled fork of the sturdy old tree and climbed
up its branches as deity as if she had been
brigh-eyed squirrel instead Of a young lady
There was a considerable spice Of romp about
Miss Kitty, and it must be frankly contessed
that she was great deal mere at home in her
old cherry tree than she would have been at
her neglected piano.
High up among the Auttering leaves she sat
slowly gathering the ripe fruit into her little
basket, and looking through aquivering dim
ness of tears at the reapers afar off on the
sunny meadow slopes, thinking the while how
very, very miserable she was.
All at once the sound of voices struck her
ear; she . ,rted the leaves and looked down
from her airy perch, only to see Seymour o.
colt aud Georgia Carr estaoli. hing themselves
comfortably under the shadow of this very
cherry tree
Poor little Kitty-there was no escape for
her now. Prisoned among the swaying
branches, she must be an unwilling auditor
to the conversation CT the two below!
80, l wish they would 60 awayn' thought
Kitty, beginning to ,remble as she laid her
throbbing forehead against the friendly cd
tree. 81 cannot bear to hear him speaking
words of love to Georgia! Oh, why did
ever come here?'
Her thoughts were cut short by Seymour
OlcCtt's voice. He was stripping the lesv,s
from y spray of f.rget me-not, in an absent
minded sort of way, and spoke rs if in resump-
ton Of some previous discussion.
"If you only knew, Gepsg'a, how much
doubS and apprehension feel in approaching
the subject If my love"
81 Can easily imagine it," said Georgia,
softly.
The pulses of Kitty's heart seemed to grow
chill, and sick feeling of despair came over
her.
If dared suppose for moment" went
on Seymour, THAT the treasure of such
he art could ever be mine
why should you doubt it ?" asked Geor-
gia, smiling. Remember, Mr.. Olcott, faint
heart never won fair LADY,"
Il believe shall take your advice" said
Seymour, land ! am glad that | consulted
you on the subject. Indeed, Georgia, my
love for your cousin is the one absorbing
passion of my life. have watched her grow
from the far girl into the beautiful woman,
with ever Strengthening devoto,, and
now Well, | won't be ntim entail, that
is, if l can help it," he added, trying to smile;
''but Of ore thing am assured-if Kitty Cliff
refuses me, life will not be worth having
Come-let us return to the house. will seek
her at once and decide my fate -
As their footsteps died away, the little
captive danscl among the branches hid her
burning face among the leaves and began to
cry az in. But they were happy tears oh,
such blissful tears!
Then you do really love me p
Kitty Cliff was standing just where the
sunset turned her chestnut curls to gold, in
dainty robes of while muslin tied at the waist
with broad blue ribbon. She had never
looked fairer. nor more m!schievcus. A sense
of power makes a woman dangerous.
"Love you, Kitty? If"
"Thcre, there, don't be sentimental, if you
can help it," laughed Kitty. eff l refuse
you, life won't be worth having, and sol
will not refuse you"
"Kitty!'' calculated the perplexed lover,
"you heard me this morning. Where were
you?'
"Never mind ~ said Kitty saucily. And
as soon as she could escape from Seymour
Olcott's OBTAINING hand, she ran up stars to
nestle her check against Georgia's shoulder
and whisper to her as very great secret,
THAT she wRs to be- married in the fall ~
Mr.. O!cott never knew wheth r the Hama
dryads in the wood or the robins in the tree
carried his secrets to Kitty, but she will tell
him the truth, perhaps, after they are mar
ried.