The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-16

she found nGrSelf lace TO FACE WlGn the
gentleman himself
"Good evening, Miss Perkins,
"Good evening, Sal she almost said
it" Mr.. Jones'"
Il am very happy to meet you, after
Yes, it is,-''she was trying to frame
some excuse to get away. " Yes, it is
a long time"
"And how much you have improved.
Had it not been for youreyes, with their
peculiar zinl1enite color, [ doubt il ]
should have known YOU
Kitty wondered what he meant by
" zinkenite.' 1t was something she had
never heard of before. Her father said
she had "cat-eyes." She thought he
was making fun of her in learned man
ner, ana was ready to burst into tears.
"After our long separation" he con-
for the first set +? See, the floor is cleared
and the music ready, Miss CatIlarine."
"Miss Catharine," indeed! She had
never been called anything but kitty
in all her life and just out OF spite she
would have refused him if she dared
But there stood her father and mother,
and Deacon Jones and his wife, and it
would not do. Then there was some
thing flattering in being the first partner
of one the girls We're all crazy about
She was very fond of dancing, and she
would show him ''what was what; ~
and she consented.
Getting the better OF her natural BASH
fitness and confusion, Kitty began to
enjoy the fun, and even mustered up
courage to look at her partner. If she
had changed for the better, as he insin-
uated, how much more 50 had he. She
remembered him as a great, overgrown,
awkward boy, clumsily dressed, always
red in the face, and who never knew
what to Go with his hands and feet
Now his form was a good one, his eyes
clark blue ones, she noticed, expressive,
his face fair, with love Of q moustache,
his motions graceful, and his garments
well fitted and genteelly made. AS for
his voice, it was low and musical, and
we'll, before Kitty was aware of the fact,
she was becoming strongly interested.
The dance finished, he led her to a seat,
lingering by her side a moment convers-
ing in an easy manner, and then min
gled with the others, entering heartily
into all their projects for amusement
Evidently he was not stuck up," if he
had been to college.
The whirl of the plays that followed
soon brought them together again.
Kitty was victimized, and had a forfeit
to pay. That malicious romp, Mollie
Williams, the judge, and the sentence
was to 'smeasure three yards of tape
with sam Jones, and cut it off every
yard !" Alas, for poor Kitty!
"With your permission whispered
Mr.. Jones, and i'll the most delicate man.
ner took hold Of her fingers and just
brushed her cheek with his lips.
1t WAS SO entirely different from the
usual hawbuck hugging and "slobber-
ingo (the word is Mollie Williams, not
ed to that she could not but feel compli-
mented. If that was the fashion at col
lege, it was not SO bad, though she had
rather it had been on her lips!
Just then came the time for refresh
ments, and while the tables were being
spread, the young folks separated into
groups and wandered through the old
orchard; some of them, at least, drink
ing in love as we'll as moonshine.
"Miss Catharine." said Mr.. Jones,
who had contrived to be companion,
do you remember the old Dough apple
tree where we used to go when children,
to gather the earliest apples?"
ooh, yes"
ais it still standings
:" Yes, it was full this year"
"Indeed! Will you show me the
way thither? I have a great longing to
see it again.
Certainly, come this way"
And quite distance it was through
the perfumed clover-clear to the eX-
treme edge of the orchard. But it was
n strange idea that he should want to
see it at that particular time, yet simple
hearted little Kitty never thought of it.
She was only thinking how much he
had improved-wh a handsome young
man he Was-how very superior to all
she had ever met, and regretting that il
was only Sam Jones. Ifany other man,
she was not sure but she could love
him.
ssAh this is the tree" he said, as he
paused beneath the king Of the orchard.
elbow well | remember it. 1t almost
makes me feel as if | was child again.
And that reminds ne, Miss Perkins.
Ooh, how she hated the name that !
have u duty to perform, and, believe
me, q hard one, after seeing you again.
Can Won guess what it is?7'
Poor Kitty! she stood with her steel
GRAY ewes opened to their utmost, and