Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-03-29
had the face and form of a Hsbe.

The front door had no sooner closed OF
him than the actors in the above drama wen
off into spasms Of merriment. Kitty stoo'
revealed in the gaslight with dress unin
ljured there was not cut to be seen on joe
face; the child was nowhere visible.
"Oh! oh! twas SO funny p gasped Kit
tv, "that whine would have deceived any
body, twas so natural I half started my
self, thinking twas really ch,ld's voice in
stead of yours. You deserve a reward Of
merit for such splendid acting"
"Give me one then. and let me choose
it myself whispered Joe
"Well, what will you have?" and she
ooked up arcbly.
yourself"
"What modest demand !" There was
hooking smile on his lips, but her eyes
fell beneath his''
edo you think so? and taking the mis-
chievous little face between his bands, he
scanned it closely. What he saw there was
evidently satisfactory, for he kissed il over
and over and Kitty, though she resisted a
little at first, finally submitted with very
good grace.
"'Tis we'll to be off with the old love be-
fore y. are on with the new" whispered
be slyly. ''Gilhert's done for, aud I've
stepped into his place.
''But he didn't treat me in this ay,"
pouted she.
Il hope not. 'Twould be worse or him
it be had. I'd shoot him in minute, 7" and
Joe tried to look belligerent but failed woe
fully.
Mr.. Day was surprised the next morning
by call from Kitty's late sutton The
young man seemed ill at ease, and SIAM
mered great dea! in making his errand
Il understand sir. that insanity is bered-
itary in your family" he began awkwardly.
"and-and-" be paused and tried to col
lect his ideas-"that Kitty's aunt AID
grandmother died in lunatic asylum
"All mistake" responded Mr. Day
pompously There was never case of
insanity. either among my own kindred, or
that Of my late wife's,a
'But your daughter, sir has a peculiar
disposition and fn1 it isn't suited to mine
at all, We should be miserable together,
and desire, therefore, to withdraw from
the engagement.
'fAnd have you told her this y thun-
dered bis listener. white with rage For
MIR Day had really violent temper, and
didn't need to feign its possession, like Kit
ty.
Dear me, the father is worse than the
daughter" thought the young man. Aloud,
be answered, ooh, no, I came to you first"
Cfhe fact was, he didn't dare face Kitty
with any such proposition.l
"Well sir, all [ have to say is. that you
arc mean contemplate william, and if you
don't get out of my office this minute. I'll
kick you down stairs" and before the words
were fairly out of Mr.. Days mouth, he s'arss
ed to make his threat good. .,---,
~s4~ YouuS CilDerJ maue nasty retreat, cos
vinced that not only Kitty, but Mr.. Day
also we're partially insane
Kitty listened demurely to her fathers
version Of the affair. and the anathemas b
hurled against her reereanG lover. Once
though, during that narration, she shook so
with laughter that he looked at her su~pi
ciously. But she put on at once such an
air of wretchedness that he ascribed i, TO
modification and wounded pride. 1t was
not till two years afterward that he learned
the truth, and Kitty was married to Joe,
who, forgot TO say, was not her own cous-
in, though she called him so, but a sort of
distant relation. Mr.. Day received the rev
citation good humoredly (Joe had always
been his special favorlte), and was ready
enough to laugh with the rest over the way
be had been out-witted.