Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-04-12
KITTY'S STRATACEM:
OR,
BREAKING AN ENGAGEMENT,

1ault. OF course, II men were taken in bY
the round, childish flce and great innocent
blue eyes. For they were scores of them,
and Kitty went on her way rejoicing
completing their bewiiderment by the Shy
| looks, and smiles, and bushes, that really
meant nothing, but were very effective,
nevertheless.
But in an unlucky hour for Kitty, she
said ''1 es" to a dark, melancholy young
man, who had been her shadow for months.
She wasn't in earnest, but did it for the
''fun of the thing" and because she want
ed to know how it felt to be 'engaged." )"
1t resulted seriously, however, for, in spite
Of express commands to the contrary, the
expected sllitor went directly to her father
and told him all about it.
GIr. Day looked at his daughter mis-
chievOusly that night, as she sat behind the
tea-Ilrn with such Il cOmical assumption of
dignity.
$50 I'm to lose my little hOusekeeper
before long, am ?'' questioned he, sgnifi-
cantly.
"Why, papa, what do you mean ?" and
Kitty blushed scarlet.
g Mr.. Gilbert called on me to-day. He
is an excellent young man, and the son OF
one Of my oldest friends. / heartily APP
prove your choice, my DEAR
He promised to keep the engagement a
$50 he told Inc, but concluded tter
ward to break his promise rather than act
dishonesty. For it wouldn't have been
quite fair to have concealed the engage
ment from me-"
81 don't know why, I'm sure. It's on
ly bit of my fun, any way. l never meant
to marry him.
Mr.. Day looked at her sternly.
"Pm not jcSting," she added, pettishly.
'He threw himself into such a passion
that / was fairly frightened into saying
Yes and sorry enough I've been for it
since"
{" Are you in earnest, Kitty 2"
eyes, am," and the blue eyes flashed
defiantly.
els it possible that daughter of mine
has so little feeling and principle ?''
Now, papa, what is the use Of lectur-
ing. You know me Of old. I'm in trou-
ble and want you to help me out of it,
But you've given your word, Kitty, and
must abide by it,
L" Didn't he break his ~
"Yes, and was justified in doing So
But you are not. Still, I'll give you a
choice Of two evils, if you think marrying
young Gilbert one. Few girls would.
Either keep your promise and make the
best of circumstances, or break it and pass
tie winter in the country with your aunt
Dorothy. For Pm not going to have you
play fast and loose with mems hearts after
this fashion,
Kitty looked up in her fathers face, dis
believingly, but determination was written
there and, filed with sudden dismay, she
began to plead for 4 reprieve of the SEN
tence.
But Mr.. Day wouldn't listen. "You
| can stay in the city and participate in its
gayeties on one condition only, and that
I've mentioned" said he.
E'Was ever anything so provoking ~
1luttered Kitty, after her father had gone
| down town. ''Aumt Dorothy lives in a
! fOrlorn-looking old place, and it's a perfect
| wilderness around her, and papa knows
that she is the crossest old maid in ex-
istence. But III be even with him YETI
| The next morning Kitty announced hel
| intention Of remaining in the city. ''But
papa, Mr.. Gilbert himself should grow tired
of the engagement, after he knows me
better, you'll not punish me for that, will
you?" and her eyes tre;nbled mischievOusly
''Certainly not, child. What question
| to ask"
! But Kitty had a motive in it. A plan
I had suggested itself to her mind for out
whiting both father and lover. But she
didn't mean to hurry, and began to pave
! the way for its success cautiously.
| AS good luck would have it, who should
call on her that morning but cousin Joe
the firm ally and abettor Of all her childish
mischief, and as ready to help her now as
| then.
ooh. Joe, such trouble as I'm in,'' and
! she clasped her hands with a pretty little
| gesture of appeal.
''What, you, Kitty? Is your canary bird
| fractiouS. or is it something about new
! dress Or bonnet that don't equal your ex-
! pectations ~
Kitty looked ~ him SO reproachfully that
| he : 5oDors.I ;.s minute.
| '..,il nae Ill q. 1T it," whispered he.
| II III engage, and if she'd been an
n0urcing her own funeral, she couldn't
| have done it in R more solemn voice.
| Joe flushed Up to the roots of his hair
| AMI clasped and unclasped his hands i'll a ner
vou5 sort Of way, but didn't say anything,
Kitty watched him maliciously. ats tC
that young Gilbert, He's q splendid fel
| low, and has great dark eyes and the
dearest little moustache. You know him
don't you?'
"No-yes-a little,' stammcred Joe, tC
the delight of his listener. ''But what's the
trouble about? Won't your father con
sent ~ and he looked so utterly WretcheC
that KITTY, with a faint tWinge of re
morse, fastened to tell him the tru
He frightened up wonderfully. "Thel
you don't love the man after all ," h
asked.
"Well, | don't know" size answered
meditatively. II never looked into th
matter much. l suppose he's as good a
any one, but I'm not in a marrying moot
at present"
Joe's countenance fell again. ''Will 20,
tell me just what you want?'' said he
little Sternly.
''Now don't be cross, Joe; you're tn
only friend I've got in the world" an
Kitty raised her soft eyes imploringly.
He was modified at once. "Why nc
; break with Gilbert and accept the alterna
tive ?' suggested he. "TwOn't be so yer
dull at aunt Dorothy's. I've a colleg
friend in the neighborhood, and can visi
you occasionally"
Poor Joe! The idea of having her all t
himself was delightful, and he waited fo
her answer with subdued eagerness.
g Is that the only plan that has Occurre
to you 2" answered Kitty sarcastically
"you havn't much ingeL uity if you can
devise some other way of getting me out c
this dilemma. I've no intention of becOn
ing an animated fossil. Now listen to Wha
l propose"
Then Kitty disclosed her plot, and 10
listened approvingly, and the two head
were still bent close together when youn
Gilbert called an hour later. He entere
unannounced, and Kitty gave such stal
and blush at him that Joe's hopes agai
sank to zero. But if he'd been sensibl
he'd known that her embarrassment wa
the Result of surprise rather than emotion
She was very arch and winning that morn
ing until after Joe left (the little witc
knew he was on nettles all the time) the
she changed her tactics, grew cold and dis
taut. $50 you had to tell papa, after all,
she SDeprpd. Gman can't keen a secret