Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-09-11
KITTY DALE.

KITTY DALE.
"If ever marry" Kitty Dale used
to say, half in earnest and half in fun.
"thes fortunate manor, il you like
better, the unfortunate be q
man who possesses these three quali-
ties wealth, good looks and sense. /
name wealth first because think il is
the most necessary and desirable quail
ity of the three. Although I would
never think of marrying . fool, or q
man whose ugliness T should be
ashamed Of, yet I think would sooner
talk sensibly for the one or shine for
the other, provided he were rich, than
to ecOnomize and live in security with
any man, however handsome and sem
sible he might be-
know not how much of this came
from Kitty's heart; that some of it
did the sequel will show. Without
doubt she built her full share Of Span
| ish castles, for her education in the du-
ties and objects Of life was exceeding
| ly imperfect, II not absolutely false.
But whoever became acquainted with
Kitty's true womanly nature could not
doubt that she was capable of deeper
and nobler sentiments.
And the time approached when
Kitty must take the important step
the most important in woman's life
-of which she had spoken so lightly !;
when she would give her friends an
opportunity to Judge how much of nd.
heart was in the words we have citeer
At the joyous age of eighteen she
had a goodly number of suitors, but as
she never seriously encouraged but
two, we will follow her example, and
leaving the others unnoticed, con-
slider only the relative advantages and
merits of her favorites.
If this were not . thoroughly true
story, / would avail myself of the
privileges of the literary artist, and
picture the two gentlemen in strong
contrast, SO as to heighten the color. I
would represent one as hero and
genius, but poor; the other as fool
and a rascal, but rich. But the truth
is our poor genius was neither q ge-
MUS nor very poor. He was q clerk
| in Broadway bank, with sufficient
salary to enable hun to live right COM
forfably, but which offered no ohance
of his ever becoming rich.
Frank Gothwait possessed many ex-
cellent qualities, which gave him the
reputation among his early and more
discriminating acquaintances as being
q "highly estimable young man -
among his comrades as being "a
deuced good fellow" and among the
young ladies of being '.just as nice as
he could be-"
Kitty loved Frank; she couldn't
help it. He was convinced that she
prt ferred his society to that of Tom
w, llington, his only rival.
4 lis Tom Wellington-his COM
radcs called him the "Duke"-was
neither an idiot nor hump-backed, nor
bow-legged, all of which l wish he
had been; it would have made my
story so much more interesting. On
the contrary, he was q sensible, hand
some, well-bred young man, and, so
far as know, there was not trace of
rascal in his composition. Besides
these advantages, he-the son of one of
our merchant princes-possessed an in
come sufficient to enable him to 1--we
superbly. He counted his thousands
when his rival counted his hundreds.
Frank rested his hopes, therefore, en-
tirely on the influence he possessed
over Kitty's heart. The 1Duke," al
though Just the man for her in every
particular, as he was rich, handsome
and sensible, could never succeed in
winning her affections, and the amia-
BILE Frank could not or would not be.
lieve she would allow the promptings
Of her nobler and better nature to be
overruled by worldly considerations.
When he, however, one day insisted
upon knowing his fate, she startled him
by saying, with deep drawn sigh:
"Ah, Frank, am sorry we ever
met"
"Sorry!"
ayes, have thought it all over; we
can never be anything but friends"
"What" exclaimed Frank, turning
suddenly, and nervously twisting his
| blonde mustache.
"Never, never!" said Kitty, in tone
scarcely audible.
Frank sat down beside her OH the
sofa put his arm around her waist in
spite Of Q gentle "don't do that" and,
letting his voice sink almost to mur-
mur, spoke to her--to the proud Kitty
Until she wept.
''Kitty," said he, in tone full of
tender emotion, "Kitty, / know that
lyou love me, but are proud, ambi-
tious, selfish! tits really your win
that / should leave you, speak the
word, and / will GO
"Go them" murmured Kitty.
"Have you fully decided" asked
Frank, hardly able t, believe his ears.
II aYes."
il "Then farewell!'
i He took her hand in his, looked for
. moment into her pretty fearful face,
and then unable to control himself
pressed her passionstely to his bosom
She not only submitted to his en-
brace without struggle, but, giving
way to an irresistible impulse, threw
her arms lovingly around his neck
Suddenly, however, recollecting hel
resolution, she loosened her hold and
pushed him from her with q sigh.
"Shall go?" he stsmmered.
| A faint "Yes" fell from Kitty's lip
the next moment she lay on the sofa
alone, sobbing and weeping. But, lit
tie by little, her grief seemed to weal
itself out. Her tears ceased to flow
and her breathing became more regu
lar. Her head rested on her arm, ant
her face was half concealed beneath
food of dark brown curls.
: The struggle was over; the pain wa
stilled. She saw Mr.. Wellington en-
ter, and sprang up gaily to meet an,
{ welcome him. His manner pleased
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