The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-11-21
kITTY'S RUSE.
BY MARY GRACE HALPrNE,

very nlgnt, ana Know the worst, Wiit-
ever II Is
Brown-eyed, brown-haired Kitty Cline
looked up in dismay at her lovers clouded
and rsolute face.
'.Oh, Robert. pray be patient little
while longer, lou know just how con-
trsiry and set in his way father i. lfyou
do AS you say. the upshOt will be that he
will forbid your coming 10 the house at all.
You leave il 10 me. | have plan In my
head. BE 10 Cousin James tomorrow
evening, and l will tell you how it
works.
As Robert Dunn left the house, which
he did with a lighter heart than when he
entered il, he met Mr.. Cline at the gate,
who gared wrathfuIly at him in return
for his pleasant greeting.
He was a short. thick-set man, with
red. uncomfortable looking face. as though
his collar was too tight for him.
Stamping into the house with consider
ably more noise than was necessary. he
turned 10 the window where Kitty was
sitting, hnmming "A tune, a careless, I'M
concerned look upon her face. which be-
lied the frightened feeling at her heart.
:" What's that young fellow coming here
So much for. Kitty"
Kitty tossed her head with an air of dis
dain.
= For what he won't get. smart as he
thinks himself. He wanted that should
let him speak To YOU. but | told him that
ii wouldn't be the least particle ofuse."
The old man glared at his daughter with
an air of mingled astonshment and indig-
nation that was ludicrous to witness.
Yes" replied Kitty, compOsediy,
threading her needle. "lc seems to have
got the idea into his head, some way, that
you'would favor his suit, but | told him
that II wouldn't make any difference if you
did,
Here Mr. Cline choked with rage. being
unable 10 give utterance TO his feelings
only by an inarticnlate sound.
"And that, furthermore. he needn't take
the trouble to call here again." continued
Kitty. placidly. apparently entirely mn
conscious of the storm that was gathering.
And have you the assurance to tell me.
miss" burst forth the indignant old gen
tlemm, = that my favoring his suit eill
make no dificrcnceT'
"Well, papa, of course I'd be sorry To
run counter 10 your wiShcs''-
81 rather think you would be-" inter
ruptcd her father; I" its an operation that
you would not care To repeat---not while
I'm above ground. Mr.. Dunn is an intel
ligent and worthy young man. of whose
preference any lady with the least particle
of sense would be- proud. shall invite
him TO continue his calls here, and rcmcm-
Der that II is my wish that you treat him
with the respect and consideration that he
deserves
Having thus delivered himself Mr..
Cline left the room with an mir of great
satisfaction; Kitty making no response.
save by "A subducd sniisle behind the hand
kcrchief. in which She had buried her face
Having first made sure that her father
had taken himself off down the street. she
dried her laughing eyes. and as soon a. il
began 10 grow dusk she went over TO her
cousins where she knew Robert would be
waiting for her. 10 tell him of her success.
and to instruct him into his part In the
little comedy that was being enacted.
At Mr.. Cline's express invitation. he
continued his calls with more frequency
than before, being treated by Kitty, when
her father was present. with a GOODNESS
which the young man took with very COM
mendable philosophy and resignation.
Perhaps the warmth and cordially of his
host had something to do with this. or he
might have been sustained by various pri-
waite interviews with Kitty. and which
seemed 10 bc very pleasant and satisfacto-
ny TO all concerned.
Embroidered by the marked encourage
ment given him by the old gentleman. |
Robert finally asked him for the hand of |
his daughter. receiving his unqualified |
consent
Robert expressed his gratitude in warm |
terms. taking care 20 hint that lac had !
not received much encouragement from
Miss Kitty"
"Nevcr you mind Kitty" returned the 1
old man with an air of grim satisfaction
"girls don't know what they want, nor \
what Is for their best good. I'll manage
her."
Accordingly. that very evening. Mr.. 1
Cline communicated To his daughter what
lac was pleased 10 term "her undeserycd /
good fortune"
No sooner had Kitty been given the
name of the husband destined for her. than
she vehemently asserted that she would
die sooner than marry him. Her father
just as stoutly Insisted that she should
and the controversy endedby his ordering
her 10 her chamber, declaring that She
should stay there until she came To a prop
or sense Of the duty She owed him as a
daughter.
In the morning he visited Kitty. finding
her, If possible, more contumacious than
before. Indeed so provoking was her Ian
gliagc. that he assured her of his determi-
nation To keep her on bread and water un-N
I'll she submitted.
With this pleasing prospect before her,
Kitty remained in durance vile = all lay. |
She did not seem at all cast down on The I
contrary, She bore every appearance of be-
ing IN comfortable and contcntcd frame
of mind.
She spent the greater part of the day In |
answering sundry notes, and which were |
slipped under her door by her cousin. who |
was IN the plot. the contents of which |
seemed TO afford her great satisfaction.