The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-01-07
Kitty RuSe.

sI can't stand this any longer
Kitty: this suspense is wearing out
myi life. [ mean to have a talk
with your father this very night
and know the worst, whatever il
is" .....--.. ....... ,...
Brown-eyed, bro'wn-haired Kitty
Cline looked up in dismay at hel
lovers clouded and resolute face.
ooh, Robert, pray be patient &
little while longer! You know JUS
how contrary and set in his way
father is. If you do as you say
the upshot will be that he will for
bid you coming to the house at all
You leave it to me. I have plan
in my head. Be to Cousin James
to- morrow evening, and | will tel
you how it works. %
AS Robert Dunn left the house
which he did with lighter hear
than when he entered it, he me-
Mr.. Cline at the gate, who .glareo
wrathfully at him in return for his
pleasant greeting.
He was a short, thick-set man.
with a red, uncomfortable looking
face, as though his collar was toe
tight for him.
Stumping into the house with
considerable more noise than was
Decessary, he turned to the window
where Kitty was sitting, huhming
a tune, a careless, unconcerned look
upon her face, which belied the
frightened feeling at her heart.
"What's that young fellow com
! ing here so much Tor, Kitty?"
Kitty tossed her head with an all
| of disdain.
a"For what he won't get, smart as
he thinks himself. He wanted thai
l should let him speak to you, but
l told him that it wouldn't be the
least particle OF use.
The old man glared at his daugh'
ter with an air OF mingled astonish'
ment and Indignation that was lu'
dicrous to witness.
"You did, hey %
eyes" replied Kitty, composed
Ily, threading her needle. "He
seems to have got the idea in his
head, some way, that you would
favor his suit, but [ told him that
it wouldn't make any difference il
he did" :"-..'
Here Mr.. Cline fairly choked
with rage, being unable to give ut
terance to his feelings only by an
inarticulate sound. ..
"And that, furthermore, be
needn't take the trouble to call here
again." continued Kitty, placidly
apparently entirely unconscious ot
the storm that was gathering. "
"And have you the assurance tc
tell me, MISS" burst forth the in
dignant old gentleman, "that my
favoeing his suit will make no dit
ference
"Well, papa, Of course I'd be
sorry. to run counter to your wlshe;
-" g.. r &. ....
=. II rather think you would be-
interrupted her father; "it's an op
Grafton that you wouldn't care te
repeat - not while I'm above
ground. Mr.. Duncan is an intelli
gent and worthy young man, o
whose preference amy lady with the
least particle Of sense would bt
proud. l shall invite him to con
tinue his calls here, and remembe1
that it is my wish that you trea
him with the respect and consider
alton that he Deserves
Having thus delivered himself
Mr.. Cline left the room with an al
of great satisfaction; Kitty making
no response, save by a subdue(
suifle behind the audkerchief, il
which she had buried her face.
Having first made sure that he
father had taken himself off dowl
the street, she dried her laughing
ewes, and as soon as it began tt
grow dusk, she went over to he
Cousins, where she knew Eober
would be waiting for her, to tel
him of her success, and to instruc
him into his part in the little com
edv that was being enacted.
AT Mr.. Clinc's express invitation
he continued his calls with NOR
frequency than before, being treate'
, by kitty, when her father was pres
emf, with a GOODNESS which tn
Young man took with very com
: mendable philosophy and reslgna
ton.
, Perhaps the warmth and cordial
itv of his host had something t
do with this, or he might have bee
sustained by various private inter
views with Kitty, and which SCENE
to be very pleasant and satlstactor
D to all concerned.
: Emboldeued by tie marked er
e couragement given him by the OF
gentleman, Robert finally aske
=. IL la.l of 1iu flouUht tpl