The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-21

She found a quiet leafy nook close to it's
edge, and sat down and waited. Then
suddenly through the distant trees she
saw coming along the edge Of the stream
two figures, those Of man and wo.
man. The one she knew at a glance--it
was John Laurenee; the other she saw
q minute later was his cousin Caroline.
With bound, her heart seemed to come
into her throat. "lts Miss Hughes"
she said to herself, "and how nice she
looks, and what a pretty dress she has
on" She drew her white muslin closer
round her, and retreated q few inches
further back behind the thick bushes, 80
that they might pass her uDperoeiyed,
and waited. On they came, arm in arm,
talking earnestly and in low voice.
The color fed from Kitty's cheek, and
the light died out Of her eyes, as she saw
them, for surely only lovers walked as
they did. They stopped as they got to
within three yards Of Kitty's hiding
place, while Caroline Hughes stopped
| absently to pick one of the yellow water
iris, and Kitty heard her say
"Do you know, John, i never liked you
so we'll as do to-day, and ! thought you
did not care for me-"
"My dear girl, was always awfully
fond Of you. think you ought to give
me kiss to make up for all the unkind
things you have been saying"
She put up her face, and Kitty looked
away, with pain that almost made her
cry. Then they passed on and were soon
lost to view.
Kitty did not move from her hiding
place, and went to no croquet party that
afternoon.
Mrs. Horton almost screamed with
surprise an hour later, when Kitty sud-
denly appeared, her muslin dress crushed,
the rose in front of her dress all faded
and her cheeks and lips as white as the
jasmine about ner head, as she stood in
the window leading in from the garden.
"Mamma, 1 felt i'll, and my head ached, /,
and sat downin the wood, and felt too
ill to 60 on, and l have come back"
"Didn't you see any oneW Mrs. Horton
asked doubttully.
II have not spoken to SOUL" she an
swered, and went to her room, saying
she wished to lie down.
In the dusk OF the evening Kitty came
down stairs again, to find Mr.. Baver.
stock talking with her father and step.
mother.
1--WE were talking of getting married,
Kitty" Mrs. Horton said, making way
for her to sit down; but she stood staring
at the group before her almost as as il
in a dream. "And Mr.. Baverstock says
he would not marry an heiress for the
world"
tNo, indeed 1 would not, Miss Kitty.
should only marry because l loved the
young lady, and telt could devote my
life to her,"
sand why do you expect to be mar
ried, MI. Baverstockw she asked, alb
sently.
he shufied about uneasily, and an
swered in squeaky voice
"Well, hope-I hope the young lady
will have an affection for m-e-e-e."
Kitty would have laughed at any other
time, but now she only stared at him
and passed out into the garden.
She went through the gate and wan
dered just little way down the lane
again, feeling as il she would give any
thing to walk straight on and out Of the
weary world altogether.
"Kittyl" q well known voice said
softly, and John Laurence appeared
from behind tree and stood before her
in the dim light. 81 have been waiting
here on the mere chance OF seeing you.
Why didn't YOU come to-dayW
ii was ILL.," she said, family.
"My poor little girl" and he drew her
hand through his arm. "Why,wha was
the matter?" But she shrank back.
.Nothing," she said. drawing herself
\ up; "only am going home."
.Something is the matter, now," he
exclaimed. "Why, Kitty, what is it. my
little darlingW
"You have no right to speak to me like
that" she said, while the hopeless tears
filed her eyes and trickled down her
cheeks. "What would your cousin say
you who are engaged, and going to be
married"
II? Pm sure Pm not-at least, it's
not arranged yet-though Caroline il
going to be spliced."
ayes, to you."
"Oh, dear no; It's to Fletcher"
"Why, saw you kiss her this after
noon, and heard you say you were aw
fully fond of her."
swell, what then! She'd been telling
me in confidence about Fletcher, ant
getting me TO manage it with my uncle
who'd had some ridiculous notions in hi
head, and l was congratulating her anC
telling her what he'd said, and thought
deserved cousinly kiss for my palms,
"Was that it?" she said in amaze
ment. "Yes, it was, you little goose"-
for he could not help seeing the state o
the case-''and you see, Pve been hang
ling about here OH the chance Of seeing
lyou. wanted to tell you how fond
am OF you, you little darling, and to asl
you to be my wife," And then he did I
Kitty what he had done to his cousi
Caroline in the afternoon, and - Blu
never mind, the story is told, and yo
can guess how pretty Kitty looked O
| a, bo to