Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-09-30
Kitty held up an apple by the stem,

saying:
"Name it, Hetty; but not Viii
Joyce, nor Jerry Davis, nor"
'sThere; stop; the apple is bansed,
said Hetty, merrily.7 q
Kitty pared and ate her apple, care
fully saving all the seeds. When she
had them ali in her chubby hand she
held them out for Hetty to spell the
name. Touching each seed with hel
finger, Hetty spelled:
go HIN P a-t.t-e-r-s.o.u"
SIT spells it exactly. Why Kitty
what are you blushing so fors One
would think that fellows name wal
spelled out lin your heart in indeliblt
letters by the way you look"
Kitty said nothing, though she look
ell uncommonly sober for her, JOLT
thought, and he wondered it t. the girll
didn't hear his heart beat; he thought
they must, 1t Was humping away Sc
furiously. He thought, too, thai
kitty was angry that anyone woul6
suppose that she cared for him. How
humbly he felt; he could scarce have
told why; and how his cheeks burned
with the flush of wounded pride.
''Now, really, Kitty" said her COUSIN.
with bantering laugh, Sif you don't
drive away that foAorn look I shall,
think you care more than POUR pride
will let you acknowledge for that great,
awkward BOBBY, who hasn't the cour-
age, nor never will have, to ask you to
have him" ~
"Hush, Hetty!S said Kitty, as she
rose to her feet, and her cheeks glowed
with flush of deepest crimson. "You
do not know John Pattersonas we do,
or you would not utter what you bave.
He is not awkward at home with his
mother. You ought to see how kind
and considerate he is 10 her. Father
drops in there often, and he says there
isn't a more noble hearted man to be
found. Yesterday, you, Hetty, were
making game of John because he weals
clothes that are patched and old,fash-
toned. John is industrious, and do
you know what be does with his
money! Father says he is paying of
the mortgage on his mothers little
farm, and that when he has few dol
lars more than are necessary for pay
ment he expends it for books. Mark
my word, Hetty, John Patterson will
yet be a man that you WILDE proud to
class among your friends. He has in>
tellect of no common order. It's only
his great bashfulness that keeps him
back now
"Now, Kitty, you are too Absurd
and Hetty laughed as though she
thought her companion in jest. "Well,
it is leap year; you had better offer
yourself to this paragon. l don't be-
lieve he will refuse.
81 know no one whom I would
sooner marry SO there!' And Kitty
face was scarlet with bushes as she
made this frank acknowledgment.
But John was not looking at he1
now. He was crouched in the mos,
remote part of tbs hogshead, trying,
by various gestures, to drive away q
huge mastiff which threatened TO max,
his whereabouts known.
The sun had gone down, and John !
hungry horse had quietly walked of
home, and still the two girls chatted
away.
"Well, Bruno, what have you got in
thereg I'm sure you've been whining
and paving there Tor ha.t' an hour, Ut
least. y And Hetty came forward and
pa,ted the dogs hairy back with her
hands
"Why, Kitty, there is some dreadful
animal in here. What pair Of eyes
it has l Are there any wild cats in the
woods Thank my nerves, if uncle
and Charley are away, l can fire gun
III soon know what that horrid Great
ure is. In my opinion, here is where
your geese have gone to. I'll warran,
the ground in there is strewn with
bones. You and Bruno keep waite h
while run to the house fora gun"
Hetty had ratified all this off in {
breathless fashion, and before Kitty
had time to look at the ''dreadfu
ANIMAL only the great, luminous eyes
of which could be seen, her cousin wal
on her way to the house.
What was John to do now! Sta,
where he was and be shot by the cour
ageous little Hetty, or crawl from hit
lair like Hottentot from his hut and
right before kittys eyes, too? The
faithful dog began to wag his tail ant
whine with renewed animation, anc
John thought tie gun must be coming
surely. Life was sweeter to him now