Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-04-08
KITTY'S LOVER.
BY F. S. MILLS.

nCl NCAC HdccADE ADC lOH AAe5 -
of Nathan Lynne, and John, without
daring for the life of him to turn his
head. rolled his great black eyes to-
wards the substantial stone farm house,
in the hope of catching a glimpse OF
Kitty. the farmers comedy daughter.
But, though John kept his eyes turned
in their sockets till his head ached
fearfuIly, he saw nothing of Kitty.
John was desperately in love with
Kitty Lynne, and had been many day,
and yet he dared not tell her of his
love.
He generally managed to bow to her,
but even that always brought great
lump into his throat, and turned his
face the color of a peony.
As John passed over a little knoll
and out of sight of the house, the
farmer sgreat orchard-the trees ready
TO break down under the weight of
ripe fruit-was before him.
NWhat a while that miller kept me
waiting for my grist. I'm as as hungry
as bear. must have pocketful of
those yellow beauties to eat on my way
heme."
And with this John drew rein. scaled
the fence and struck out for his favo-
rite tree.
He knew as we'll as Farmer Lynne
did where the best apples were to be
found-John had filed his pockets,
and was about TO retrace his steps to
his wagon, when he caught the hutter
of a pink dress through a cluster OF
trees, and heard Kitty's merry voice in
conversation with some one.
Stealing hasty glance through the
trees, John recognized Kitty's COM
panion to be her cousin, Hetty Shaw,
irem the village.
They were coming directly towards
the tree under which John was stand
ing. What in the world was he 30 do
He did not fancy running away like
a detected thief, and his trembling
knees and palpitating heart warned
him that if he would not die then and
there he must seek place of conceal
ment.
To add to Johns embarrassment, he
was conscious that lie was, not in the
least "tidied up"
lie was in bis every day garb. To
make the matter worse, his clothes
were covered with -four, which had
somehow got on while he was waiting
at the mill.
John glanced up into the tree, but
the foliage was not thick and there was
little chance for u hiding place there.
Near the tree was an inverted hogs
head which had been used as a stand
from which to pick apples from the
tree.
The hogshead had once been used as
a temporary dog kennel, and hole,
perhaps eighteen inches in diameter,
had been made to admit the dog.
The hogshead afforded the only re-
treat within the trembling young mans
reach and he was not long in squeezing
himself inside of it.
The girls came on and sat down on
the grass, right where John, by stoop-
ing down and peering through the hole,
could watch them.
Kitty, he thought, looked prettier
and brighter than ever In her pink
dress, and the sun, which was setting
in the west, made her brown hair as
golden as the apples in her lap.
Kitty held up an apple by the stem
saying
Name it, Hetty; but not Will
Joyce, nor Jerry Davis, nor -"
There, stop; the apple is named, "
said Hetty, merrily.
Kitty pared and eat her apple, care
fully saving all the seeds.
When she had them all in her club
by hand, she held them out for Hetty
to spell the name.
Touching each seed with her finger,
Hetty spelled:
John P-a-t-t-e-F-s-o.n."
1T spells exactly. Why, Kitty, what
are you blushing so far? One would
think that fellows name was spelled
out in your heart in indelible letters,
by the way you look"
Kitty said nothing, though she look
ed uncommonly sober for her, John
thought, and he wondered if the girls
didn't hear his heart beat.
He thought, too. that Kitty was
angry that any one would suppose that
shclcared for him.
How humble he felt; ne could scarce
tell why; his cheeks burned with
wounded pride.
Now, really, Kitty" said her cous-
in, with bantering laugh, If you
don't drive away that forlorn look, |
shall think you care more than your
pride will let you acknowledge for that
great awkward BOBBY, who hasn't the
courage, nor ever will have, to ask you
10 have him.
Hush IIettyl" said Kitty, as she
rose to her feet, and her cheeks glowed
with flush of deepest crimson. You
do not know John Patterson as we do,
ar you would not utter what you have.
lie is not awkward at home with his
mother. You ought to see how kind
aud considerate he is to her. Father
drops in there often, and he says there
isn't 4 more noble hearted young man
to be found. John is industrious; do
you know what he does with his money?
Father says he is paying off the
mortgage on his mothers little farm,
and that when he has n few dollars
more than are necessary for payment,
he expends them for books Mark my
word, Hetty, John Patterson win yet
he man that you will be proud to
class among your friends. He has in
tellect of no common order. It's only
his great bashtulness that keeps him
back now"
Now, Kitty, you are too absurd"
and Hetty laughed as though she
thought her companion in jest. We'll,
it is leap year; you had better offer
yourself to this paragon. | don't be-
lieve he will refuse"
Il know no one whom | would soon
or marry-so there!"
And Kitty's face was scarlet with
bushes as she made this frank ac-
acknowledgement
But John was not looking at her.
He was crouched in the most remote
part of the hogshead, trying by vrious
gestures to drive any dog which threat
ened to make his whereabouts known.
The sun had gone down and Johns
hungry horse had quietly walked off
home, and still the two girls chatted
away.
well. Bruno, what have you got in
there? I'm sure 70 We been winnings and
paving there for half an hour at least"
And Hetty came forward and patted
the dogs hairy back with her hand.
why, Kitty, there is some dread
ful animal in here. What a pair of
ewes il has Thank my nerves. II
uncle and Charlie are away, | can Are
a qun. I'll soon know what that hor-
rid creature is. In my opinion, here is
where your geese have gone to. I'll
'a~-snt the ground there Is strewn