The Lake County star., 1876-06-29
in THE SWING.

To the haven eternal gided.
IN THE SWING.
Pretty, saucy Kitty went swinging uT
and down, up and down, her light mus
lin dress waving and futtering in the
breeze.
"Glorious, Rupert, isn't it 7" she cried
calling to her pet and companion, a huge
shaggy dog. "But where are you
Why don't you answer, sirp And swing.
ing more slowly, she looked everywhere
round her.
Kitty was down at the bottom of the
old fashioned garden, back of her fathers
farmhouse, where swing had been put
up for her, in little grove of trees.
Suddenly merry voice cried out
"Here," and a handsome young man
.eaped the low fence and advanced
towsId her, laughing, and doffing his
N ywas out of the swing and on her
feet in an instant, her eyes flashing, her
figure drawn up to its full height. She
looked prettier than ever in her indig-
nation.
ct beg your pardon" said the intru-
der, bOwing, halfmockingly; "but l was
taking short cut across the field, when
/ heard you call me-"
"Call youp Kitty looked as if she
would annihilate him.
Certainly" with the utmost cool
ness. "You called Rupert didn't
your
ct was calling my dog, sir" said Kitty
with infinite hauteur.
"Well, Pm not exactly a dog" was
the laughing answer, but I've often
been called an impudent puppy at
your service, missP And he bowed
again profoundly.
81 should think so," snapped Kitty,
stamping her little foot. And she NUT
tered to herself, not expecting to be
heard, "Impudence"
The stranger heard the word, never
theless. His manner changed. He be-
came as serious and deferential as the
most chivalrous knight of old in pres
ence of his mistress.
"I beg pardon. Pm afraid Pm tres
passing. But the path through the field
was trOdden as if one had the right of
way there, and heard you call-well,
! made mistake" Again the mirthful
look danced in his eyes. "Good morn
ingp
He swept the very ground with his
hat as he executed another profound
bow, and then turned, and putting his
hand on the top of the fence, vaulted
over, and the next moment was out OF
sight.
Kitty did not swing any more that
day, but went back to the house, NUT
tering, "The impudent fellow~ while
the real Rupert, who had been off chas-
ing a rabbit, reappeared just at this
juncture, and accompanied her, folicking
and barking round her. But this was
not the Rupert she meant when she said
" The impudent fellow"
A week passed. Kitty saw no more of
the stranger, though she often wondered
who he could be, and if he was staying
in the neighborhood. At the end OF
that time, she attended an evening party
at General Stacy's. Almost the first
person she saw on entering the room was
the handsome stranger.
"I wish to introduce you to my
nephew" said the General, leading that
parsonage up to Kitty. ellis name, by
baptism, is Rupert Mortimer, but he is
such saucy fellow, that he is best
known among his friends as that impu-
dent puppy p"
The eyes of the two young people met.
Young Mr.. Mortimer's were dancing
with fun. For the life of her, Kitty
could not help laughing. So they
laughed in concert, and he said, bowing
low, and repeating the words he had
used in the garden, eyes, that impu'
dent puppy y'-at your service"
"He is making sport Of me-" said
Kitty to herself, and drew herself up
haughtily; and for the rest of the inter
Yjew she was cold and reserved, confning
herself to monosyllabic replies. Very
soon, at the appearance of one OF her
many admirers, che excused herself, and
went of to dance.
"a bit of Tartar, Pm afraid v
soliloquized Rupert Mortimer. "But
how pretty she is! She looks, too, as il
she had noble character and she car
take her own part, as l have found to
my cost. But I'm afraid she has been
spoilt by admiration. To get into hel
good graces, one must go on his very
knees to her; and, faith! it is almost
worth while to do it. But no! Rupert
Mortimer, my boy, keep your self-re
spect." Then, with laugh, els THY
servant dog, that he should do thi
thingw
Yet often that evening, Ruper
found himself, as if by some magnetic
attraction, drawn to Kitty's side. Kitty
too, could not help, occasionally, glanc
ing admiringly at his handsome face ant
graceful figure. She saw, very soon
that he was the best dancer in the room
So, when waltz struck up, and he asket
her to join in it, she could not resist.
eff don't dance with him." she sait
to herself, "the other girls will say h
didn't ask me and that would never do.
Kitty had never enjoyed waltz 81
much. She forgot the ridiculous episod
in the swing, forgot the strangers COO
effrontery, forgot everything but tn
dreamy music and the rhythmical move
ment Of her companion. When the ban'
stopped, she sighed, involuntarily, wish
ing II was all to 90 over again.
Balls, picnics, and croquet parties fol
lowed each other in rapid succession, 70
the summer was gay one. Kitty ant
young Mr.. Mortimer were togethe
almost constantly. Somehow, Kitty fel
into the habit of expecting Rupert al
ways. as her special escort and he begal
to feel that no one but he had a right T
Kitty, and to be very jealous when other
attempted tn pay her attentions. AS YET
however, no words of love had passe
between them; for Rupert, now thoI
oughly enamored, feared To ruin all b.
too premature an avowal, especially ~
once or twice, when he had ventured :
approach the subject, Kitty had suddenl