The Lake County star., 1876-06-29

| s.ShSou. @AAOs SuPCie hou hlouo VI
his mind to have quiet ramble with
I Kitty, after this meal, and If things
went well, to speak of his love. But he
had counted without his cost, for when
luncheon was over, and he had got rid Of
his aunt, Mrs Stacy, who had called him
to her side to wait on her, To-! Kitty
had disappeared. Full of jealous fears,
and determined to find out who his rival
was, he set forth through the woods to
discover Kitty. He had not gone far,
before her favorite dog came bounding
toward him, jumping and barking, and
manifesting the greatest delight at see
ing him. But when Rupert stopped to
pat his name-sake, the dog darted ahead
then stopped and looked wistfully at
Rupert, and then rushed on again.
"What can he mean" said Rupert.
A sudden fear seized him that some.
thing was wrong, and he hurried on the
dog rapidly leading the way.
At last, in an opening of the woods,
on a moss-covered rock, he saw Kitty,
pale, breathless and apparently in pain.
In moment he was at her side. All
his jealousy was gone. Love was up
permost.
"Oh, darling!" he cried, "what is it
Thank Heaven, 1 have found you." :.
ooh, Mr.. Mortimer" she cried with a
little sob, chow glad I am to see you?
began to think ] should have to stay here
all night alone. I've sprained my
ankle, 80 l can't walk. What shall /
do p and she burst into tears. ~.
Our hero took both the little hands,
and held them tightly in his own, while
he questioned her anxiously as to the
accident, relating meantime how he
came to find her.
"But how" exclaimed Kitty ruefully
when he had DONE how am l ever to
get back p I don't believe can walk a
STEP"
"Of course you can't. Who said you
could?" cried Rupert. But you'll get
back right, all the same, for l intend to
carry YOU"
"Carry mep Kitty gave a little
scream, and shrank back, and covered
her face with both hands, for she felt the
hot blood in her cheeks.
"Oh, no! that will never do" she
blunderel out, unthinkingly. "What
will people say?
But Rupert did not stop to reply to
this question. Very little cared he for
what people said. Without a word, he
put his arms about Kitty, and lifting
her bodily from her feet, walked off with
her as if she had been feather-weight.
At first, Kitty struggled little; but
the strong, manful arms held her close,
and she soon began rather to like it, and
to think it all very delightful.
AT any rate" she said to herself, ~
can't help it; he is too masterful to
resist"
With this comforting conclusion, her
fair head sank on his shoulder, and for
the first time in her life Kitty knew
what it was to be supremely happy.
Rupert carried his lovely burden to
his own phaeton, which stood apart from
the crowd, and carefully placed Kitty
nit.
"There now," he said, "I shall take
you home Immediately, and stop for
doctor on the way. Nobody can drive
you with 80 little pain as can," he
added seeing she was about to object.
"Besides, you must begin to obey me, so
as to get your hand in, for yOua going
to be my wife, you know"
"Your wife !" cried Kitty. She gave
pout, and a toss of her head, but she
blushed, and not with anger either. Yes;
blushed to the tips of her dainty ears.
"Of course" retorted Rupert, as he
stepped softly into the phaeton, and took
his seat beside her, looking half-saucily,
half fondly into her eyes, which fell be-
fore him. GIVE meant it all along.
Didn't you?"
Really you are the most impudent
puppy / ever saww retorted Kitty,
bursting into laughter in spite of her
self.
But, for alfthat she did not repulse
the kiss, with which, before starting, Ru-
pert thought it necessary to fortify him
self for the journey.
little. For Kitty and Rupert were
married early in the autumn, and were
superlatively happy.
"Do you know" said Rupert, one day,
"that it was the merest accident we
ever knew each other? l had come
down to my uncle's, for single night
only, when l saw you in the swing, and
my whole life was changed. l fell in
love at first sight. and resolved to stay,
and make your acquaintance, even if it
took all the summer"
so 1 owe my happiness" answered
Kitty, archly, to my faithful dog-dear
old fellow-being off guard that after
noon."
"And to an "impudent puppy COM
ing along" retorted Rupert, with a
kiss, "just in the nick of time, and