The Ottawa free trader., 1876-01-08

he nlnue love 10 hltly. lie always ulu u u
a half clandestinc fashion that annoyed kitil
excessively, and never paid her marked at
tention before other people; still, he dit
make love to her, that was certain, and sh'
did not believe that he cared tor Caroline
Kitty did not often go to the Laurels. kitty
father was retired solicitor, though well OH
and Mr.. and Mrs. Hughes ranked among Tit
big swels Of Cragford, and only invited th'
professional men and Their wives once ol
twice year to dinner, and their daughters
once or twice year to a ball or croquet par
ty. 1t CALLED little Kitty to think that this
social difference In their station al Cragiorc
was perhaps the reason why the love ina
John Laurence made to her was clandestlnc
Poor little Kitty! she had not very hict
time at home. ,,-
II cant imagine why you DO Lot give Mr.
Bayerstock more encouragement Mrs Hor
ton was always saying to her. "lle Will be
snapped up soon, for there are very lew
chances for girls in this dead-alve place
Mr.. Baverstock was young surgeon who
had settled down in CragfoId about year
previously He wore spectacles, had thin
legs and red hair, and was not by any means
a Charming object to behold. lie was very
devoted to Kitty, as all Cragford knew, but
Kitty always snubbed him numerically.
IL detest him, mamma" (kitty's papa
had Unexpectedly taken 10 himself second
wife during visit to London about two years
since, and Kitty called her mamma to please
HIM, but there was no love lost between them)
l"Why, he's as ugly as toad.
"He is getting a very good practice
II would sooner marry the man In the
moon" and she settled down to read "Lallah
Rookh" for about the twenty tysevcnth time
that year. 1t was beautifully bound cdl-
ton, radiant in crimson and gold, and Illus.
trated by beautiful pictures protected by It's
sue paper Somebody had sent in anony-
mously to Kitty On her birthday. She declar.
ed she did not know where it came from, and
ii was quite true she didn't; but she could
have made an excellent guess ii she had tried
CHAPTER THE SECOND.
Only a week later and John Laurence had
arrived at the Laurels. Mr.. Baverstock
brought the news, and when Kitty heard it
she looked sweet, so sweet the surgeon felt
himself encouraged, and ventured TO stay the
evening There was only one vexing thing,
that he had brought his friend, Mr. Fletcher,
with him again. He had accompanied John
Laurence on his last two visits to Cragford,
and Kitty had felt on each occasion that he
had been decidedly in the way; for whenever,
quite by accident John had met her when
she was out for walk, Mr.. Fletcher had not
been far of, and she devoHtly wished him at
Jericho.
II hear Miss Hughes marriage is to come
of this summer Mr.. Bavcrstock said, in his
weak alto voice, land now that the young
gentleman is here, dare say it will be all
arranged
mo boubt," said Mrs HORTON, a little spite.
fully, for she had noticed his attentions to
Kitty, and felt they boded her no good; pro- !
bably pu! ridiculous ideas into her head, and q,
prevented her from accepting the ilustrious
Frederick, who was ready TO throw himself
at her feet on the slightest proyocatinR. II
have always heard that they were very much
attached to each other"
Mrs. Horton had not heard anything of the
kind but no matter-she was given to fb.
bing
The very next day the hero called. He
looked handsOmer than ever, Kitty thought
his shoulders were broader, his hands bigger,
and his face more sunburnt. He talked
chiefly to Mrs. Horton, but he kept looking
across al Kitty-that pretty, innocent, round.
faced Kitty, with the sparkle in her down
cast eyes, and the flush on her dimpled
he made her heart beat with
happiness and excitement.
"By the way, Miss Kitty" he SAID, sudden.
y fumbling in the big pocket of his loose
weed coat, ~ have note for you. There's
o be some croquet up at the Laurels on
Thursday, and my aunt wants you to come"
The white muslin dress was donned, and
he coquettish hat and the little make believe
wrap twisted about her shoulders TO the best
advantage, and Kitty was ready for the party
It the Laurels. She did look very pretty, as
wen her stePmother acknowledged
"Remember, Kitty, shall expec. you home
~ z O'Clock. II is not right for you to come
ater through those woods alone. Indeed, Il
hink Mrs. Hughes ought to have asked me
0 chaper0n you"
"fes, mamma" and Kitty went on her joy
ul way. The woods Mrs Horton alluded TO
we're private ones, belonging to the Laurels,
ut they made short cut for Kitty, and saw
d her good half mile of road. perhaps
e will come and meet me-" she thought, :
hyly, and strained her eyes To catch sight of
is handsome bgure In the distance, but It
i'd not appear. Then presently she heard ,
lstant clock chime half past three. There
m much too early. We are not even asked !
III four. | know what I'll do when get !
lrther on; III SIT down in the shady part of !
he wood and wait TIL about five minutes af. /,
,r the hour" SO she went on, and when q
he was within quarter of mile of the :
ouse, branched off into a thick part of the q
'ood and followed a sleepy stream that wan r
cred on beneath the tall trees and among a
ie tangled underwood hecked with water >
lies anG frihged with yellow iris, which /
odded their golden heads TO the sun. She n
,und quiet, lcaiy nook, close TO its edge, s
nd sat down and waited, Then suddenly, n
trough the distant trees, she saw coming n
ong the edge of the stream two figures, =
lose OF man and a woman. The one she \
new at glance; it was John Laurence; the q
her, she saw a minute later, was his cousin a
aroline. :;
With bound, her heart seemed to jump :,
10 her throat Its Miss Hughes she said II
herself, "and how nice she looks, and I,
hat a pretty dress she has on" She drew her a
hite muslin closer round her, and retreated ii
few inches further back behind the thick :,
ushes, so that they might pass her unper- /,
,ived, aud waited. On they came arm IN n
run, talking earnestly aud IN low voice
he color He'd from Kitty's cheek and tho o.
ght died out of her eyes, as she saw them, y
u surely lovers, only lovers, walked as they a
III. lhey SfGyuel as They rot tn IN y