The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-02-11

No doubt, sara MIS-. f1OIbOH, III
tie spitefully, for she had noticed his
attentions to Kitty, and felt they BODIED
her no good-probably put ridiculous
ideas into her head, and prevented her
from accepting the illustrious Freder-
lex, who was ready to throw himself at
her feet on the highest provocation. II
have always heard that they were very
much attached to each other"
Mrs. Horton had not heard any
thing of the kind; but no matter
was given to fibbing.
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 sun
burnt. He talked chiefly to Mrs. Hor-
ton, but he kept looking across at Kitty
that pretty, innocent, rround-faced
Kitty, with the sparkle in her downcast
eyes, and the flush on her dimpled
cheeks-till he made her heart beat with
happiness and excitement.
/ "By the way, Miss Kitty" he said,
suddenly fumbling in the big pocket of
his loose tweed coat, 81 have note. for
you There's to be some croquet up at
the Laurels on Thursday, and my aunt
wants you to come"
The white muslin dress was donned,
and the coquettish hat and the little
make-believe wrap twisted about her
shoulders to the best advantage, and
Kitty was ready for the party at the
Laurels. She did look very pretty, as
even her step-mother secretly acknowl-
edged.
Remember, Kitty, I shall expect you
home BIZ seven O'Clock. 1t is not right
for you to come later through those
woods alone. Indeed, l think Mrs.
Hughes ought to have asked me to
cbaperon you"
6 Yes, mamma" and Kitty went on
her joyful way. The woods Mrs. Hor-
ton alluded to were private ones, be-
longing to the Laurels, but they made
short cut for Kitty, and saved her a
good half-mile of road. "Perhaps he
will come and meet me,'' she thought
shyly, and strained her eyes to catch
sight of his awkward figure in the dis
lance, but it did not appear. Then
presently she heard the distant church.
clock chime half-past three. There!
I'm much too early. We were not even
asked till four. [ know what I'll do
when l get further on; I'll sit down in
a shady part of the wood and wait till
about five minutes after the hour" So
she went on, and when she was within
quarter of mile of the house branched
off into thick part of the wood and fol-
lowed a sleepy stream that wandered
on beneath the tail trees and among
the tangled underwood, fecked with
water-lilies and fringed with yellow iris,
which nodded their golden heads to the
sun. She found a quiet leafy nook close
to its edge, and sat down and waited.
Then suddenly through the distant trees
she saw coming along the edge of the
stream two figures, those of man and
woman. The one she knew at a
glance-it was John Laurence; the
other she saw a minute later was his
cousin Caroline. With bound, her
heart seemed to come into her throat.
''It's Miss Hughes she said to herself,
"and how nice she looks, and what a
pretty dress she has on!" She drew
her white muslin closer round her, and
retreated a few inches further back be-
hind the thick bushes, SO that they
might pass her unperceived, and wait
ed. On they came, arm in arm, talking
earnestly and in low voice. The color
fled from kitty's cheek, and the light
died out of her eyes, as she saw them,
for surely only lovers walked as they
did! They stopped as they got to with
in three yards of Kitty's hiding place,
while Caroline Hughes stopped absent
ly to pick one of the yellow water-iris,
and Kitty heard her say
'sDo you know, John, 1 never liked
you so well as LIDO to-day, and l thought
you did not care for me.''
s.My dear girl, was always awfully
fond Of you. 1 think you ought to give
me a kiss to make up for all the unkind
things you have been saying.''
She put up her face, and Kitty looked
away, with pain which almost made
her cry. Then they passed on and were
soon lost to view.
Kitty did not move from her hiding
place, and went to no croquet rarty that
afternoon
Mrs. Horton almost screamed with
surprise an hour later, when Kitty sud-
denly appeared, her muslin dress
crushed, the rose in front of her dress
all faded, and her cheeks and lips as
white as the jasmine about her head, as
she stood in the window leading in from
the garden.
Mamma, I felt ill, and my head
ached, and sat down in the wood, and
felt too i'll to go on, and 1 have come
back"
Didn't you see any one?" Mrs. Hor.
| ton asked doubtfully.
81 have not spoken to a soul,'' she
answered, and went to her room, saying
| she wished to lie down