Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-12-06
IN THE SWING.

IN THE SWING.
Pretty, saucy Kitty went swinging up
and down, up and down, her light mus
lin dress waving and futtering in the
breeze.
"Glorious, Rupert, isn't it," she
cried, calling to her pet and companion, a
huge, shaggy dog. "But where are
you9 Why don't you answer, sir? :"
And swinging more slowly, she looked
everywhere round her.
Kitty was down at the bottom of the
old-fashioned garden, back of her faith
er's farmhouse, where swing had been
put up for her in little grove of trees.
Suddenly merry voice cried out,
"Here " and q handsome young man
leaped the low fence and advanced
toward her, laughing, and dofing his
hat.
Kitty was out of the swing and on her
feet in instant, her eyes flashing, her
figure drawn up to its full height. She
looked prettier than ever in her indig-
nation.
81 beg your pardon, said the intrud-
er, bowling, half. mockingly; "but
was taking a short cut across the field
when I heard you call me.''
"Call you" Kitty looked as if she
would annihilate him.
Certainly" with the utmost cool
ness. "You called Rupert didn't
you9"
s'"I was calling my dog, SIR" said
Kitty, with infinite hauteur.
"Wen, I'm not exactly dog" was
the laughing answer, "but I've often
been called an 'impudent puppy'-at
your service, missl" And he bowed
again profoundly.
.~, II 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
onco If hia r,oiotrooo
ct beg pardon. I'm afraid I'm tres
passing. But the path through the
field was tredden as if one had the right
of way here, and I heard you call-well,
made mistake" Again the mlrthful
look danced in his eyes. "Good-
morning!"
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, muttering,
The impudent feliowi" while the real
rupert, who had been off chasing rab-
bit, reappeared just at this juncture, and
accompanied her, frolicing and barking
round her. But this was not the Rupert
she meant when she said "The impu.
dent fellow!" ..
a week passed. Kitty say no .-nore
OF the stranger, though she often won
dered who he could be, and if he was
staying in the neighhe.heeSa.. ~ the
end of that time she attended an evening
party at Gen. Stacy's. Almost the first
person she saw on entering the room was
the handsome stranger.
1 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"
The eyes of thetwo 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, bowling
low, and repeating the words he used in
the garden, )" Yes, chat impudent pup
py'-at your service
He is making sport of me-" said
Kitty to herself, and drew herself ur
haughtily and for the rest Of the inter
view she was cold and reserved, con-
fining herself to monosylabic replies.
Very soon, at the appearance of one Of
her many admirers, she excused her
sell. and went off to dance.
Z 8 a bit Of q Tartar, I'm afraid, " solilo-
quized Rupert Mortimer. "But how
pretty she is! She looks, too, as if she
had 4 noble character; and she can take
her own part, Is / have found to my
cost. But I'm afraid she has been
spoilt BY admiration. To get into her
good graces, one must 60 on his very |
knees to her and, faith il is always
worth while to do il. But, mol Rupert
Mortimer, my boy, keep your self-re-
spsct. Then, with laugh, us thy !.