Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-08-08

| that she was forced into unwilling con-
versation. When the meal was at an
end, Kitty persisted in helping Miss
Martha wash the dishes.
i you'll only hinder me-" expostu.
lated the elder maiden, land besides
you've got on your best dress. Go
into the sittlng-room and entertain
Jack"
/ But the younger maiden was fixed, in
| her purpose. So she went to her room
to don an apron, and left Jack to enter
tain himself.
i Thereupon, the heir of the house OF
Burroughs picked up bulky volume
and sat down by the open fire in the
sitting room. The bulky volume prov.
ed to be Webster's Dictionary, which
careless Kitty had thrown on the table
on her first hasty retreat from the
kitchen. Jack turned over the leaves
listlessly until he came to sheet of
paper written in chirography pleas
antly familiar. Of course it was high
ly improper for him to read that paper,
yetas chronicler Of simple facts 1 am
forced to record that he did read it.
And this is what it contained;
To DEAR UNCLE RANDOLPH, AND
! ALL WHO LOVE NE:
have determined to drown myself,
because I am tired of life. My heart is
broken, and 1 can see no relief except
in death. Forgive me for what I am
about to do, and I shall pray God to
forgive me also. I do not want to live
and suffer as I have suffered
Here the words ''since Jack" were
scratched out, and in their stead was
written, "during the past" Ia blank
to be filed in when the ice should
thaw).
1 forgive everybody. hope you will
not mourn for me, nor remember my
melancholy end, because do not de-
serve it. With love to you and to dear
Aunt Martha and Aunt Charity and
Tom. Iremain,
Your heart-broken, KATE.
How many times Jack read and re-
read this singular document will never
be known, but when Kitty entered the
room, quarter Of an hour later. he
was still sitting with the dictionary
upon his knees and the paper in his
| hand.
Il thought Uncle Randolph was
here" said Kitty, hesitating whether to
remain or not, and failing to observe
what it was that so absorbed Jacks at
tention. He turned with a start, as
though first conscious of her presence,
and thrust the sheet ofpaper back into
the volume. Then he said, very grave
ly:
Your uncle is not here, Kitty. Won't
you be seated?. I want to talk with
YOU"
Kitty sat down on the high-backed
sofa, and fell to studying the figures in
the carpet. Jack went over and took
seat by her side. She did not notice
that he held the dictionary under his
right arm.
kitty" said Jack, with becoming
solennity, II do not believe that you
have been very happy during the past
month, have you?"
Kitty's lip began to tremble. but she
answered desperately: "Why should I
not have been happy"
Because" replied the candid Jack,
''you have not had ME to torment YOU"
"Yeu mean to say that cannot be
happy without, Mr.. Burroughs Kitty
was still gazing intently at the carpet,
so that she did not see the smile that
played about Jacks mouth, as he an
answered:
"Yes. have reason to believe that
without me you would be very misera-
ble."
Indeed" exclaimed Kitty. Il
should like to know what right you
have to believe :hat?"
"Well, Kitty, Judge you by myself.
Ihave been wretched ever since the
night of that unfortunate party. l
made up my mind yesterday to swallow
my pride and come here and ask you to
forget and forgive. We were both to
blame, although the fault, no doubt,
was mine to begin with"
'If you have been wretched, as you
say" rejoined Kitty, her eyes still fix
ed on tine floor, "why didn't you go to
Helen Clapps You would surely have
found comfort there"
Nonsense, Kitty! 1 care nothing
for Helen Clapp-no more than you do
for Cyrus Phelps. haven't seen her,
nor have 1 wanted to see her, since
the night Of the party"
"You take it for granted, I presume,
that I will overlook all that has happen
ed without word"
II did not take it for granted, Kitty,
until"
"Until what ?" Here the young lady
turned her eyes suddenly upon Jack,
and discovered for the first time the
volume under his arm. ''What is that
book ~ she demanded, blushing scar
let.
That" returned Jack, with tantaliz-
ing composure-''that is Webster's
Dictionary. While you were engaged
in washing the dishes was improving
the time by study"
''Give it to me this instant! demand
ed Kitty, springing to her feet.
Jack handed her the volume without
word. She snatched 1t impetuously
and turned over the leaves until she
fo tho lattar