The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-12-12
Good Night, Kittie.

II was way out in the country where
dissipation was . word almost without
meaning. And the young grew up, eu-
joyed their simple round Of pleasures,
grew old and left then, TO the children.
But into this quiet tide, sudden,
exciting element had fallen, in the
shape Of gay young girl from a neigh
boring town.
Her name was Jennie Mordant, and
she claimed cousinship with Farmer
Aordsnt's brown-faced and rather
bashful sons in a daring. coaxing way
that was new and delightful to them,
and Jared, the eldest. catching in his
frank, respective nature some breath of
inspiration from her, grew more demon.
stratiye toward others.
There was little girl living up at
Low Hill Pass. as handful of houses
situated in q valley among the hills was
called, whose name had often been
spoken in connection with Jsred's and
IT was guessed that they mutually felt
a shy fondness for each other.
They had been to the same church
ever since they could remember; at last
winters evening school they had stood
side by side in the class, and twice,
when the roads were bad and Jared
had been over with the cart, he had
asked her to sit on the front seat with
him.
This bad as good as settled their
fate in the minds of the village gossips,
though no word or special interest had
been spoken between them and he only
called her by her formal Christian
name. Katherine. at rare intervals, and
then with sense Of familiarity that
made him half ashamed
But after Jennie Mordant had tied
his neck-tie, brushed the shreads off his
coat, pulled his hair. and called him
"a goodish sort of boy, considering
his braughtens up" he escaped from
her bright eyes and merry ways, and
walked to Low Hill with light step.
As he nesred the house he saw Kath-
crime returning home from widow Sang
ster's. where she had been to take the
old lady some milk.
With one leap he scaled the hedge.
and hurrying to the narrow ot-path,
he said. softly:
Don't walk SO fast. Kittie.'
The girl stood still. trembling and
blushing, and then, as they walked
slowly ON together, she asked IN voice
scarcely audible:
What made you call me-that!'
oh, don't know he said. trying to
speak calmly and indifferently You
looked like little gray kitten, moving
so swift is the shadows; and then, you
know, it is o part OF your name, and
you are sorry l said it,
For she was walking very quietly.
She did not speak. but raised her
eyes with shy, pleased look. and he
asked eagerly:
May l call you so again =
Yes. she answered. simply; and he
did not know how quick her heart was
beating.
And 10 they went in silence through
the gathering dew and darkness up to
the door.
Farmer Hubbell. Kathsrine's fs.hcr,
called to Jared that the gray colt had
sprained his shoulder. and while they
talked Of hot baths and liniments, the
girl tied up the rose branches that q
late storm had blown down, put new
strings for the morning glories over the
cool north window, and waited.
When the long horse talk was ovcr,
il was time for Jared to leave.
But he glided up to the kitchen win
dow. and reaching in. with one arm on
the sill. he dropped spray of lilac, as
il by accident, and said:
'Good-night, Kittie.'
know when she woke at midnight,
and saw the moonshinc quivering on
the floor, she blushed and smiled. as
the spring wind passing the old tree at
the window. whispered:
Goodnight. Kittie.'
So the summer passed with new
glory. and when the evenings grew
long and cool in autumn, dancing
school was talked of in the village.
1t was long since they had bad ore.
and old and young joined interests. and
determined to make up series OF old
fashioned cotillion parties.
Two girl-friends Of Miss Mordsnt had
been spending their school vacation on
the farm. and three or four artists and
students, roaming about for new views
or trouting. had stopped long enough
to become somewhat acquainted with
the village.
All these promised to run up from
town occasionally, and so the season
opened more gaily than ever.
Then there was TO be husking at
Farmer Mordant's in the long now
barn.
Long before dark the great piles Of
corn filed the barn floor, aud the fid-
dlers walked about. with their pet vio-
lins tucked away in green bags. while
the kitchen was overflowing With food,
and a row OF cider barrels lay tapped
in the yard.
Kathsrine Hubbell came down early
with her brothers.
The candles were lighted in the sit
ting. room. and thcre was Jsrcd-her
Jsred-whose brown hair aud white
brow bad never been touched. even
with her fnger-tips, romping, actually
romping. with Miss Jennie.
She was standing on her toes to reach
his head. pulling his hair and bothering
him, when suddenly he turned. and
taking the two little white hands in his
big brown palm. he held her so firmly