The Morning herald., 1877-04-30
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and down, up and down, her nRht muslin
dress waving and Auttering in the .breeza.
Glorious, Rupert, isn't it? she cried,
calling TO her pet and companion, huge,
shaggy dog. But where are you? Why
don't Won answer And swinging more
slowly, she looked everywhere round her
for the dog.
Kitty was down to the bottom Of the
old fashioned garden, back Of her fathers
farm house, where's swing had been put
up for her. a+
Suddenly q 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 = moment, her eyes flashing, her
figure drawn up to its full height. She
looked prettier than ever in her indigna-
I beg your pardon, said the intruder,
bowling half mocki1gly; but was taken 4
short cut across the field, when I heard
you call me. ,s.s... 4
Call ysu2 Kitty looked.. ..as if she would
annihilate him. @
Certainly, with the utmost coolness.-
You called Rupert.
I was calling my dog. ~
Well, Pm not exactly a dog, was the
laughing answer, but I've often been called
an impudent puppy-at your service
miss. And he bowed again profoundly.
should think 50, snapped Kitty, stamp
ing her little foot. And she muttered to
herself, not expecting to be heard, Impu-
dence. we:
The stranger heard the word, ne neverthe.
less. His manner changed. He became
as serious and deferential as the most
chivalrous knight Of old in. The presence
Of his mistress. :,
l beg pardon. I'm afraid I'm tresspass-
ing. But the path through the field was
trodden az if one had the right of way
there, and 1 heard you call-well / made
a mistake. Again the mirthful look dane
ed in his eyes. Good morning. 4
He swept the very ground with his hat
and 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 mutteriDg the
impudent fellowp while the real Rupert,
who had been off chasing rabbit, reap
peared just il this juncture, and accompany:
ed her, frolicking and barking round her.
But this was not the Rupert she meant
when she said the 'impudent fellow
A week passed, Kitty saw no more Of
the stranger though she often wondered
who he could be, and if he W. staying in
the neighborhood: At the end of that
time she attended an evening party at
General Stacy's. Almost the first person
she saw on entering the room was the
handsome stranger.
I wish to introduce you to my nephew,
said the General, leading that parsonage
up to. Kitty. His name, by baptism, is
Rupert Mortimer. but he is such saacy
fellow that he is best known among Ills
friends as the 'impudent puppy
The eyes Of the two 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 con-
cert, and he said, bowing low, and repeat |
ing the words he had used in the garden,
Yes, that 'impudent puppy at your ser
vice.
He is making sport of me, said Kitty to |
herself, and drew herself up haughtily, and
for the rest of the interview she was cold |
and reserved. Very soon, at the appear.
ance of one Of her ma ny admirers, she ex.
cused herself and went off to dance. !
A bit Of Tartar, soliloquized Rupert
Mortimer. But how pretty she is. She
looks, too, as if she had q noble character;
and she can take her own part, as have
found 10 my cost. But Pm afraid she has |
been spoilt by admiration. To get into her
good graces one must COON his very knees
to her, and faith, it is almost worth while
to do it. But no, Rupert Mortimer, my
boy, keep your self-respect. Then, with
a laugh, Is thy servant dog that he
must do this thing. |
Yet often that evening, Rupert found
himself drawn to Kitty's side. Kitty, too
could not help glancing admiringly at his
handsome face and graceful figure. She
saw, very sooD, that he was the best dancer
In the room. So when waltz struck up,
ana ne asked her to join init, she could
not resist.
If | don't dance with him, she said to
herself, the other girls will say he didn't
ask me,
~, Kitty never enjoyed waltz so much.-
When the band stopped, she sighed invol-
unfairly.
Balls, picnics, and croquet parties fol.
lowed each other in rapid succession.-
hitty and Young Mr.. Mortimer were to-
gether almost constantly. Asyet, however
no words Of love had passed between them
,or Rupert, now thoroughly enamorsd,
eared TO ruin all by too premature an ,
aVowal especially as, once or twice, when I
ne had Venturpd tO annrnach tho anhiack ]