South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-11-16
Kitty Rays Beaux.
BY WILDWOOD.

Il am sure We do love each other,
and will be very happy together" she
said, laying her hand on his arm, and
looking straight into his eyes.
"Of course we will, little trembler,"
he exclaimed in reply, playfully drop
ping his hand over those guileless blue
orbs, for their searching gaze made
him uneasy. "Miss Hardgrave need
not fret or fume, for we will show her,
yet. what a cozy couple we will make.
Why shall have just the prettiest,
sweetest young wife in the whole parish
what more could 1 ask for, in the
name Of common sense?"
And Kitty felt perfectly satisfied
with her handsome lover. and wondered
how she had ever been so foolish as to
doubt the genuineness of her attach
ment for him.
When she saw Edward Wyndham, a
little later, and he had asked in his
earnest, sincere way, if the Matter was
all settled, and she was really to marry
Hal Burton" she had replied with con-
siderable warmth that she was, and
that ended it between the former lovers.
And 80 the days sped on, much faster
than Kitty had liked to see them 90 by
though that were oven fastening on her
wedding day.
One night Hal had been to visit Kitty,
and had remained later than usual-un-
Til after every one in the house had re-
tired to sleep. When the girl saw how
late it was getting, she told him he
must go, bat they stood in the passage.
way some moments afterward, Kitty
swinging the night-key carelessly in her
hand. Hal suddenly caught it away
from her, darling through the back door,
and carefully locking it behind him he
then called out. playfully:
Good night, pretty am locked
out. but you are locked in. Nobody
will run away with you before mornin :,
I'll be bound"
For reply. Kitty had only laughingly
entrcated him TO restore the key, and
so home. at which he had thrown a
knocking defiance at her and darted
down the street.
On his next visit Kitty asked once
more for the key, but he now declared
that he had lost it. And so the unsus-
pecting girl was compelled to report
to her mistress-though she was very
careful TO conceal who the loser had
been-and another key was purchased.
And so tho time sped on. until it was
within one week or the day appointed
for the wedding.
Kitty was sowing on some other wed
ding tinery, and Miss uargrave relax.
ed gradually from the usual severity of
her manner to such a degree that she
had finally taken up a needle to assist
her maid in the work
They sat rather late over the work,
and Kitty finally retired, feeling very
much tlatterod and pleased over Miss
Hargrsve's graciousness, and almost
ready to wish that she was going to
marry Edward, after all, as her mistress
would have been SO much better salts
fed. This wish she half repeated with
her prayers, as she gradually sunk into
an uneasy slumber.
She could not tell how long she had
slept. but she finally awoke with sud-
den start and a suppressed cry. She
had been troubled by an unpleasant
dream, and awoke restless and i'll al
ease. A presentiment of coming evil
seemed to weigh upon her mind Sc
sensibly that sleep was entirely Danish.
ed, and she could not close her eyes
again. An unaccountable feeling come
over her that she had neglected to fas-
ten the back door, and that some Turk
ing danger was threatening the whole
household from that quarter. She tried
in vain TO shake off the idea as some.
thing extremely foolish. and not 10 be
! entertained for moment but 50 strong
did it finally become that she arose from
her couch, and throwing a wrapper over
her shoulders, resolved to put tho mat
ter TO the test and satisfy all doubts
| hoping thereafter TO be able 10 compose
/ herself to sleep once more
The rain was over and the moon was
just struggling feebly through the
/ breaking clouds. She did not light the
lamp, for il was not dark enough to re-
/ quire it, but crept out upon the landing
and down the stairs with only the moon
to guide her way. The back door open.
ed into a passage way leading TO the
kitchen, and into this she glided paus-
ing moment, her heart beating very
fast, for she suddenly thought she heard
step just outside. In another moment
a key was pushed into the lock and the
bolt snapped cautiously and almost
noisclessly back.
SURPRISING scream OF surprise and
alarm at this confirmation Of her vorst
fears. Kitty turned TO arouse the house.
when voice from the outside fell upon
her ear. whispering these words. "All
right"
In another moment tho back door
was carefully opened, swinging back up.
on lts hinges with scarce a sound. Two
men entered the passage. as Kitty knew
at once. for her hearing seemed awfully
acute just then.
"a woman, by all that's lovely r"
exclaimed one, springing forward
Quick, my pal, stop her mouth. or she
will alarm the house I"
You here, Hal Burton?"
'Be quiet. Dick" said tho Young