The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-17
VOLUME XI.

ucut puppy.
, The eyes Of the young people met.
Young Mr.. Mortmer's were dancing
with fun. For the life ot her Kitty
could not help laughing. SO they
I laughed in concert. and he said, bowlng
/ low, and repeating the same words he
had used in the garden
YES, that impudent puppy-at
your service, miss.
He is making sport Of me, said
Kitty to herself, and drew herself mp
haughtily and for the rest OF the inter
view she WAS cold and reserved, conin-
ing herself to mouosyllabic replies.
Very soon, nj the appearance of one of
her many admirers, she excused herself,
and went of ~ dance.
"A bit Of Tartar. I'm afraid, solilo
quizei Rupert Mortimer, " But how
pretty she is. She looks, too, as though
she had "A noble character and she can
take her own part, as ] have found u
my cost. But I'm afraid she has been
tpoilt by admiration. To get into her
good graces one must go on his very
knees To her and, faith il Is almost
worth while 10 do IT, But no, Rupert
Mortimer. my boy, keep your self-re-
spect." Then, with laugh, 49, Is thy
servant dog, that he should do this
thing
Yet often that evening Rupert found
himself, as if by some magnetic attrac'
ton. drawn 10 Kitty's side. Kitty, too,
could not help occasionally glancing
admiringly at his handsome face and
graceful figure.
Balls, pic-nics and croquet parties
followed each other in rapid succession,
for the summer was gay one Kitty
and young Mr.. Mortimer were together
almost constantly. Somehow, Kitty fell
into the habit of expecting Rupert
always as her special escort; and he
began 10 feel that no one but he had
right 10 Kitty, and to be very Jealous
when others attempted TO pay her atten-
tons. As vet, however, no words Of
love passed between them; for Rupert,
now thoroughly enamored, feared Il
ruin all by too premature avowal; es-
pecially as, once or twice, when he had
ventured 30 approach the subject, Kitty
had suddenly grown hRnghty and cold.
A final picnic had been planned r.
close the season. 1t proved great sue
cess. The day passed merrily on until
luncheon time. Rupert had made up
his mind to have a quite ramble with
Kitty after this meal, and II things went
well, 10 speak OF his love. But he had
counted without his host, for when
luncheon WAS over and he had got nd OF
his aunt, Mrs. Stacy, who had called
him 10 her side 20 wait on her, 10
Kitty had disappeared Full Of Jealous
fears, and determined 10 find out who
was his rival, he seth firth through the
woods 10 discover Kitty.
he had not gone far before her favor
ite dog came bounding toward him,
jumping and barking, and manifestinp
the greatest delight at seeing him. But
when Rupert stopped 10 pat his name
sake, the dog Garted ahead then stopped
and looked wistfully at Rupert, and theu
rushed on again.
What can he mean ?" said Rupert.
A sudden fear seized him that some
thing was wrong. and he hurried on,
the dog rapidly leading the way.
At last, in an opening of the woods,
on q moss-covered rock, he saw Kitty,
pale, breathless, and apparently in pain.
In a moment he was at her side. All his
jealousy was gone. Love Was upper
most now.
"Oh! darling" he cried, what i,
it? Thank Heaven l have found you.
"0h! Mr.. Mortimer, she cried, wit
little sob, chow glad am to see you.
began T. think I should have to sta,
all night alone. I've sprained my ankl,
and I can't walk. What shall do?
And she burst into tears.
Our hero took both the little hands.
and held them tightly in his own, while
he questioned her anxiously a. 20 the
accident, relating meantime how he came
to find her.
but how" exclaimed Kitty. ruefully.
when he had done" how am | ever t.
get back l don't believe | can walk
step"
"Of course you can't. Who said You
could ?" cried Rupert "But you'll get
back right, all the same, for | intend to
carry you"
Garry me ~ Kitty gave q little
scream, and shrank back, and covered
her face with both her hands, for she
felt the hot blood in her cheeks. Oh,
no; that will never do; = and she blum
dered ont unthinkingly, what will peo-
pie say ?"
But Rupert did not stop to reply 10
this question. Very little cared he what
people said. Without word he put his
arms around Kitty, and, lifting her
bodily from her feet, walked off with her
as il she had been feather-weight.
At first, Kitty struggled little but
the strong, manful arms held her closely,
and soon she began rather TO like it, and
to think IL all very delightful
eat any rate, she said TO herself. 81
can't help it; he is too masterful TO
resist j"
With this comforting conclusion, her
fair head sank on his shoulder, and for
the first time in her short life Kitty
knew what it was to be suprernely
happy.
Rupert carried his lovely burden TO
his own carriage, which stood apart from
the crowd, and carefully placed Kitty
in il.
"There, now," he said, al shall take
You home Immediately, and stop for
doctor on the way. Nobody can drive
you with 80 little pain "a / can, he
added, seeing she was about to object
" Besides. you must begin TO obey me,
so as 10 get your hand in, for sometime
You are going 10 be my wife, you know. "
"Your wife ?" cried Kitty.
She gave pout and a toss OF her
head, but she blushed, and not with
anger either. Yes blushed TO the tips
OF her dainty ears.
"Of course" retorted Rupert, MS he
stepped softly into the carriage, and
took his seat beside her, looking half
fondly into her eyes which fell before
him. at have meant it all along.
Didn't you, dearest" 2"
Really, you are the most 'impudent
puppy / ever saw" rstorted Kitty,
bursting into laughter in spite OF her
self.
But, for all that, she did not repulse
the kiss with which, before starting.
Rupert thought il necessary TO fortify
himself for the journey.
What more iS there to tell? Very
little. For Kitty and Rupert were mar
ried early in the autumn, and were su-
perlatively happy.
"Do' you know" said Rupert, one
day, "t6at it was by the merest acci-
dent we ever knew each otherl / had
come down TO my uncle's for single
night only, when / saw you in the
swing, and my whole life was changed.
fell in love at first sight, and resolved
TO stay and make your acquaintance,
even il it took all the summer.
O. nnQWaWNn