Daily Republican., 1879-02-28
IN THE WOOD.

tres, her light muslin dress waving 81
futtering in the breeze.
"Glorious, Rupert, isn't it'' 81
cried, calling to her pet and oompanio
q huge, shaggy dog. but where a
you! Why don't you answer, sir
And, turning, she looked svsrywhe
around her.
Suddenly q merry voice cried OH
"Here !" and a young man lsaped Il
low fence, and advanced towards he
laughing merrily and dofang his hat.
Kitty's eyes flashed.
81 beg ycur pardon" said the intr,
der, bowling half-mockinsly; "but
was taking a short cut across th- 6sl
when | heard you call ms.'
"Call your"
Kitty looked AZ II sh. would Snnih
late him.
Certainly" with tho utmos; COO
ness. "You called Rupert didn
you :"
II was calling my dog. SIR sai
Kitty, with infinite hsutsur.
"Well, I'm not exactly q dog" wa
the laughing answer; "but I've oitel
been called an impudent puppy'-a
your service, Miss"
Hs bowed again, profoundly.
~ should think no." replied Kitty
And she muttsred to herself, not TX
pecting to be heard, "Impudsncs!"
The stranger heard tho word, never
thslsss. His manner changed. He b.
came ~ serious and dsfer-ntisl IA tn.
most chrivalrous knight Of old in tn.
presence o. his mistress.
~ beg pardon; I'm afraid I'm tres
passing. But the path through the
field was 'rodd-n a. If ous had the
right Of way there, and l heard you
call-wsll, made a mistake" Again
the mirthful look danced in his pyss.
"Good morning"
He swept the very ground with his
hat, as he executed another profound
bow, and then turned, and, putting his
hand on the top OF the fence, vaultsd
over, and the next moment was out Of
light.
Kitty went back to th- hours nut.
.ering.
"Ths impudent fellow" while the
.eal Rupert, who had started of chas-
ng q rabbit, reappeared at this juno
urs and accompanied her. But this
vas not the Rupert she meant when
'he said "ths impudent fellow
A week passed. Kitty saw no more
# the stranger, though she often won
Tered who he could be, and II he we're
taying in the Reighborhood. At the
nd of that time she attended an even
ng party: at Squire Stacey's. Almost
he first person she saw OH entering the
oom was the handsome stranger.
81 wish to introduce you to my
ephsw," said the squire, leading that
ersonage up to Kitty. "His name, by
aptism Is Rupert Mortimer, but he is
uch a saucy fellow that he is best
nown among his friends as that impu-
ent puppy"
The eyes OF the young people mot.
oung Mr.. Mortimsr's dancing with
In. For the life Of her Kitty could
OF help laughing. So they laughed
, concert, and he said, bowing low and
speating the same words hs had used
, the woods:
"Yes, that impudent puppy-at
our service, Miss"
"He is making sport Of me,' said
itty to herself, and drew herself up
aughtily; and for the rest Of the inter-
lew she WAS cold and reserved, confin-
'g herself to monosyllabic replies.
cry soon, at the appearance of one Of
sr many admirers, she excused her.
If, and went of to dance.
IA bit Of Tartar, Pm afraid" So
Ioquired Rupert Mortimer. "But how
'etty she Is. She looks, too, rs though
~ had noble character; and she can
ke her own part as have found out
my cost. But am afraid she has
zen spoiled by admiration. To get
to her good graces one must 90 on his !
ry knees to her, and faith 1t is al
Dst worth while TO do 1t. But no, Ru-
rt Mortimer, my boy, keep up your
lfr-spect." Then, with a laugh, he
d.d, "'ls thy servant dog, that he
ould do this thing p"
Yet often that evening Rupert found ;
mself as if by some magnetic attrac- !
III, drawn to Kitty's side, Kitty, too,
lld not help occasionally glancing Q
at his handsome face and u
aceful figure. She saw very soon, I
at he was the best dancer in the II
'm. SO when a waltz was struck up, r
4 he asked her to dance, she could "
. resist the invitation. II
''If don't dance with him." she u
d to herself, "thA other girls will say II
1t hs didn't ask me-; and that would @
YER do" u
Kitty had never enjoyed a waltz 80 u u
ch. She forgot Ithe ridiculous cpl. ~
|s in the wood--forgot the strangers =
Il sfrontery-forgot everything but o.
dreamy music and the rhythmical "
vIment Of her companion. When ., .,
band stopped abe sighed involHn a. a.
lily, whishing it was all to go over ., .,
lin.
Sails, pir-nic-, and crolLet parties W
owed each other in rapid succession, a, q,
the summer was gay one. Kitty "
young Mr.. Mortimer were together
Iost constantly. Somehow Kitty fell
o the habit of expecting Rupert al re
" a1 her special escort; and he BE-. al
to feel that no one but he had q tt
ht to Kitty, and to he very jealous eli
en- others attempted to pay her at. re
tions. As vet, however, no words
owe had passed between them, for n,
pert, now thoroughly enamored, fear. ~, a.,
70 ruin all by too premature avow. on on
as once or twice, when a %a
ventured to approach the subject, me ''s
y had grown naughty and cold. "