Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-03-26
AN 1MPUDBNT PUPPY.

''Where is Kitty?' inquired Mrs. Car
rington entering the room where her two
elder daughters were employed. the one
in reading and the other with a bit of fan
cy-work."
Il really don't know. mamma. y answer
Dora. looking up from her work. Il have
had scarcely glimpse of Kitty since she
came into the country. She appears to
have taken to an al fresco life, and is never
in the house except at night.''
81 saw her about two hours ago on her
way to the orchard,'' remarked Cornelia.
''She said she was going to feed the pigs,
and would afterwards take a lesson in
Milking"
II wish could find her." remarked Mrs.
Darlington. Il am certain that either
Judge Bolton or his son will call this af
ternoon, and 1t is proper that Kitty should
be present. She did not appear on their
former visits"
"She will shock the Judge with her hoy
denish manners, and as to the son. | hard
" think he will particularly admire her.
He doesn't fancy female society, I've heard,
and prefers his dogs and horses; and was
not he little wild at college, mammal
ga little too fond of what is called fun
nothing more that 1 have heard Of. He
is clever young man and will be wealthy
and next to his father, Is the best match
in the neighborhood-th as you say,
he don't appear to particularly care for
the society of ladies. 1 faneied he looked
rather bored while talking to that stately
Miss Abbott. clever and handsome as she
is. And then he must know that all the
girls are trying to secure him, which nat
uralIy makes him shy of them.'
These remarks were clearly intended as
hints to her daughters; for Mrs. Caring
ton was genuine match maker, and had
already married off two daughters advan
tageously. Finding that the remaining
elder daughters had failed to make the de
sired impression on either Judge Bolton
or his son, she had bethought herself Of
producing Kitty, hitherto, as the youngest
and prettiest, carefully kept in the back
ground.
| But in the meantime, where was Kitty
Kitty having filed basket with apple
for the pigs, strolled around the orchard
admiring the trees and the fruit, ant
climbing low peach tree, in order to gath
er one especially fine peach for her father
In this position, her eye was caught by
low line of green willows, bordering tn
sloping meadows beyond the orchard.
sit looks as though stream were there,
she thought; s'and do SO love water.
dare say it is lovely under those willows
Come. Rolla, /" calling to little half-growl
terrier. "you and will 60 on an exploring
expedition
Rolla, after some coaxing, rather sulkl-
ly obeyed. He was an ugly little crooked
legged, hairy muzzled pup, which Kit
had. on her arrival at the farm, begged o.
the farmer for pet. Yet Rolla. despit
all the petting. did not take to his prett
Young mistress, but persisted in evincinl
decided preference for the barn an
kitchen and low life in general.
Kitty was not disappointed in her expec
tation. She found clear, shallow strean
which ran ripping and murmuring, pleas
antly between the thickets of wild ros
and blossoming elder. She seated hersei
on the grassy bank, and took off first he
hat, then her shoes and stockings and al
lowed the cool water to ripple and dane
about her white feet. Then she becam
interested In watching some insect life o.
the surface of the water. and when salts
fed with this. resumed her shoes an
stockings and lay back on the cool turf
dreamily repeating snatches Of poetry. I
stray sunbeam glinted on the ripplin
brown hair. and the eyes that looked u
through the waving foliage were as deer
ly blue and clear as the sunny sky over
head. Pity thess was not stray artist t
gaze upon the picture.
Suddenly, Kitty awoke to the fact tina
Rolla had disappeared. He had been smel
ling about the bushes, and had stolen OF
on the track of some scent, perceptibl
only to his own keen olfactories.
Kitty lifted up her voice, and called il
her sweet, clear, girlish tones;
sRolla! Rolla!'
In answer there was presently rustlin
amid the elder bushes, and forth steppec
not the culprit kolla. but very handsom
young man, equipped with gun and plrc
bag.
} Kitty sprang up. Each started FOR a
; instant at the other, then the gentleman
gracefully lifting his cap, said
"May inquire, Miss. what you war
with me?"