The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1880-09-04

" do believe its going to rain," said
Kitty, despairingly, and my goose
berries are not picked yeti"
And with a quick motion she caught
Philo's hat and buster from the hat-rack,
and sped down into the cool, secluded
greenery of the garden, where neigh
boris huge pear-tree dropped over the
stone-wall on one side, and the hedge oil
gooseberry bushes grew below.
But as the green balls of sweetness
rained down into her basket, she be-
came conscious of a rustling in the pear
boughs beyond, where huge hammock
swung.
Some of Mrs. Peck's city boarders
are there" said Kitty to herself; " but
l won't notice EN-"
But she colored celestial rosy-red
under the broad brim of her hrother's
Manila hat, when she recognized the
sound of Parke Cameron's low and
rather languid.voice.
Is it you, Philo?"
! Kitty picked on, silently and expedite
ously, without word OF answer.
But evidently the interlocutor was not
| discouraged.
so you're like me-" he resumed
"preferring your own society to che gay
clamor of the picnicFparty."
"Philo," said Cameron, abruptly, 'sdo
you suppose should find your sister at
home, if were to go up TO the house?
She avoids me SO Systematically that l
can never get an opportunity to speak to
her; and, for the life of me, | can't tell
why
The Manila hat dropped lower than
ever among the gooseberry thickets; the
nervous fingers worked away with re
doubled speed.
Kitty Crawford wished herself any
where en- earth just then but On that
particular spot.
"Do you think I should have the
ghost of chance with her, if I asked
her boldly to be my wifep" said Parke
Cameron, plunging valiantly into the
heart of his subject; for, of all the
girls ever saw, she comes nearest to
my ideal of perfect womanhood, and l
have learned to love her deeply and
passionately! Don't, for heavens sake,
be so silent, old fellow, unless you pur-
pcsely wish to discourage my suit!" he
ADDED, with something like impatience
in his voice. Tell me-have l any
grounds for hopep"
Kitty was trembling all over, more
like frightened blue bird caught in a
net. Was ever girl placed in such an
embarrassing predicament beforeP How
she wished she had let Philo's Linen
buster and broad brimmed hat alone!
Why don't you answer me?' de-
manded the deep voice, waxing still
more impatient in it's tone.
And to add to Kitty's perplexities, the
big drops of rain began to patter mex
orably down, and zigzag streak of
lightning shot crosswise across the
threatening sky, zone of living fire.
Discretion is the better part of
yalorr," said our little heroine to her.
self, and, catching up the only half-flled
basket of emerald fruit, she prepared
for an ignominious flight.
But Mr.. Cameron had no notion OF
| this. With QUICK movement he sprang
from the hammock ABOVE, and placed
himself directly across the narrow path
| way, thus effectually barricading all
retreat.
cod fellow!" said he, half laughing,
half in earnest, "you shall not stir a
step from here unless you tell me whether
or not"
81 will go!' cried Kitty Crawford,
bursting into hysterical tears. "You-
you have no right to stop me thus"
If the thunderbolts even then mutter-
ing through the twilight sky had strickeo
him with their electric hands, Parke
Cameron could have scarcely been more
stupefied and amazed.
miss Crawfordr' he exclaimed
Kitty, can it be possible that this is
youp-that / have committed such an
awkward blunder as"
But, in the selfsame instant, he com.
pretended that his suit must be pleaded
now or never-that a cowardly lover i;
never successful one.
kitty, said he. still barricading the
way, have told you frankly that
love you. You must be equally out
spoken with me-"
But-but it rains!" faltered Kitty
looking wildly this way and that fol
some method of escape.
81 don't care if it rains a deluger
said Parke Cameron; will know m.
fate!'
"When we get up to the house." salt
Kitty, evasively.
"Nowr insisted Cameron.
| stPleasa let me get hyi" pleaded Kitty