The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-09-06

Only one more week. and then
We shall reach home" said Kitty
Howell, as she threw herself down
upon a sofa in the little tavern.
'Tired of travel, Kitty" said her
father looking up from his news.
paper.
''I'm very tired Of railroad ears and
hotels, at any rate"
Il was thinking Of staying here a
few weeks"
Here"
Kitty sat bolt upright, in the ex-
cess of her establishment.
mot in the tavern. You like
stories, come here and | will tell you
one"
Tossing aside her bonnet and sacque,
Kitty complied with the request, and
while her father softly stroked her
long hair, he said:
When / was in college, Kitty, |
had a room mate to whom / was
warmly attached. He was shy,
silent young man, very studiOus,
rather good-!ooking, and with a love
for quaint books and pursuits. My
dear, to make long story short, We
fell in love. and unfortunately with
the same lady. He was so quiet, SO
reserved. while | was so hOt-headed.
that l never dreamed of his passion
Till I told him one evening that l was
an accepted lover, and then his secret
came out 1t was painful to me to
be the rival of my warmest friend !;
but your mother loved me, and did
not dream of Walters passion, and he
begged me to keep his secret. He
left college to return home, and We
did not meet again. When You were
born he wrote a congratulatory letter;
and Two years later, when l lost your
mother, he wrote again. but that was
all. Being very rich, he never had
any business or profession, but lived a
bachelor in his shy, quiet way. To-
day met him; he resides near here.
and he has begged me to pass few
weeks with him.
How old is he:"
Let me see. Walter Was nearly
two years my junior; he must be
about forty. Heigho, how time flies.
Well, Kitty, shall We pay the VISIT
Il suppose We must.
How stupid!" soliloquized Kitty,
drumming impatiently on the window
pane. IAN old man Of forty in a
country town! Its October, too, and
| haven't single thing fit to wear
this winter. l wonder how long papa
will stay. Ny first winter in society.
too, and auntie promised an unlimited
amount Of parties
Things looked brighter the next
morning, for the drive to Mr.. Soule's
residence was through a lovely part of
the country, and when they stopped
Kitty could not repress an exclama-
ton of delight. The house, large.
beautiful built, marble mansion, was
nestled at the end of an avenue of tall
trees, and at the base of q wooden hill
which rose behind it. On the porch
stood their host, still a very hand
some man.
This is kind" he said. grasping
Mr.. HowelPs hand ''and this" He
stopped and looked at Kitty, saying
softly, Every like. very like. l am
glad to see you, my child
Kitty, in all her life. had never
heard a sweeter voice than the one
that welcomed her. She followed the
maid to her room, thinking the visit
might not prove 80 great bore after
all. The two gentlemen stood OF the
porch looking after her.
Kitty. You called her after her,
then" said Mr.. Soule, in a low tone
Yes; she is very like, is she not y
Exactly"
Just the age. eighteen. poor Kitty
was when we were married. We are
old boys now, Walter"
Kitty was soon at home at Clair
mont. Now. in her pretty habit and
hat. securing over the country on
horseback, or riding demurely beside
her father through the town; now
knocking at the library door, where
Mr.. SouIe spent most Of his time. and.
under pretence of finding a book,
winning her host from his studies to
explain to her the shells Oh the
library table
DO l bother you very much by
coming in here ," she said, one day,
looking up from her low seat to the
handsome face bending over her.
Bother me? No. dear, | am very
glad TO have you
Il like to come in: it is so coy
Z. L. L. n.><,s,, 4