Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-09

everything ssvoring Of Quakerism; but in
after years, when they had grown older
and wiser, and valued the world and the
glory of it for what it WAS worth, to meet
once more the peculiar people of their
youth, 10 hear again the thee and thou
of the Quaker was like coming home
from wandering in foreign land to ones
own country, ones own people and tongue.
Into this sober and somewhat monoto-
nous Quaker home came a new inmate,
Bayard Arnold, teacher of the district
school, young collegian in the fourth
year of his course. He was tall, with
soft, dark eyes, very shy and gentle in
manner. Mr., and Mrs. Grayson took him
to their hearts at once and made him as
much at home rs possible for the winter,
boarding around having gone ou. of fash
ion. He learned to respect his host and
hostess very much, respect which soon
grew into affection, ami he thought Kitty
very lovely, tut did not dare to tell her so
by word or act. And she was lovely, of
middle height, but so slender thst she
looked taller fair faced small red
mouth. the sweetest of blue eyes and light
brown hair.
Kitty, for her part, found the school
teacher very tantalizing. He would make
friends with all the matronly women, but
handsome young girl he stunned rs he
would the plague. This did not by any
means indicate that he hated them rs he
did the plague, as Kitty was not slow to
discover, so at the social gatherings of the
neighborhood she would surround him
with bevy of girls whom singly and
voluntarily he was not valiant enough to
encounter; but cornered, brought to bay,
he was equal to the occasion, and proved
very entertaining and also sarcastic This
led often to battle of words with Kitty,
who could fight with the same weapons,
and who loved to tease the young man,
because, as she phrased it, "he was so
afraid of the girls"
Now these two young people, who
apparently were not even good friends,
were falling in love with each other as
fast as they could, and this propensity for
teasing brought Kitty to grief and-ioy, as
will be seen.
Early after Mr.. Arnold's introduction
into the family he had been invited to Join
in their silent worship upon the Sabbath.
This he sometimes did out of respect for
his friends, and also because he enjoyed
the rest of the stiffness, until one day fall
ing asleep for moment, and waking with
start, he beheld Kitty's face couvulsed
with suppressed laughter. Kitty did not
mean to be irreverent, but the incident was
little ludicrous, and the time and place
aggravated it. Who cannot remember a
similar instance when laughter being en-,
tirely out of place some slight thing has
excited the risibles to an exaggerated
degreep Covered with confusion, Mr..
Arnold welcomed the hand-shaking rs he
never did before, and never again dared to
unite in this family worship, but betook
himself to church or stad quietly in his
room, and thereby hangs this tale.
Arnold's chamber being cold, he had
been given a small room opening from the
general sitting room, for study and read.
ing, where he had fire and made himself
very comfortable. The family were invited
TO make free use of his books, which they
did, Kitty spending many happy hours
there.
Mr. Arnold had been nearly three
months one of the Grayson family, and his
term Of school was drawing to close
Kitty of late had been unusually aggra-
waiting and unusually lovely. Bayard was
tortured with the longing to tell her his
love and the fear and dread that she would
reject it, but fate favored him. and gave
him his revenge and the desire of his heart
at the same time.
Kitty always sat in the little family
meetings at the end of the long sitting
room, back of her father and mother,
back of her grandmother and aunt who
6 L
the youngest and so fguratively taking
the lowest seat, before door which OPEN
ed intoa large cupboard intended, perhaps,
for china closet, with a door opening
upon the other side into Mr.. Arnold's
little sitting room. Mr.. Arnold kept with.
in this door books and papers, Mrs. Gray
son opposite folded shawls or articles of
clothing, the cupboard amply large for the
use of both.
Upon one memorable Sal bath, Mrs.
Grayson having been out early to see
sick neigbbor, came home, folded her
shawl and put it in the cupboard, but neg
lected to shut the door. As the family
circle seated themselves Kitty placed her
chair in its accustomed position, but alb
sently not noticing the open door. As the
room became still Kitty grew drowsy, an
unusual thing with her; perhaps she was
fatigued, perhaps the room was overwarm,
but whatever the cause, Kitty's head
dropped, then her body, until she lay upon
the soft shawl, soundly asleep in the cup
board!
Bayard Arnold upon the other side,
opening his door for a book. sees the
bright brown head, the sweet, blooming
fana tho alpoaH and H.,
the situation at a glance, Here was his
revenge. Without II thought of the con
sequences he removes his books, slips his
arm about her waist and swiftly and
silently, her softly slippered feet noiseless
be draws her through the cupboard and
shuts the door, as she awakens to find her
self sitting upon the floor, and bending
over her Arnold's mocking, dancing eyes
When utter astonishment has given place
to anger she flies toward an outer door
there is in the room, but Bayard is before
her, and he faces her with his back against
the door.
Let me out" she whispers, "or III
scream"
DO" he answers, "and your father
will think you are speaking in meeting"
Then remembering his shyness in sheer
despair she says: Let me out, or I'll kiss
you"
THAT is just what I would like," he
returns.
Who is cornered nowp Looking into
his eyes she sees-the mocking, the mer-
riment all gone-earnestness love intense
Her eyes fall, the brown head bends, he
takes her in his arms, kisses the trembling
lips, and without a word opens the door
and lets her 60.
Breathlessly she runs around to the front
of the house, opens doors softly and slips
into her place without being missed,
wildly happy. but feeling like criminal
who ought to be hanged, nevertheless.
And never does Kitty find perfect hap.
pness and complete peace of mind until,
like two naughty children, she and Bay
ard have confessed to her parents and been
forgiven, which they freely are. but her
father requires as penalty that they shall
be married by Quaker custom, and so a
little more than year afterwards, sur
rounded by their friends and relatives,
they stand up, and Bayard Arnold taking
Kitty GraUson hU tho hon a. dooIo,o, tk,t