St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-04-08

the wall close beside you, and if the
animal makes the least attempt at vio-
lence will jump over and protect you
even if it costs me the last drop of my
| blood ~
ben, don't be absurd. l would
much rather have the cow turned out
or be helped out myself"
sit would never do; trust me, il
would never do" persisted the auda-
ciOus lover. "And you know you may
feel perfectly safe when you have me
within a foot of you. | am not at all
afraid of cows"
Within a foot! Ben might well so
He was leaning over the wall now, and
the bright hazel eyes were very near
indeed to Kitty's down-cast brown
lashes.
"Now, tell me-" proceeded Ben
dropping the bantering tone for one
more tender-''tell me, Kitty dear,
dearest Kitty, what did you mean by
planning to go away day after to-mer-
row without saying a word about it tc
me ?"
"How did you know ~
''Mrs. Burnet gave me a hint /; she
felt sorry for me. l suppose; but
should have known somehow if she
hadn't. How could you do so? Why
did you, dear p
"I'll tell you," said Kitty, with sud
den resolution. Il was-I was going
away because I'm afraid to stay near
you any longer just now. l don't know
my own mind. I'm afraid of making a
mistake
The mistake of saying no to me ~
"Or yes. The truth is, YOU bewitch
me somehow when | am with you.
can't Judge, can't tell how it is. l want
to look sOberly at the thing, to decide
as rational woman should in a matter
of consequence"
Kitty, there is nothing rational
about love. | don't want you to de-
eide in that way. If you do, all is up
with me. How cruel of you to think to
rob me of my one chance! Don't
know that once you leave me and go
away | shall seem in your eyes the un-
worthy creature that | am, that all men
must be, of anything so precious as
yourself your love, your sweetness, your
pure, ardent nature. My only hope is
in winning you against your calm iudg
ment and common sense in making
you feel that with all my faults, and
little as deserve it, love you so much
as to be worth just little for loves
sake. Oh, Kitty, listen-don't 60"
''Ah, Ben" cried Kitty, flushed,
quivering, pleased, moved, "I ought
not" But precisely at this juncture
the red Ayrshire raised her head, gave
a moo, which to Kitty's ears was like a
threatening roar, and charged at brisk
trOt directly toward their corner. Kit
ty's words broke into wild shrek, as
jumping to her feet in complete disre-
gard of the sprained ankle, she stretch
ed her hands and cried. 80, Ben, save
me! save me"
In one second he was over the wall.
Another saw the COW in full retreat and
Kitty in his arms.
Take me away" she sobbed, hiding
her eyes on his shoulder.
"Will you promise to listen to all |
want to say p demanded the wary
Ben.
"Oh, yes, anything, dear Ben. I'll
promise anything if you will help me
to safe place, away from that devour-
ing beast" quavered Kitty.
No exact report exists with regard to
the proceedings OF the next few min
utes. Suffice it to say that when Ju-
dith, speeding on in advance of the
carry all, reached the scene of action a
quarter of an hour later, she stood
transfixed at the spectacle of Kitty, sit
ting on the tOpmost ledge of Sunset
Rock, her hand fast held in Ben's, and
such pair of happy eyes and blazing
cheeks as could only betoken crisis of
blissful description.
"Why, how did Ben, when did you
get here. and how did you find out
where Kitty was? ?" demanded the
amazed Judith.
sit was the cow" explained Ben,
waving his hand toward the Pound.
"rm going down now to order pair
of silver-gilt tips for her horns"
Eyes, it was the COW; it really was"
added Kitty, the sparkle of fun displac
ing the lingering dew in her brown
eyes-"it was all the COW. Had it not
been for that dreadful animal over
there, and the mean advantage which
Ben took of my helplessness and my
unprotected situation, should never
have been So She paused for
word.
Happy ?" suggested the daring Ben.
"Well, yes" said Kitty, meeting his
eyes with her own.
And then, notwithstanding Judith,
Ben kissed her.
The carry-all wheels were now heard
on the road below, and Ben helped
Kitty to her feet. AS be did so, the
COW in the Pound lifted her head and
gave a prolonged mOo-O-o-o.
"Her blessing on the engagement"
whispered Ben, as he lifted his tidnc@e
into the carriage.
And to this day when any little tiff
arises between the married lovers
who are lovers still-Kitty, with pret-
ty sauciness, is wont to shake her head
and murmur, "Ah, that red COW she
has mnch TO answer fOrr