Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-10-05

Lear love, SAID Earl, kissing her
Il know how true you are. But STILL
with teasing laugh, 81 do feel lit
tie shaky when I think Of the fascina
ting Ebenezer."
"You may be sure l shan't sleep
wink tonight for thinking Of him.
said Kittie. HOf course he win turr
mother right out, and where is she tc
goa"
"Come in and sing to me-" said Earl
and forget about Ebenezer."
So arm-in-arm they walked up the
box-bordered path and entered the
house, where Kittie tried to coax some
melody from the wheezy little piano
which Mrs. Smith had bought in hel
girlhood.
Kittie was the teacher of the dis
trict school, Of which Deacon Smith
was trustee, and Earl was LAWYER
in the large town of West Canterbury,
two miles distant. He had an excel
lent practice, and was well able to
support a wife; so when he fell in
love with pretty Kittie Wayne there
were no difficulties in the way of an
early marriage. The wedding had
been set for the last week in June, for
Kittie's school closed on the 18th. and
she had intended to be married from
her Cousins home in Merriield. But
now death had changed her plans very
materially; and after Earl had listened
to all the ballads with which Kittie
was familiar, he easily persuaded her
to promise to be married quietly at the
good deacon's at the time appointed
at is unlucky to postpone we'd
ding" said Earl, as he argued the ques
tion, "and of course you can do a
great deal more for your mother when
you are my wife. Who knows, we
may outwit that Ebenezer Cranch
yet"
"No such good luck" said Kittie.
"There's no chance for a law case,
Earl"
Of course Kittie waited very anx-
iously for her next letter from Merri-
-
field, and when it came she read it
with tears of thanksgiving, for Ebe-
nezer Cranch's lawyer had written to
say that Mrs. Wayne and her daughters
need not move Immediately from the
farm, as possession would not be taken
for several weeks.
I" So, you see, the ugly Ebenezer is
not as hateful as you imagine" said
Earl, when Kittie read him her moth
er's letter.
"He's only making a convenience Of
mother" said Kittie, who was too
prejudiced to be just. "Of course, if
he couldn't take the farm right off he
didn't want it deserted"
"He's a bold, bad man." said Earl.
There's no doubt of it. I suppose
you wouldn't let even Hannah look on
him fayorably."
Neyerr' said Kittie, tossing her
curls. "Hannah is far too good for
such wretch ~ lib IA
"But she might keep the farm If 2 z
"Not at tsuch asacrifce," interrupted
Kittie. PLEASE don't talk about the
man, Leslie; you know how I hate
him."
The day before her wedding Kittie
received another letter from Merit
field. Mrs. Wayne sorrowed over her
inability to be present on the great
occasion, and wished her daughter
every happiness. She concluded by
saying that Ebenezer Cranch's law
yer had written to say that his client
and wife would be at Merrifield week
or two later, but requesting that Mrs.
W he would remain in the house
until their arrival.
ssPoor Hannah's last chance is gone, .
said Earl. when Kittie told him what
her mother had written. She can't
save the farm by marrying her foe, it
seems, as he has wife already"
"To think that any girl .ould have
been willing to marry himr' said
Kittie.
The wedding came off with due
pomp and ceremony; for Mrs. Smith
had insisted on giving a substantial
breakfast to the guests, and the deacon
had taken pains to invite every one
for miles around There was mach
feasting and merry-making, and Mr..
and Mrs. Leslie Earl left West Canter-
bury mid a shower Of rich and old
slippers. They were to take a tour of
two weeks among the mountains and
lakes of the north, and then return
home by way Of Merrifeld, for Kittie
was very anxious 10 see her mother
and her sisters.
"And if you desire it, Kittie," said
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