Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-08-10
KITrrIE.

Inc lrlcnuS llat my Childhood Knew.
james HLH
KITTIE.
The great gong in the senior class
room rang out dismally, and its deep
intonation caused all the distracted
girls to cast aside books, states, pen
ellis and pens, and with many sighs of
relief glance up TO the high desk at the
teacher, for the signal summoning
them to hear prayers. The folding
doors were rolled apart by the moni-
tors, and Miss Perkins repeated the
Lords Prayer in her usual cold, harsh
tone, then dismissed the scholars.
kittic Lake, who was then eighteen
years old, andscvcral of the older girs
left the school room together, and in II
short time all had dressed for dinner
and were in the dining-room at six
o'clock promptly. Kittie was not II
favoritc with Miss Perkins. by any
means, there being very little likcncs,
between thsm. Miss Perkins was tall,
thin, and stern in appearance, and
having pair of cold, stccl-colored
eyes that never, within the knowledge
of the oldest scholar, bcamcd with Il
loving light She was very refined,
perhaps too strictly so in her manners,
and seemed to be II person who was
used to Il different phase of life than
that of a seminary teacher. However,
of her former life none of the girls knew
anything; and they did not like her
well enough press their nquisitivc-
ness, nor to make coniidantc of her.
rs schoolgirls are apt to do. And as
y for kittic, it was not strange consider
ing her wild, fun-loving disposition.
that she and Miss Perkins did not
agree.
The girl was one of those queer. ca
PRECIOUS, incorrigible creatures whose
greatest fault is their utter thought
lesSness. There was Just enough
clash " III hcr-a vivaciousness that
well became hGr-tO make her attract
i've, aside from her good looks, and
even lend her charm that was sure to
fascinate any man. Her parents were
weH circumstanced rs far as this
world goods went, and of course she
had little but her studies to worry
over. She was of medium height.
plumply built, with blue eyes archcd
by black brOws, while her hair was of
brownish hue, and her skin white and
transparent, the blue veins showing
plainly on her temples. Her hands
were small and Shapely, and her feet
exceedingly so, n high instep and beau
tifully archcd hollow giving them that
shapelincss so much admired. This
much for the heorinc of my story, and
if the reader will imagine her temper
evenly turned on most occasions, he or
she will know almost how she appeared
TO me when last saw her.
The seminary was u rambling old
manor, situated in the midst of LARGE
park which was surrounded by a high
stone wall. After dinner the girls
were allowed a couple of hours froic
in the great park before retiring for
an hours study and final retirement to
their dormtory for their nights re-
pose. On this evening, when Kittic
and few OF her companions went into
the park, they strollcd off TO secluded
nook near the wall, to talk over such
secrets as they might have to confidc.
They had not been there long. how
ever, when they were startled by hear
ing the report of Il gun and IN instant
later bird fell dead in their midst
from the tree overhead. They gazed
at it in amazement moment, and
would have hurried away, but before
they could recover from their surprise
ayoung man, attired in the garb of Il
sportsman, emerged from some bushes,
holding a smoking gun in his hand.
4 He seemed surprised on seeing the
girls, but, urbanely doiling his cap,
said,-
"Excusc me; young ladies'; | was not
aware that this park was private prop
erty. | just climbed over the wall and
took possession of it, and have made
myself liable to arrest for lrespassing."
The girls saw that he was handsome
fellow, and though at first on the point
of running away at the approach of
man." they all smiled swcetly, and
Kittie said,-
b "WcI, | think you might have taken
the trouble to look where you were fir
ing! Suppose you had shot uS?n
He smiled, and with q lugubrious
look said,--
81 am sure it would have been per-
fectly dwtM, and | will take more care
in future, assure you. | am not of
much account at shooting straight, and
the chances are that while | thought
was aiming at the bird, the gun might
that bee" pointed directly at you all.
II was purely the result of accident that
Killed m game, for fired with my
eyes shut, and the gun held at ran
DOM
The girls all looked horrilied-or aDI
least pretended to; then Kittie, with
sly look at her friends, said,-
81 think l could beat you shooting
myself"
with a laugh he handed her the
rifle.
81 do not dispute you; try
vt that instant Nellie Rodney ap-
preached the group, and on catching
sight of the young man she uttered a
cry of delight, and, running up to him,
threw her arms around his neck.
80 Harry How in the world did
you get in herep"
Freeing himself from her arms, he
exclaimed
"Hello, Nellie! might ask you the
same question; bu- 1t is doubtful if you
climbed the wall as / did,
"Nellie burst out laughing at the
surprised looks of her schoolmates, then
said,-
"Why, this is the seminary park,
Brother Hal!''
"Ohlhe is Der brother!" thought the
girls, somewhat disappointed, for more
than one imagined he was her lover.
Nellie then introduced all, and they
l.. 4 L IL n