The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-04-20
Mrs. RAYMOND'S KITTY
Or, n Bohemian Girl.
BY MAY FORD LAUREL.

James.
A hot, burning morning in June
that month of roses, and dust, and
burning heat. Scene-a street where
the sun glistens fercely upon sharp
area ratings, basks on shining leaden
roofs and willis the gay flowers in the
gardens poor faded beauties, they
hang down their heads on their frail
stalks, or lean languidly against the
dry, rocky pyramidal mounds" that
occupy prominent place in every we'll
kept garden
Jack Everett looks out from one of
the side windows of his boarding house
parlor, and surveys the street without,
the garden below and the residence
pertaining to the garden; or, to speak
more correctly, the residence to which
the garden pertains. Heat-baking,
burning, melting heat-reigns over all.
The lace curtains in the neighboring
parlor windows hang limp and motion
less, unstirred by the faintest breeze !;
in the dusty street two huckster women,
whose toilets are gotten up with de-
Gghtful disregard for conventionalities,
stroll lazily on, forbearing to extol
their wares; dog, with limp tail
and sweeping ears, passes dis
consolately by, evidently in search
of shady spot; portly old gentle
man tolls down the sidewalk. brushing
the drops from his bald forehead, with
a damp cambria handkerchief. Heat
fierce, oppressive neutrality-suspicious..
But, in the midst of it all, there rises
voice-sweet, swelling, clear and cool ;
cool as the flow of rivulet, that slips,
and slides, and bubbles, and ripples
somewhere, under dark roof of hang
ing boughs, where no burning sunshine
can enter in; fearless, free voice,
bursting ont from somebody's heart,
there by the open street, singing frag.
ment from Balfe, with exquisitely mu-
steal defiance.
Jack Everett, in mingled astonish-
ment and pleasure-he is lover of
melody-leans further out Of the win
dow, listening intently. And then the
door opens and James enters (the gen
teel, irreproachable, debonnaire James
always found in the orthodox boarding
housed and seeing Jacks bewilder-
ment, smiles in a superior way.
"Mrs. Raymond's Kitty, SIR he OBJ
serves.
Mrs. Roymonds whatP" inquiries
Jack.
kitty, sir, James explains, amiably.
"a housemaid she is, and a very nice
young woman to look at, and quite
well-behaved; which she is very lively,
however, sir and, with parting
smile, James vanishes. The song had
ceased, and Jack turns from the win
dow with feeling of disappointment
"a housemaid; % very nice young
woman the possessor of that voice
1t is against the laws of nature, thinks
Jack
Jack Everett is a law student and the
possessor of an independent, though
not extensive fortune. He goes into
the best society of his native town and
is gladly received there. He is an or
phan and his own master. For the
rest, he has seen but two-and-twenty
years, is tall and straight and blue
eyed, with fair and frank face and
winning smile. He cannot be styled
brilliant far less an Industrious stu
dent; but he is true and manly, light
hearted and happy, and, unconsciously
and without the least effort, wins the
good will and admiration of those about
him. Instead of burying himself like
a bookworm among his calfskin vol
umes, he fiaunts like butterfly at balls
garden-parties and tennis clubs, where
gushing misses adore him, firt with
him. fail in love with him, pet him and
make much of him, and where the
young men call him capital fellow and
Jolly boy. Jack is still in full posses
sion of his heart, but common fame has
seen fit to bestow it upon Miss Lilias
Raymond, young lady eligible in every
way and as dark and dignified as Jack.
il fair and merry, aud therefore a suit
able match for Him. Jack, who is O
chivalrous young man, and utterly cal
lous and hardened to the persistent
gatherings of his friends, never contra
dicted this report, while Miss Lilias re-
ceives the insinuations and innuendoes
of her companions with an amiable ST.
lence, supposed to give consent. In
point of tact, the lady has tried val
iantly enough to take by storm or
by stratagem the heart of the handsome
young barrister that is to be; but Jack
being rather an obstinate youth, has re-
fused to yield it up, and still remains
fancy free. Lilias is about Jacks age,
the only child of banker lately de
ceased, and resides with her mother,
the Mrs. Raymond above mentioned as
the proprietress of Kitty.
When Jack took up his abode in the
clearinghouse adjacent to Mrs Ray
pond's domains, Mrs. Grundy was
heard to observe that the young man
was not without intentions.
On the afternoon of the same day
upon which Jack heard the housemaid's
song, having become aweary of legal
researches, and arriving at the con-
clusion that he needs relaxation and
rest, the hopeful young law-student
goes to call upon the i.aymonds. Their
residence is very near, and Jack, who
is of rather an indolent temperament,
objects TO long walks. At the door he
is met by Charles, who tells him that