Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-28

sleeves: he grew fAddef and lsdaeE siIl
he knew that the doomed Ihank s4ixinH
turkey uobbIer's comb was nothing 10
him: tie perspiration rolled from his
honest rnbicund face. and he began 10
wish he'd find Kitty out when be got
there: be could talk to her mother, and
she could talk to Kitty, and il would
come kind of easier somehow. And
suddenly he stepped aside: there was
rush 0f wheels II his ears: high yell
low wheels. and d vision Of somebody
hailinu him politely, somebody with an
easy way Of wearing good clothes, and
somethino about HIM that would have
persuaded Joe TO take Off his hat to him
If he hadn't been too mad and hnstered,
and curious and afraid. Joe went
moodily on, and suddenly his scarlet
face grew pale, and the blood in his
veins grew cold, when before Kitty's
door he saw the high-wheeled, newly
mended wagon of the city fellow he had
driven to the railroad the other night.
and his long-limbed and newly-shod
horse paving the ground before Kitty's
gate; and presently out came Kitty her
self, shawled and hooded, her eyes
sparkling, her cheeks glowing, and be-
side her was the stranger, who nodded
pleasantly to Joe. Kitty nodded kindly
too, ne thought, and it seemed to him
Mrs. Benson called him to come in. Joe
wouldn't be certain about these things.
His head whirled around as Kitty drove
away; it seemed to him the whole world
took somersault, and left him sick and
sore, SO that he could just get strength
to crawl home to the farm and doff his
Sunday clothes, throw them in heap on
the bed, himself upon them, and there
lie through the long October afternoon.
the prey to misery he had never
dreamed of.
The sun went down, the fowls went to
roost, and an old hoary owl that might
haveshad more heart, laughed mockingly
at Joe through his bedroom window.
And then Joe, who dawdled so over the
asking for sweetheart, made up his
mind quickly enough to more rueful
work, for that very night when he went
down to supper. and never ate mouth
full, he declared to the good folks assem-
bled there that he intended to goout West
to settle-he was sick of land hereabouts.
What the plaques the matter with
the land9n said his father. Its the
same as twas yesterday, and then you
talked Of blowing up the meadow next
spring. and drainin' the gully. and the
Lord knows what else. What's come
to you now, Joegn
Alas what, indeed, had come to poor
Joe2 He never made the least effort to
regain his footing with Kitty. lie gave
up all hope Of the sweet future that had
seemed to him his birthright. To marry
Kitty Benson, and settle down on the
old homestead as father and grandfather
had done before him, seemed as natural
to Joe as seedtime and harvest.
1t was well on in November, and the
landscape was somewhat sere and worn.
The day was waning, and it seemed to
Mr.. Morton as they drove along. that the
warmth had all fled from the see ne about
them and nestled in Kitty's hair. There
was subdued and timid oppression in
her face that lent to ii an unusual charm
The curves about her mouth dropped
like those Of an aggrieved child, and she
had not spoken word for the last mile
or two. Mr.. Morton could hesitate no
longer. It would be an easy thing, he
thought, to wear away the usual exubcr-
ant gayety that detracted from Kitty's
present charm Of manner. With just one
little sigh for poor Madeline Van Vleet,
he shifted the reins to one hand, and
with the other took from his vest pocket
Q ring. A yellow beam Of setting sun
caught the gem, and it suddenly shone
like q star. Kitty's eyes began to glisten
in unison, but she drew back as he
caught her hand.
Nay, darling. " he said tenderly, lido
not tremble; it is yours. You know that
love you; you will be my little WIFE
But In the meanwhile the long-limbed
animal, which had been somewhat res
tive, and required the two hands Of his
driver, took advantage Of this little by
play and accelerated his speed. Mr.
Morton had not time to put the ring
upon Kitty's resisting finger, when be
felt his horse pulling heavily upon the
reins. He determined to sell this heed
less brute Of his. The thought Law
heavily upon his now ardent sensibiIities
that this sweet girl by his side he had
never held to his heart, nor had her
sweet lips been given to his own and
now the moment was gone, and the ioy
was skill denied him, for the horse went
pIunging on. a curve Of the road
brought the cottage in sight. Black Sam
was still whitewashing great heaven.
not the big bowlderg Yes nothing less:
he had had some whitewash to snare.
and he was lathering it thick upon this
rock IN the road, making It seem bio az
mountain. Mr.. MortOn's face GREW