Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-12-16

have been a strain on your con-
science"
..Wouldn't have sold myself for
sixperce and thrown in my best suit!
But there was no help for it. had to
own ND to it all, and went home wish
| ing had broken my arm or my neck.
l didn't care much which.
After that for awhile was rather
shy on the love subject, for l didn't
care to hear Kittie's comments on my
last attempt to force = confession
but, tout of the abunde ice of the heart
the mouth speaketh." and my heart
was so full of love for Kittie l could
not compel my tongue to keep silence
for any length of time. So one morn
ing after lounging in my Office until /
was tired of every thing-myself in
PARTICULAR started for the deacons.
resolved that the matter should be de-
cided before 1 returned.
Kittie was sitting by the parlor win
dow, sewing, and humming some mer-
~ tune to herself, as l entered. She
was looking prettier than ever. and
found it terrible hard work to talk on
common place topics when my mind
was so full of the one so all important
to me. Atleast broke in upon some
of her careless nonsense with:
"Why in the world Kittie don't you
tell me if you love me? What's the
use of keeping fellow in suspense for
ever? l believe you do anyway-m
fact know you do"
Here l was making a simpleton OF
myself again. might have known
she would not tell me after that but
did not understand woman-kind as
we'll then rs have learned to do since.
&c, you do know" she said, coolly.
but with a merry twinkle in her eye.
''Then of course there is no need of my
telling you
"NO, T didn't mean it, Kittie,"
said, penitently. '.But do you love me?
will you answer me, yes or no?"
''Yes or no." she answered, demure-
ly.
80, Kittie Markham, you will drive
me crazy" l exclaimed, impatiently.
"Why, what have l donep" with the
most innocent look imaginable.
''Done," l exclaimed, impetuously.
"You know. Kittie, love you better
than my life and you will not give me
the slightest satisfaction as to whether
you love me or not"
| "Well, now see here DR. WILL" she
said. with laugh, throwing down her
work, and stepping through the low
window into the piazza, Il II tell you
what l will do, if you will promise
never to ask me again."
Il will promise any thing if you will
only give me an honest answer" said,
eagerly.
'If you can catch me before I reach
the elm tree l will give you candid
answer upon my honor"
l bumped my head against the win
dow-sash and nearly pitched headlone
from the piazza in my haste, and away
l went racing over the lawn with ten
times more eagerness than l ever dis
played in playing catch in my boy
hood days.
A very dignified proceeding, surely.
for a staid NJ. D.; all the gossips in Gull
verton would have held up their hands
in pious horror, had they seen me.
But my whole energies were bent upon
catching that flying gypsy; and catch
her did before she was half way to
the elm tree. '.Now for the answer?'
said, eagerly.
"Oh, but can't you wait until !
catch my breathe" drawing it in quick.
spasmodic jerks like some dilapidated
old steam-enTine. "Let me see, what
was it promised to tell you?''
whether you love me or not. YOU
provoking little witch.' said, fairly
out of patience.
Now look here, DR.. Will, if YOU
don't stop calling me names l won't
tell you at all, though, perhaps, that is
love talk, is it" and with provoking
ly arch glance.
20, Kittie! now do be reasonable:
you promised fairly on your HONOR
did l? Well. you mustn't HURRY
me or can not tell at all-you see it
will take some time to think over all
the objects of my affections to see it
you are among them. Let me see''-
beginning to count on her fingers in a
provoking!y leisurely manner. there
is old Chloe, that's one, and Prince
though he hurt your arm, you know
| he makes two, and old Brindle is three.
| anu w avn AcuIs diIu-lct SCC-NpS.
there is DIR. Willard Campbell is five"
think l never stopped to thank her
for that answer, and if my return to
the parior was not as rapid as my exit
from it, it was certainly more digni-
fed. l had taken my hat and was ont
of the gate before hittie reached the
house.
went home in no very enviable
state of mind resolved l would never
go near her again. II had been made
a fool of long enough" 1 said. saw
agely to myself. But my anger had
cooled considerably by the time |
reached my Office, and commenced to
study and plan anew-just as l had done
hundred times before-how l could
outwit this provoking little elf. Have
her would, but how? that was the
| question.
"a letter for you, doctor, called out
a voice at the door, and Hal Manvers
tossed it upon the table. mo, thank
you. to my invitation to come in. I'm
in hurry"
picked up the letter and tore it
| ODen CARING very little what ;ts oo,