The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-01-14

About two hours" "T am so sorry.
but the rehearsal is only just over We
nave lot OF choruses for the new piece.
and-they kept us SO late Why in the
world did you want me to come up here :?
| was SO surprised when the doorman
gave me your note"
would like You sometime to have a
breath of fresh air. The park is at it's
lovellest now. And here, sit down. This
IS quiet, pretty place. have some
thlng to say to you, Kitty"
They are two as beautiful young peo-
| pie, perhaps, rs ever sat under a rustling
canopy of green foliage, with the blue OF
the evening sky cleaning cody through
The girl has an eager, innocent face,
softly tinted, and framed in dark hair,
lovely earnest eyes, and bright, dliu-
pied mouth, from which her white teeth
flash a. she smiles and talks. She wears
a shabby hat and mantle; her hands are
glovcless; yet she has the joyous air oi
one who lacks for nothing. The young
man has an equal share of youth, grace
and good looks, and is appareled in ele-
Sance and fine linen, but his face is trou-
bled and dissatisfied. 1t brightens for
an instant As his companion obediently
takes the place beside him, and suffers
him to stretch his arm along the back of
the seat.
." wonder, Kitty, if you do care for
me a little 2" he qurried, in sort of pet
ulant tone
"Oh, little,"- she rejoins, smiling
Enough to ride all this way up town
to hear what You may have to say when
| get here. Tell me, Jack!'
"les dear. I mean to tell you," deter
minedly. 81 came for that-Kitty, we've
been good deal to each other, haven't
We? Since that dark night in Seven
teenth street, when you ran into my arms
and took charge of you nearly six
months ago, isn't it? How frightened
You were! But suppose had been just
"a bad a fellow as the one who was chas-
ing you: You knew nothing about me
when YOU allowed me to walk all that
long distance with you, to your home"
Allowed, indeed! shall never for.
get !oV glad was to have you That
dreadful man. Do you know he used to
walk after me from the theatre nearly ev-
Try night but he never spoke to me un-
| 80 N't''t NJ III. ANU IOW idu tS,
indeed, l was glad to have you Oh,
Jack, do You suppose | don't know q
good, lovely fellow when | see one? But
didn't see you," she added, quite sober
| ly, after a pause; cit was too dark, the
angels led me-"
They will always lead you," he says,
quickly, t"nderiy. "Oh, Kitty, child,
you will be safe wherever you go! But
Kitty, darling, I mustn't see you any
more. This can't go on! It-well-for
one thing, it maddens me Don't you
know, dear, that it can't go on ?''
"What do you mean?" The smiles
have gone from her face, and she draws
back little from the arm that clasps her.
=" bike this ? like what?''
tell You can't bear it," he an
swcrs, drawing his breath hard. Do
you think can be your friend and moth
ing more? You, 80 beautiful, so sweet,
and all woman? But am your FRIEND"
he adds, gently. 81 speak to you, now,
az your friend. 1t is better we should not
see each other any more. could not
break from you without word, as most
men would, because l knew you would
suffer, and must speak. Oh, Kitty, if
you were alone in The world, or if were,
nothing-no power on earth-should sep
arate us. But as it is-"
" Do you mean that because you are
rich and educated? Do you mean
| Jack" she says, with sudden entreaty in
her tone, "tell me what you mean !!
part"
" Because love you," he says, desper-
ately. You are taking possession of
my life. A little while and 1 could not
live without YOU, too. More and more
your heart leans toward me, and-we
must part There il no other wayP'
" Is there no other .way?" she asks,
quietly, bitter smile on her fair young
lips. "Do men always leave the women
they love?" !.
| " If YOU were alone IN the world" he
repeats, doggedly, sit would be differ
ent. should not mind the inequality,
the great disparity Of our social standing.
But You will never leave your people,
Kitty. know that! And don't you see
how impossible it would be for me to
bring my family to consent-to even toll
| rrate-"
"Lct me help you, Jack" she rejoins,
steadily DON'T stammer so over it I!
All, yes, indeed can just picture your
sisters coming to call, in their elegant
carriage on yonr bride elect. | can i'm
agine them in Ninth avenue, in our four
rooms, being introduced to mother and
the seven children, and father, may be
staggering in, as he does too often, poor
soul, when work is slack Can't you fancy
them asking me how like to be cho-
rus singer, and where our company is 60
ing next ?"
e Yes Kitty" he replies, eagerly, "that
| il it fit were not for these conditions
| would marry you before month";"
"Would you p she asks slowly. But
there are two to that bargain, if you
please. You think it entirely impossible
that could say No to yoar condescen-
sion p
| She rises from her seat, and making the
most of her height There u not much OF
it) looks down at him proudly.