Little Falls transcript., 1886-11-26
KlTTY'S THA NKSGIVING
BY SARAH D. HOBART.


areeighteen," counted Kitty, abstract
sdiy, as she set the. hot pies on the
broad panthy Shelf ,sgss-~
Il A low, sarcastic laugh came from
the depths of the great armchair,
where Ross Chamberlain was lounging
with a newspaper in his hand.
won't you send me copy OF your
new arithmetic when you publish 1t,
Kitty?" he asked, ina bantering tone.
'"That will do to 90 with the spectre
scopic views you told aboutlast even
ing"
"Well, I wasn't the one who spoke
of DR.. Holmes as the author of the
'Biglow Papers, anyway" retorted
Kitty, taunted beyond endurance.
Gross Chamberlain, for one shall be
heartily glad when your vacation is
over" ="
Ross threw down his paper, straight
ened himself up, and bent pair OF
keen, black eyes searchingly upon her.
"You don't mean that, Kitty?"
"But ] do,' answered the girl pas
sionately. II have never known so
unhappy time as theselast six weeks.
If my ignorance is annoying to you
why doyou seek my society? You
Can find plenty OF girls who have had
better advantages. Am I to blame
that my life must be spent in the
kitchen instead of the schoolroom
where would like to be? lam doing
my duty; please father and tho boys
and that is sufficient. You presume
too much on our friendship, Mr.. Cham
berlain, when you take it upon your
self TO tutor aud criticise me it that
contemptuous fashion. You are at
liberty to 60 where your fine sensibiIi-
ties Will not receive such Shocks" and
Kitty took up her egg beater and at
tackled the innocent yolks with an en-
ergy which,, threatened to demolish
them.
You'll be sorry for this before the
week IS out, Kitty Payne, and when
you want me back just remember that
you sent me away" The young man
rose to his feet, put on his hat and
overcoat, and stalked down the path,
the personiication of offended dignity.
Kitty's lip qulvered as she saw the
tall form moving steadily along be-
tween the rows of leahess lilacs with
out one repentant backward glance.
Already her heart was longing for rec.
onciliation, but pride forbade her to
recall him.
"He will come tomorrow" she said
with q sigh. HE will not fail to eat
his Thanksgi living dinner with us; it
wouldn't be Thanksgiving without
Ross" She wiped away her tears and
turned again hopefully to her work.
1t has been q weArisome, trying d ay;
outside q gray mass OF clouds hung
gloomiIy over the bluffs, and the keen
winds sweeping across the prairie now
and then whirened the hollows with
sudden t1urries Of snow. There had
in preparation 1or thanksgiving, which
was always celebrated by the Payne
family in royal style, an innumerable
army OF uncles, aunts, and cousins re-
spending gladly to the annual sum-
mons to the capacious Homestead.
Kitty had risen unrefreshed from dis
turbed and troubled sleep, and was
poorly prepared to encounter the toll
and vexation which lay before her.
1t began directly after breakfast
while she was rolling out the haky
crust for her pumpkin pies. Aunt
Sabrina, who had lately become q
member OF the family, was washing
dishes at the sink opposite, giving
voice now and then to an ejaculation
which Kitty had learned to interpret
as the signal OF q coming storm. In
the Few months during which her aunt
had been her companion the girl had
learned to dread her relatives sharp
tongue, and shrank from impartin.
her condolences to her
"What's that Chamberlain fellow
hanging round here for all the timer"
she demanded sharply, sitting down
the milk pals with q savage crash.
II hope you haven't got the idee into
your head that he means to marry
you kitty?"
The girls face turned from crimson
to adead!y pallor. Was it not enough
to battle constantly against her own
doubts and misgivings without having
to endure her aunt's cruel thrusts?
She made no reply, but bent her head
little lower over her work, as with
quick, deft fingers she filled the tins
for the oven. = -
Aunt Sabrina's keen eyes were fixed
pitilessly upon her and she saw that
the shot had told. J n =
Nov, it's easy enough to see,' she
went on, hourishing the dish cloth by
way OF emphasis, t'that he feels himself
a heap above you. He's always twit-
ting you with your countryfied ways
and with his being educated, which,
the land knows. you amt. Iattended
select school myself when was girl,
and can tell q scholarta as we'll as the
next one. Butthat don make it that
you ain't too good for him the best
day he ever saw, and here he is morn.
ing, noon and night, all over the house
from garrett to cellar, helping himself
to fried cakes and cookies in the pan
try, like one Of the family, and sitting
right down here in the kitchen to
bother, no matter how busy we are.
And the neighbors tell me it's been CO.
ing On 50 for the last five years! How
do you suppose it's going to end? You
can't look me in theface, Kitty Payne,
aud say he's ever asked you to have
him l i rss s&.3 "@
I No. Kitty could not; and the faint,
sick feeling her aunt's words produced
paled her lips and drew dark circles
around her eyes. Fortunately the
entrance OF the young gentleman in
firtestint, sr,arf.d her skf ht,4 hun,i|ia tion