Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-09-09

firm and would listen to none. At last
the Soung fellows grew weary of their
fruitleSs attempt at love.making, and
the greater part left her alone. A few,
more, ,unkind, would ask when she ex'
pected her young gentleman home, and
taunted her in cutting speeches and
insinuations, Nine years went by,
and there came the battle of Waterloo,
when officers and men went down to-
gether in hundreds. Still no word
from Kinloch, and Kitty's heart, which
had never failed in its lightness nor her
step in its speed, now sank and falter-
ed for the first time.
Early in the next year-in fact, on
New Years night-the officers gave q
ball, and every girl and young man for
miles around was inyited. Girls were
in great demand then, and l went
down to my aunt's house especially for
| that night. was anxious TO see Kit
ty myself and to find out how the years
had passed ever her head. You think,
perhaps, twenty-siX was rather old to
be called a girl-do you, Kitty. Well,
| felt almost as young as when | was
SIXTEEN
Kate Daly-that was her name
went to help the ladies' unshawl them
selves, and to be ready with needle and
thread when the unhappy damsel with
torn skirt OF flounce should require her
assistance. She was then twenty
eight, and the young, girlish beauty
had developed into the most lovely OF
women. Only when her face was at
rest, and you saw the suspicion of an
anxious heart upon it, would you have
guessed her age. She wore pale. tea
rose-tinted gown, with ruflles of lace of
her own making at the neck and
sleeves.
1T was a wild and stormy night
without. just such one as this, but it
only served TO enhance the brightness
and animation Of the scene within.
The dancing of the high-heeled shoes
and the silyery laughter rose higher
than the roar of the wind, and the
tinkling wine-cups drowned all sound
of rain. Suddenly there was lull; we
stopped dancing; chill blast swept
round us; we turned and saw silent
figure standing in the doorway.
'He was tall and handsome, but his
large black cloak, carelessly thrown
over his shoulder. was dripping with
the rain and making large puddles on
the floor. His legs, booted and spurr-
ed, were mud up to the hips.
Just at that moment the clock
struck twelve, and the year 1916 had
broken. Some of the nervous girls
screamed and ran behind their part
ners. Was it an appartion ? Was it
an i'll oman for the coming year
II seem to frighten you, friends.
Does nobody know me?'
Kitty at that moment was bringing
in a jug of iced claret at another door.
She heard the voice apd turned round
trembling, with wild cry.
'Knloch, Kinloch, l knew you
would come back y And amidst a
crash of breaking glass-for she let the
vessel slip from her hands-she sprang
to his side, aud disappeared in the
folds of his great cloak
How splendid, Aunt Bell!' said her
niece, drawing a deep breath; but if
she married him then / don't see why
she should not have done so before
'Ah, but she was wise girl; she
knew it would test his constancy, and
prove if he really loved her. a young
mans love at twenty -one-as she knew
so well-would not be his choice at
thirty-one.'
what become Of them, aunt?'
'Oh, they married and travelled about
a great deal, and finally both died out
in India within a few months of each
other. There was one son, and l be-
lieve he is in the army, also. Come,
Kitty, shall 60 to bed, and not wait
any longer for your father
There is new Lieutenant coming
in Mr.. Perry's place., said her niece, as
she bade hel good night.
The young men are not what they
used to be- sighed the old lady. Some
little whipper-snapper, I'll be bound,
with feet that would fit in your slip
pers. Goodnight. childie!'
Kitty went downstairs and ponder
ed over the story of the beautiful Kate
DAILY and faithful Kinloch. She went
to the window and undid the shutter.
She pictured to herself The young man
as he came to the window and scratch
ed his name on the glass, and then,
taking the girls hand in his, slowly
guiding it just below. She leaned in
the shadow of the window seat and
tried to realize each scene in the little
drama. There, uEder that very door,
stood the tall, black. .gobed figure they
n L...Ir o,,o,, from l., tho mid ar