The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-11-25

valuable help to u young lawyer start.
ing out on his career. The Hannah
Jane element was greatly overrated.
Madge sullivan, his sisters Chicago
| friend, was more to his taste. Kitty
must be reminded of her little failings;
yet she was a dear good girl, after all,
and Ross's face softened as he glanced
toward her.
She would not meet his eyes; she
was trying to steel her heart against
him. 1t was so cruel, so unmanly,
urged pride, for him to place her in so
perplexing and humilating a position.
He had been her devoted lover, her
constant attendant, since they were
children. There was rot plan for his
future, a hope for his life, which he had
not confded to her He had been faith
full, tender and kind, but he had never
asked her in so many words to be his
wife.
Until the past year she had never
doubted him; but now the village was
full of rumors concerning his attention
to Madge Sullivan, a Chicago beauty
and heiress, his sisters school friend.
Plying glances We're cast upon Kitty
as she passed her girl friends at places
OF amusement where her rival received
the lions share of her lovers attention.
She felt that she was neglected, and
Aunt Sabrinas rude touch had torn
open a raw and quivering wound. VI
Ross walked homeward moody and
indignant He had been treated with
gross disrespect, he meditated as he
went along. Kitty was assuming new
and uncomfortable role, and to punish
her for her impertinence, much as he
enjoyed her cookery, he should absent
himself from her Thanksgiving dinner,
unless she made him a suitable apol-
ogy. That evening he relieved his feel
ings by dashing off some sarcastic
verses, for which he had special
talent, and inclosing them in blank
envelope, tossed them into his desk,
fully persuaded that the next morning
would bring him penitent little note
in Kittys clear chirography. -
But the note did not come; Kitty
was too deeply hurt to proffer any flag
of truce. She went from room to room
putting the curtains into more grace
full folds, rearranging the books and
! trines on the mattel aud tables, and
filing the great blue vases with masses
of snowy cmJ5tnthemums. All the
while she was listening and waiting,
for the advent of her lover, and
chance step upon the walk sent the
blood su-ging to her check.
The evening cAN!1 " last. Ross had
not come: he would never come again,
something told her, and going to her
room she gave herself up to an agony
Of weeping. If Ross had cared, if there
had been the smallest remnant of the
old love remA!nin@, he woUld have been
with her before this, anxious for recon-
citation. taking the blame upon HIM
self in his Old frank, generous way.
No, it was as the neighbors said;
another had supplantcd her i'll his
regard, If indeed he had ever cared for
her as she had So fOndiy imagined.
"IIeres 4 letter for you, Kitty"
called Aunt Sabrina up tn: stairway.
cts from Chicago and must be some
thing pretty Important, guess, for it's
got two stamps on it.. Read it quick,
and lot us know who it's from
She took the letter, thankful for the
dim light which concealed her tear
stained cheeks and swollen eyes, and
read as follows:
"CIICAG0, NOVEMBER rs, 49,.
"My Dear COHsjR-I have been try
ing to think whom | could call upon in
the present emergency, and ind there
is no one but Your own kind, helpful,
cheerful self. Your persistent refusals
to visit me will not be accepted now,
for | happen to know that our ancient
Aunt Sabrina is at hand TO take your
place at the household helm. But to
begin at the beginning:
Coming ont Of the theatre few
evenings since had the ill-fortune to
sprain my ankle. The physician warns
me that Shall be Il close prisoner for
several weeks, and the thought appals
me. Fred is at the Office the livelong
dag, and the loneliness of my lot is I'M
bearable. Ny only hope is that you
will be mindful enough of your
cousinly duty to come like the benefi-
cent fairy that you are, and save me
from dying with onnui."
Here followed several pages of
family and personal matters, in which
the reader has no interest The letter
closed in this wise: "Taking your
assent for granted, inclose check to
dcfray travelling expenses. Never mind
about your wardrobe; there will be
time enough for that after you are
here. Don't wait to write, but tele-
graph me and start at once.
"Your atfectionate cousin,
RUTH IIEARNE."
Another day passed, and thinking
Kitty sufficiently punished, Ross
adorned himself in his best and leis-
urely proceeded to the farmhouse.
Aunt Sabrina, meagre and beligerent
as ever, answered his knock.
SIS Kitty at hone?" he queried
anxiously, som thing in the spinster's
appearance dlunting him.
!. she went to Chicago this morning
on the nine O'Clock train" CURLY an
swered Aunt Sabrina, watching with
delighted eyes the effect of her commu-
nication.
Kitty gone. And without consult
Ing me?" gaspcd Ress, forgetting HIM
self
And why should she consult you?''
asked his tosIeYtor What claim