The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-28

that, but do know that I won't hAvs my young 'uns lickt 90 ag'in."
 MT. Staples bc2 to tnirk the "school ms rm" quit, too ind p ndent for him, ansi as he r@ fly uid ot wish her to leave, he very willingly with. drew, with few words intended to smooth over the trouble and "hope that there'd be no more sieh f1sees, in which kittie most heartily joined.
 But the man out oi sight, all kittie's assumed tirmness forsook her and lowing her head once moro On the desk she gave way to an irrepressible flood of tears Poor, lonely, heart sick little Kittle MarEhsml Such sceues as these were terrible trials to her shrinking nature, and made her feel doubly her loneliness.
 cit was so hard," she thought, "to be all alone in the world with neither father, mother, sister nor brother to l love or care for her-no one but dis tant relatives, who would not trouble themselves whether she lived or died. Her weak arms and shrinking heart must do battle for herself in the cold world, with no one to help her bear even one cross, ot cheer her lonely way with one word of encouragement. 1t was SO hard, so very hard, to be desti- ute of friends and lovei If there were only one in the wide world 10 love her just a little, one who would care whether she were happy or mis- erable. To be sure there wero Deacon Burton and his good wife-wi;h whom she had boarded since first com- ing 10 Mspleton. They were very kind to her and had ever tried to make her home with them pleasant she was very grateful for their kind- ness, of course. but then 1t was not love--they had sons and daughters of their own to fill their hearts, so there was no room tor her there. Then there was Harry Burton, Deacon Bur- toms stalwart son." and her heart beat faster at the thought of him, "hc was always kind, too, but he did not love her: 1t was only because in his great, generous heart there was not room for an unkind thought toward weak. helpless creature like her"
 Poor little Kittiel no one to love her, and her heart aching SO sadly for want of it, her tears flowed faster at the thought; but even tears were too much of a luxury to be indulged in long, for she remembered that Mrs. Burton would be waiting tea for her; so, smoothing her tumbled hair and bathing her tear-stained face, she looked the schoolhouse door and with heavy heart and aching head started for home.
 Tea was over, and seated on the step of the vine- clad piazza at Deacon Burton's, Kitties thoughts went sadly back to the old subIect--her loneli- ness. Mrs. Burton's tea had relieved her aching head, but 1t could not reach the pain at her heart, and sitting there with the soit rays of the full moon falling upon her, tears dimmed her eyes and fell all unheeded down her face So absorbed was she in her own sad thoughts that she did not hear the footfall on the soft turf, or see the tall form and pleasant face of Harry Burton until he was close be- side her and his cheerful voice aroused her.
 "Why, Kittie, this will never do-- in tears on such beautiful night as this. i shali not allow you to fec! so low spirited. am going to turn father conicssor, and make you tell W hat troubles you" And playfully taking seat beside her, he took both of her hands in his.
 Kittie tried to reply lAughingly, but her voice was half chokcd with sohs.
 Il know l am very, very foolish, Harry. but was thinking that was all alone in this great world, and"
 And what, Kittiei"
 "Oh, don't know, but l was feeling SO lonely!" and Kittie broke down again into sobs.
 What! lonely, Kittic; when you are with those who care so much for you, and when you are as dear to me as my life? Now, don't you think, Kittie," and his arm stole around her waist, and his dark eyes looked tenderly down into hers, "don't you think you could learn to love me just little, and let me try to make you happy?"
 There was a sudden transition in Kittie's heart from misery to happi- ness, and before she hardly knew how 1t all happened, her head was piIlowed on Harry's broad breast, and she had told him she would not need to learn to love him, but she could not see how he could love as foolish a girl as she was proving herself to be-"
 "Why, Kittie, my darling, have loved you ever since you first came here, but besitated to tell you, for tear that, with your delicacy and re- fnement, you would refuse to become rough farmers wife. But it's all right, now, dear you shall never have