Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-08-29
KITTY'S STRATAGEM.
Why She Did Not Join the 'Nun.
merry Business


merry Business"
There was no doubt on the subject,
Kitty Maloney was the prettiest girl
IN Shamrock-dale. Her eyes were the
blacklist, her teeth the whitest, and her
dimpled chin and full red lips were
certainly the most charming and al
Turing in all the village, so all the
young men had agreed long ago; but
they had also decided that Kitty was
saucy-no doubt about that either.
AS she stood in the morning SUM-
light in her simple costume, consist
ing of striped WOODEN petticoat, blue
and white striped calico short gown,
with white apron tied round her neat
but perfectly natural-looking waist.
and her trim ankles covered with
black stockings Contrary to the GUS
tom of the villagers) appearing above
her rather strongly-made shoes, she
looked a perfect picture of a sweet vii
lage maiden; good to look at, and
quit as useful as she was pretty.
Such. indeed, Kitty was.
Any of the villagers could have told
how she had worked hard, hiring her.
self out to be maid-of-all-work to
Father Quin. when she might have
married. like the other village girls,
just that she might support her ''ould
father in dacency;" but now "ould
Pat had been laid to rest a twelve
month ago, and the inhabitants of
Shamrock-dale were much exercised
in mind to know why Kitty Maloney
did not marry now. Kitty could have
told them the reason had she been SO
inclined. but she was not, and SO they
concluded she was 'saucy."
Saucy Kitty may have been, but she
did not look it on this bright morning
as she stood with large wooden dish
under her left arm, out of which she
was feeding the hens. ducks, turkeys
and pigeons owned by old Father
Quin.
Some of the latter, their beautiful
wings flashing like silver in the morn
ing sunlight, alighted on the girls
head and shoulders. for Kitty was well
known to the birds; but to-day some
grave thoughts seemed to occupy her
mind, for she did not call them
'Cushla Machree," or any other of the
endearing names which usually
dropped so naturally from her lips.
There was a wistful look in the soft,
dark eyes, and the pretty mouth
dropped just little at the corners.
Plainly, something in Kitty's little
world was not going to her mind.
When the food in the dish had been
exhausted and she had chased away
the wrathful old turkey-cock, calling
him "a greedy old gobbler," Kitty
stood for some time looking towards
the low, rather tumble-dowr looking
building which stood at the farther
end of the one street of the village,
and which served as the village smithy.
From its wide, blackened chimney
the puffs of smoke and flame were al.
ready issuing, showing that the days
work had begun inside.
.'Och. bother; if he wud but spake. .
said Kitty to herself. ''But it's g
quare worp altogether" she added
''them that you don't like likes you
and them that you do like won't speak
their mind. Ohone! it is quare;" and
go indoors.
The house of Father Quin. the parish
priest of Shamrock-dale, stood on 6
slight eminence at the end of the one
long, struggling street of the village
1t was a plain. substantial looking
house. without any pretensions to the
ornamental in its style; in this charac.
teristic the house resembled its occu.
pant. for Father Quin was a plair
man, and much beloved by his parish.
toner's. most of whom had at some time
met with kindness at the hands of the
good priest
Just as Kitty reached the door hel
master came out, his round, genia.
face lighted up by his usual pleasant
smile and his gray eyes twinkling with
genuine Irish humor
..Well. Kitty, how are your fowls
this morning?" he asked Che was very
fond of pet fowls).
Kitty looked confused, for truth te
tell, her mind was still running on the
.'quareness" of the world; but gradu.
ally the drift of his question dawne6
upon her, and she answered it, but the
hearty old man must enjoy a laugh a,
her expense.
-Tm afraid Mr.. O'Doherty has beer
turning your head last night" he said
and then walked off laughing heartily
at Kitty's confusion
much care about Mr.. O'Doherty.
said Kitty, with a bounce as she en-
tered the clean. tidy kitchen. which
her willing hands had made bright and
home-like. s.rd rather have Pat witt
III ould leather apron than Mike