Milford chronicle., 1889-06-28
OUR FILTRATION.


did dart tons Of Cupidis arrows straight into
that region of the body where young mems
hearts are supposed to be located. And
told her 50. and that those persons who
censured and annoyed her with such disagree
able lectures were old maids, too old to re-
member when they were young themselves
Kitty seemed to have her doubts about all
of them being old maids, for she said one was
her brother, who had been talking TO her that
very day told her it was too bad; that /
didn't blame her, and that she might hirtwith
me all sho liked.
ooh, may ~ she asked. "And won't you
blame me, and won't you careP
Never" 1 answered. II have always
been your friend, Kitty, and / always shall
be as long as live"
"Oh, won't that be splendid" she cried;
and she looked as if she would like to hug me
on the spot; and 1, if remember correctly,
did not offer the least objection-but she
didn't
After this perfect understanding Kitty and
were tie best of friends. We rode, we
sang, we danced, we sailed on the lake-in
short we were so much together that people
began to talk worse than before and said
that Kitty was flirting desperately than
ever, and warned me. / looked with undis-
guised contempt upon these busybOdies, as
termed them, and told Kitty not to mind
what any one said.
She readily promised she wouldn't, and 1
continued to be her constant escort "What
harm could it dor asked myself What If,
sometimes when saw the lovely face watch
ing for me through the bars where we often
met, and she gave me her little hand, and such
a smile of welcome that felt my heart give
a sudden thump against my ribs; or if the
1..n-. k.e.. IL.
me, and told me to keep always "for her
sake" was resting in the left breast pocket of
my coat over my heart, and that the picture
of the beautiful face was shut up in the locket
that hung on my watch chain, and that some
how had acquired the habit of opening
quite often of latel
1t was nothing; it was all understood
Kitty was only flirting.
Perhaps things would have gone on in this
friendly manner to this day but for a young
man in the town who was my particular
aversion. Augustus Lapham had finished bis
college course, and after a years travel had
returned home
shall never forget the feeling with which
surveyed him when l met him for the first
time after his return.
"a dude of the first water was my men
tai comment as took him in at a glance.
A path starting from the course of the low
forehead and running up back among the,l
"bumpsn Of self conceit, which showed re-
markably healthy state Of development, sep |
arated tho yellow hair into two exactly equal |
parts; an eye gla& and chain, waxed mus |
tache. diamond ring upon one finger of
hand that held an apology for cane, and
trousers so tight they required his anxious
attention whenever he arose or sat down /
this constituted what appeared to me to be |
merely walking fashion plate.
Perhaps another reason for my dislike may 4
have been that he boldly displayed his pref |
erence for Kitty, the only young lady in the |
place he would notice.
] was surprised that she did not repel his |
advances. Indeed, 1 sometimes thought she |
encouraged his attentions
mentally declared he would receive little |
sympathy from me if some one did make him .
the victim Of a serious Irritation. 1t would .
be a wholesome lesson, and take down his
conceit a little, but / did not exactly relish
the idea that Kitty should be the one to visit
punishment upon him.
Judge of my establishment when one day,
about sunset, while on my way for an even
ing visit to her house, met him driving his
handsome phaeton, with Kitty tucked in by
his side.
She greeted me with her sweetest SMILE He
did not see me- In fact, he hadn't seen meof
late when he met me-not since had devoted
myself so exclusively to Kitty.
l watched the carriage till it disappeared
down the road, then began to 'homeward
plod my weary way It is strange how sud
denly tined one can become Of life, of every
body and everything
1 sat down that night and tried to use what
common sense nature had bestowed upon me,
and looked the matter calmly and squarely in
the face.
had no claim upon Kitty. She possessed
the right to ride with whom she pleased; but
this conclusion did not tend to soothe my
ruffled feelings, and made up my mind the
time had come for some definite understand
ing.
The next day when called upon her no
ticed no difference in her manner. She greet
ed mo as cordially as ever, making no allusion
to what transpired the night before; but she
seemed to notice difference in me, and
anxiously inquired if 1 were ILL.,
''Yes I'm ill-sick Of everything" re-
piled, more decidedly perhaps than the occa-
sion required.
''Why don't you call physiciani" she sug-
gested. docs your head trouble you or
have you heart difficulty4
did not look at her, for / knew she was
laughing at me, and when at last did turn
toward her the brown eyes were brimful of
mischief
"Kitty," cried, impatiently, twill you
ever stop flirtingl"
''Why, Ned, I'm surprised" with an in
1ured air. "You said there was no harm in
It, and that you wouldn't blame me and
wouldn't care, and that those who did blame
me were old maids she reiterated, emphati-
foolish speeches of mine, with a wonderful
memory. "You said," she continued, 81
might fiirt all I liked.n
"Only with me-" replied.
"Ydu didn't say that"
swell, / meant that.n
II don't know what right you have to die
tatD to me,n and she raised the little head
haughtily.
"Win you give me the right, KittyT'
burst out, driven to desperation by her man
ner.
The question was sudden, and she was
hardly prepared for it, l think, for she
seemed to catch her breath, and the blood
rushed to cheek and brow. had never seen
her so agitated before She turned and
walked to the door of tho summer house In
moment she came toward me, her old
smiling self again, and said, indiHerently:
"Mr Lapham said he should call for me to
ride this morning.
"And so you were just looking for him,
Kitty" CRIED irritated beyond all endur-
anoe. ''YOu must choose between us. II you
prefer that brainless fop"=
''The girls all think he's handsome" sho in
terTupted
"Handsomef' sneered.
"And a great catch, - she went on.
81 admire their tasten
"And he's richn-
This was the last straw. could endure no
more.
iGnnd-hu Kitty rnrnr tI,or,s,ht r. | !