The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-01-19

lip curling. "No; but he is as near to it as
any other man at present is--oris likely to
be
Poor Grisby Thompson! Doyou know,
I'm rather interested in his fate VIII
you uarrate the whole romance Kitty?"
with pleasure He is a widower, and
l was school companion of his deceased
wife, Susan Hamilton, gentle delicate
girl with twenty thousand pounds in the
Three per Cents. I was very fond of her,
so was mother, and so were the girls; but
was the fondest, so, when she married,
few months after leaving Bonn, was in
yited to stay with her in her pretty little
villa on the banks of the Thames, where l
naturally made the acquaintance of her
husband Mr. Grisby Thompson,
"Ahem And you were fayorably i'm
pressed with his appearance and demeanor
{ in the matrimonial state?"
"Well, no. l cannot honestly say that /
was. He used to bully poor Susan good
+ deal and |, in revenge, used to snub him
whenever | found an opportunity, which
was pretty often, Whether this course of
conduct took his fancy or whether he hoped
I to be able to repay me in my own coin |
cannot say, but certain it is that in the
seventh month of his bereavement be laid
his hand. his heart, rather precarious in
come 10 the stoekbroking line and Susies
two babies at my feet.
And you refused them alp
"les: | refused them at the time-at
least mother did so for me--but so delicate
Is aud gently. with such infinite tact and
tenderness, that it could scarcely be called
by that harsh word. You see, continued
Kitty, eyeing herattentive auditor askance,
Pat, my boy, | was too young, too mex
perienced to assume the responsibilities of
mantr0nhOOd | desired to see a little
more of the world. to know my own heart
and mind, &c Well. two years have gone
by in that interesting study, and now Mr..
Thompson is about, | believe, TO give me
another trial
II think, my dear, said Pat, with rather
grave emphasis, that Susan's shoes would
never e, you; aud. If | were you, would
40: attempt TO wear them, no matter how
strong the pressure.
They are PiBess | might do worse
And you might do better.
How
Take ship aud sail across the seas with
me, be replied promptly
Pat, Pat, take care! BY more sophis-
ticated damsel than your guileless cousin
ths, airy invitation nigh, be interpreted as
nothing ls~s than az offer Of marriage
Please interpn, il as such, for hereby
beg TO state that | enter the lists against
the widowcr and his 10000 pounds
A formidable rival laughed Kitty
hooking with coal saucy eyes at her cousin,
wbo was smiling placidly down on her, ex-
hibiiing none of the bAshtul tremOrs or agi-
taicd emotion which are supposed to be
called forth on such an occasion.
sAre yea serious, Pai2 Because, If 80,
| do nos a, all admire your demeanor. there
Is ss,ng fro5.i. want ef anxiety, lack Of
emotion about sou tha. i ao; fattering 10
me and that savers Of experience
For al that, mean 10 marry you it |
can, rcplied PAT, leaning bis elbows upon
the rustic table, and iayuTing Kitty with
fash ot bis bold blue eyes which spoke more
of determination than tenderness
Kitty shived slightly, her eyes drOoPcd,
and the moekiBg smile faded from her lips.
Pet, | am houored indeed, she said,
after a few moments silencc. And 80
yOu think that ava Of the stuff likely to
make a bushmaas bride-you think that
would BE- useful as veil a. perhaps oFna-
mental addition TO the furniture Of your
bungalow shauly, wiswam-whal do you
call IL"
Come out With me aud you'n soon
learn.
And, if | did, bold bashniab, aad after
wards found that the climate, the society,
thc primitive institutions Of the country,
did DOT salt me, aud were to long fog
villa by the placid bosom Of the Thames
what iheag'
s'You woaIdn't have time to think about
Il;
NO, time2 Should have such busy
life of ii as your squawl Shoald have TO
cook the dinner. clean the house, feed the
pigs. milk the c5ws. bake the bread, darn
socks--and polish your boots perhaps2'
Bravo. Kitty" laughed Pat "Yoa
have a capital idea Of bushwoman's do
meslie duties, with the exceptions of the
last item. which would be a superhuous at
tcn,ion except, perhaps once or twice a
year-Chris;mas Day and Easter Sunday,
Tor instance. Your programme is cor
rect Que
"You are at least candid, sir. replied
Kitty. with strained smile "You GER
taiuly make no effort to gid the pill
Now let Us glance at the other side Of the
picture
Pat leaned across the table, coOlly took
the hand under examination, and laid it fiat
acruss Is own broad hard palm.
You're right enough, kitty--it'sa a use
less looking little fist indeed; but where
there's a will there's way, you know, my
dear. And, if ever that little fist belonged
to me, do you know what my first act Of
ownership would be? You don't2 Well,
it would be to strip those taPering fingers
Of every ring that now encireles them.
Yes he continued, firmly grasping the
struggling hand aud looking mischieyously
into the flushed faee-'yes, they would all
have to come off-pearls, amethysts, rubies,
sapphires-the whole precious collection
to make room for the plain gold band
Let my hand go--let my hand go, sir!
| have had quite enough of your imperti-
nenee for the" She began painting
with anger; but he, needless of her appeal,
interrupted her in a grave, almost pleading
voice.
why do you wear all these things, my
little cousin? Why do you dis6gure those
pretty ears, hands, arms and throat with
all these gaudy discordant baubles? Much
know about them, you say?'-quickly in
terpreting the scornful expression of her
eyes. We'll, Kitty, if do not, | must
be duller fellow than even you suppose
me to be, considering spent some years
of my wandering life in the diamond fields
of Africa"
PITY you haven't some tangible results
of your explorations them"
IAN luck-luck One day the
wheel may turn, you know. However
proftIess you may deem my explorations,
they have done me good in cultivating my
taste so far that anything false, any imita-
ton, however skilful, can detect at once,
Hence, fair cousin, those two brazen erys-
tails in your dainty ears at this present mo-
mont avcusa nlain sneakinO-are uuite as