The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-04
WHICH SHALL IT Be?
How a Pair of Pitchers Decided the
AlI-lmportant Question.

Line sun, " great glowing Dali OF IRE,
had just descended behind the fringe Of
elm trees on Meadow Hill, and the
parched summer world was free to
breathe at last. Wayne Hillard, finish
ing his sketch Of the fern shaded poo1in
the glen, dropped his pencil and inflated
his lungs with the fragrant oxygen.
Mrs. Mix, cleaning trout for the NOR
rows breakfast, in the kitchen, sighed a
sigh of infinite relief. some more days
gonel" said she; and Kitty and lilly,
skimming cream in the cool cellar, made
haste with their work SO as to finish
without the light Of a candle, and as
they worked they talked and laughed
lightly, as girls will do.
Who were Kitty and lilly? Why,
they were Mrs. Mix's .'hired help'--the
rosy daughters of impecunious neigh
bors, who were more than glad to exc
out their slender allowance of pocket
money by assisting the harassed land.
lady in s'busy times" Kitty was a ra-
diant blonde, with hair just warmed
with red, eyes Of mischievous gray, and
a complexion that would have been per-
feet were it not for the sprinkling OF
freckles across the bridge of the saucy
nose. Ti1lyv, on the contrary, was pale
and dark, with big, solemn eyes full Of
jetty lights, and a small head set with
imperial grace on her slim shoulders;
and their voices sounded like the indis-
tinct twitter of orioles as they talked
and skinned great leathery sheets OF
cream and strained the s'night's milk
into broad, shining pans.
II think he's splendidr said Kitty.
$50 do IT. said lilly, enthusiastically.
81 mean to have himI" said Kitty,
waving her SKINNER above a fresh pan.
II like thatl" ironically observed lilly.
sIve always pinned to be an artists
bride" said Kitty.
Eyes" interrupted lilly, sand I have
made up my mind to a city life. This
country vegetation don't suit mel ]
must marry a city manr'
Kitty covered up the stone cream jan
with little clink.
well, how are we going to settle this
mattera" said she, with a laugh. 1--WE
both want Wayne Hillardl We're both
determined to have him."
DRAW lots" suggested lilly. "Noth-
ing like chance for determining a question
like this. Oh! l say. Kitty, this pan
leaks. Give me one Of the new ones. !
do like a new milk pant makes one
think Of sheets of silver"
mo, we won't do that-it's too hack.
neyed," said Kitty. ''Tn tell you what
we'll do, lilly. Mr.. billiard never
comes into the house without going
straight into the milk room for a drink
of new milk. Mrs. Mix always leaves a
little brown pitcher there for him. Well,
we'n leave two pitchers, one white fol
you, the other blue for me. The one
that he selects shall decide the question.
If it's blue-then he's minei If it's white
Il cheerfully give him up to you"
! "Girls, l should think you'd be
ashamed Of yourselyes!'
lilly gave a great start; Kitty colored
until the freckles looked like a fleet Of
tiny brown boats on a sea of scarlet.
Mrs. Mix was at the head of the stairs,
glazing down at them like an indignant
tabby cat.
1--WE we didn't mean anything
feebly uttered Kitty.
"We were only making fun" mur.
INJURED lilly.
"It amt the sort o. fun they used te
make when ! was a girl" said Mrs. Mix.
"We We're talking about the milk
~apologized Kitty, with excusable equivo-
cation.
"'Tain't worth while to fib, said Mrs.
Mix. Il was standin' jest by the win.
der, and I heerd every word you said.
Here's the platter O fish. Put it in 8
cool place, not too near the milk
Kitty Farrar and lilly Grey looked
guiltily at each other, and INDUCED in o
surreptitious litter when the door closed
sharply.
"Do you suppose she did hear it alp
said lilly breathlessly.
sit isn't a hanging matter if she did,
declared Kitty. 'sQuick-get the pitch.
ersl Take them in the back way. ]
hear him coming now"
"Oh, if it's come to your knowing his
very step
'Do hold your tongue. Tillym
On the whitley secured milk room
shelf stood the two little pitchers, one OF
old Glowing blue" the other a squatty
white ware specimen, with a crystal
clear tumbler beside them. In Kitty's
haste she had forgotten to fill but one
and as the two dimpled faces peeped
from the twilight darkness at the head
of the cellar stairs they could see Wayne
Hillard come direct to the little milk
room and take up the white pitcher.
"There!" whispered lilly, spasmod.
ically squeezing Kitty's round little arm.
But the white pitcher was empty. He
set it down with a smothered exclama-
ton of impotence, and seizing the flow.
ing blue poured out a glass of cool, foam.
ing milk and drank it. Then he walked
out again.
"ThereI" retorted Kitty. "He took
my pitcher after ALL"
But he took mine first"
Don't be shabby, lilly. If ever any.
thing was rejected your pitcher was.
He is mine"
Nonsense, Kit! BY all the rules OF
love and war he belongs to me-"
Il mean to have him, anyhow"
'In see about that" said lilly reso-
lutely.
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