, 1890-09-26
DECIDED BY CHANCE.

The sun, a great glowing bali of sre,
had just descended behind the fringe Of
elm trees on Meadow Hill, and the
parched summer world was free to
breathe at last. Wayne billiard, finish
ing his sketch of the fern shaded pool in
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. zone more days
gomez said she; and Kitty and Tilly,
skimming cream in the cool cellar, made
haste with their work so rs to finish
without the light of n candle, and as
they worked they talked and laughed
lightly. as girls win do.
Who were Kitty and Tilly2 Why,
they were Mrs. Mix's hired help"-the
rosy daughters of -impecunious neigh
bors, wEo were more than glad to exc
out their slender allowance of pocket
money by assisting the harassed land
lady in busy times" Kitty was n ra-
diRnt blonde, with hair just warmed
with red. eyes of mischievous gray, and
a complexion tina. would have been per-
feet were it not for the sprinkling OF
treckles across the bridge Of the saucy
nose. lilly, on the contrary, was pale
and dark, with big, solemn eyes full of
jetty lights, and a small mead 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 nights milk"
into broad, shining pans.
II think he's Splendid" said Kitty.
80 do II" said lilly, enthusiastically.
II mean to have himl' said Kitty,
waving her skinner above a fresh pan.
Il like THAR ironically observed Tilly.
I've always pinned to be an artists
bride" said Kitty.
Yes" interrupted lilly, land l have
made up my mind TO a city life. This
country vegetation don't suit mel ]
must marry n city mani"
Kitty covered up the stone cream jar
with n little clink.
well, how are we going to settle this
natter said she, with a laugh. 1--WE
both want Wayne Hillardi We're both
determined to nave him.
Draw lots" suggested Tilly. Moth
ing like chance for determining n question
like this. OH | say. Kitty, this pan
leaks. Give me one of the new ones. l
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. I'm tell you what
wen do, lilly. Mr.. Hillard never
comes into the house without going
straight into the milk room for n drink
of new milk. Mrs. Mix always leaves a
little brown pitcher there for him. Well,
wen leave two pitchers, one white for
You, the other blue for me. The one
that he selects shall decide the question.
If it's blue-then he's minel If it's white
I cheerfully give him up to your
Girls, l should think you'd be
ashamed Of yourselvesr'
THY gave 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,
glaring down at them like an indignant
tabby cat.
I'VE we didn't mean anything"
feebly uttered Kitty.
1--WE We're only making fun" muir
INJURED lilly.
ut amt the sort o. fun they used to
make when / was a girl, " said Mrs. Mix.
I'VE were talking about the milk"
apologized Kitty, with excusable equivo-
cation.
"'Tain't worth while TO hb," 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 a
cool place, not too neal the milk"
Kitty Farrar and lilly Grey looked
guilty at each other. and INDUCED in a
surreptitious litter when the door closed
sharply.
''Do you suppose she did hear it alp
said lilly breathlessly.
1T isn't a hanging matter if she did"
declared Kitty. ''Quick-get the pitch
ersl Take them in the back way. /
hear him coming now"
''Oh, If it's como to your knowing his
very step
do hold your tongue. Tilyg"
On the whitley secured milk room
shelf stood the two little pitchers, one of
old flowing 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 n
and as the two dimpled faces peeped
from the twilight darkness at the head
Of the cellar stairs they could see Wayne
billiard come direct to the little milk
room and take up the white pitcher.
"There!" whispered Tilly, spasmod-
ically squeezing Kitty's round little arm.
But the white pitcher was empty. He
set it down with u s~mothered exclama-
ton of impotence, and seizing the flow
ing blue poured out n glass of cool, foam
ing milk and drank it. Then he walked
ont 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 AMI war he belongs to me-"
Il mean to have him. anyhow"
I'm see about that" said TiIly reso-
lutely.
-'Hush!~ cried Kitty. Whats that
Some one giggling. Its Tom
mo, it isn't. Tom has beer sent up
10 Spotswood farm for half a dozen ducks