, 1890-09-26

iii tell ye, mister, SAID ION, II
you'll promise never to let on who it
was, andi if you'll gimme hat ere tinted
ishin' pole o yourn as We don't use no
more"
Il don't think l care much about your
news, Tom" said Mr.. Hillard. who was
just settling himself for a mornings
sketching by the river heights.
"Oh, but you will when you hear it,"
said Tom. Mother says, says she,
Girls. you'd orter'd be ashamed Of your
selves And Kit Farrar she said she
knowed your step. and lilly Grey she
said she lowed to marry r city Teller
like you, and then they agreed to chance
it. And there was something about two
colored pitchers-I don't rightly under
stand that; but | ruther think you fell to
Kitty's lot. and she was awful tickled
andr-
Look here, Tom, said Mr.. Hillard,
leisurely turning over his tubes Of color,
don't it strike you that this is very like
telling tales out of school? 1t isn't like
ly the young ladies meant you to repeat
these little jokes"
but they was dead in earnest"
wheezed Tom.
much you know about IT," said Hill
ard. "No-you can't have the rod.
Clear out, and remember for the future
never 10 tattle."
Tom NIX retired much discounted
and Wayne Hillard began to paint, but
as he painted he pondered.
'f I'm really the sportof battle" said
he, Il ought TO surrender myself at once.
Pretty little beauties they are-fair and
dark, like n sunbeam and a shadow, side
by sidel
How happy could 1 be with either.
Were t'other dear charmer away,
Kitty Farrar is my possessor, Ell? | do
really think l ought to have given that
young marplot the fishing rod after all. "
He laughed as the idea grew in his
mind; vet more and more he liked it.
He had noticed Kitty and lilly oftener
than they had dreamed OF. He knew
that Kitty was the clergyman's niece,
INT that Tilly's dead father had been a
colonel in the civil war. He was quite
aware that they were pretty and grace
full, with sweet low voices, and a pictur-
esque way of wearing flowers in their
hair.
"They began a joke" said he TO him
self, "Tl finish itr'
AhAAAN $40 " 10 oHAt1AAAAAk hhbAo nap
kins out to bleach on the grass beyond
the lawn tennis court. lilly stood hold
ing the basket for her when Mr.. Hill
ard approached. But the instant they
saw him a gentle ice Of indescribable
dignity froze around them. They recog-
nized his greeting as two young Ouch
esses might have done.
II can't do it," he told himself, and
fell to talking about the weather. How
he wished that scapegrace Tom had held
his tongue. But after that he observed
Kitty quietly and often.
"She is a violet in the shade" he
thought. "A dewdrop hiding from the
sun. Yes, | really think l shall ask her
to marry me, but l would like my I'm
Gle Churchill TO see her first"
Uncle Churchill arrived on the scene
"a handsome middle aged lawyer. with
dark eyes and n shrewd mouth.
Which is ity' said he.
'Oh, you must decide that for your
self. +" laughed Wayne.
That's hardly fair" said Mr.. Church
hill.
'It's 80 important that you should be
entirely free from bias or prejudice"
pleaded Wayne. AT the end of a week
let me know what you think"
AT the end of the week Uncle Church
i'll reported.
at cur only be lilly Grey" said he.
''She is perfect-simply perfect!'
''Tilly Greyi" repeated Wayne. 'She
is a very pretty girl, 1 admit; but as COM
pared to Kitty Farrar'-
II n only say what l think" said
Uncle Churchill.
Take another week to consider it,"
said Hillard.
II will" said Uncle Churchill.
Kitty and Tilly, however, were not
entirely unobservant of matters, and one
evening when Churchill and billiard re-
turned from = days fishing two stolid
German madchens were waiting at
table. The girls had gone home.
"Their folks wanted them" Mrs. Mix
said regretfully.
"we1l follow them" said Mr.. billiard
soto voce,
"An excellent ideal" said Churchill
promptly.
Kitty Farrar sat ON the doorstep of the
old house with a black kitten in her lap
when Mr.. Hillard came up the walk.
She colored like u carnation.
''You SEQ l ave found you out" said
he. kitty, were you running away
from mey'
''Not-not because | was afraid an
swered valiant Kitty.
We'll, wherever you run for the
future | shall follow" said he, because
love you, Kitty"
And it was not until the little diamond
ring that had been his mothers was
safely fitted on her finger that he mis-
~chievously alluded to Toms betrayal Of
the state secret.
"You know" said he, that l have be-
longed by right to you ever since l took
up the blue pitcher"
Kitty's eyes flashed.
But you took up the white pitcher
firstI" said she. go back to Mitilda
Grey, if you please: | shAn't detain
you"
~ couldn't if | wanted to-" said
Wayne. Miss Grey-if she chooses-is
TO be my aunt. Besides, blue is my
COLOR with his eyes fixed on the knot OF
ribbon at Ktty's throat.
"Mr. Churchill is a very handsome
man." said Kitty solemnly, land l do
think lilly fancies him. oh, am SO
gladI"
Lets walk over to the Grey farm
and congratulate them" said billiard.
'But." cried Kitty, I'VE will neither
of us ever be married if you dare again
to allude to the-the two pitchers"
mo, that we will noti' said lilly.
And Tom got the jointed fishing rod
sort OF a world would this be If people
Only uot their deSartg Shirley BROWNE