The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-13
DECIDED BY CHANCE.

DECIDED BY CHANCE.
The sun, great glowing ball of fire,
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 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. lone more days
gone!" said she; and Kitty and lilly,
Swimming cream in the cool cellar, made
haste with their work so as to finish
without the light of 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 "busy times" Kitty was 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. lilly, on the contrary, was pale
and dark, with big, solemn eyes full Of
jetty lights, and 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 nights milk"
into broad, shining pans.
II think he's splendid" said Kitty.
$50 do r. said lilly, enthusiastically.
81 mean 10 have him!" said Kitty,
waving her skinner above fresh pan.
Il like that" ironically observed lilly.
"rve always pinned to be an artists
BRIDE" said Kitty.
Eyes, ;" interrupted lilly, land have
made up my mind to city life This
country vegetation don't suit me! l
must marry city man!'
Kitty covered up the stone cream jar
with little clink
well, how are we going to settle this
natter" said she, with laugh. 1--WE
both want Wayne Hillard! We're both
determined TO have him"
DRAW lots, suggested lilly. Moth
ing like chance for determining a question
like this. Oh! | say. Kitty, this pan
leaks. Give me ono Of the new ones. |
do like new milk pant makes one
think of sheets of silver"
mo, we won't do that-it's too hack
neyed," said Kitty. IN tell you what
well do, lilly. Mr.. Hillard never
comes into the house without going
straight into the milk room for drink
of new milk. Mrs. Mix always leaves a
little brown pitcher there for him. Well,
We'll 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, should think you'd be
ashamed of yourselves
lilly 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.
1--WE we didn't mean anything"
feebly uttered Kitty.
I'VE were only making fun" muir
INJURED lilly.
1T 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 excussble 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 a
cool place, not too near the milk"
Kitty Farrar and lilly Grey looked
guiltily at each other, and INDUCED in a
surreptitious litter when the door closed
sharply.
DO you suppose she did hear it all;"
said lilly breathlessly.
1T isn't hanging matter if she did,"
declared Kitty. "Quick-get the pitch
ers! Take them in the back way. l
hear him coming now"
"Oh, if it's come to your knowing his
very step
do hold your tongue. Tilly,"
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 Kittys
haste she had forgotten to I'll 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 smothered exclama-
ton Of impatience. and Selling the flow
ing blue poured out glass of cool, foam
ing milk and drank II. Then he walked
ont again.
There" retorted Kitty. He took
my pitcher after all"
But he took mine first"
Don't be shabby, lilly. If ever any,