The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-28

closet" said Kitty.
She flew to the closet opened the door,
pushed in the bewildered Harry and
buttoned him in.
Then, with her face a little flushed,
she pumped down in the rocking-chair,
and was knitting very industriously
when her uncle entered.
"Hey, Kitty" said her uncle. 81 sup
pose you didn't expect to see me quite
30 SOON"
"No, uncle" said Kitty. Why, it
isn't much more than ten"
''The way of it was, 1 happened to
meet the squire at the store, four miles
this side of his house, and we transacted
our business there. So you see, gained
an hour or more in that way"
Il wish to goodness the squire had
stopped at home," thought Kitty.
"Have you been lonely, Kitty?" in
Quired her uncle.
"No, SIR said his niece, demurely.
81 was busy, you know"
you're getting to be quite indus
trious."
The miller took off his boots and sat
down composedly at the fire.
Kitty was in hopes that he would 60
to bed, in order that she might give her
lover chance to escape. But this he
did not appear at all inclined to do.
'Isn it most your bedtime, uncle?"
said Kitty.
81 don't know how it is, but 1 don't
feel at all sleepy tonight"
Kitty inwardly groaned.
"But if you are sleepy, don't wait"
co. said Kitty, looking particularly
wide-awake Il feel as if could sit up
all night"
"Where's the weekly paper, Kitty?"
Kitty would like to have said she
didn't know for she knew that if her
uncle got hold of that he would quite
disregard the passage of time. Untort-
unately there was the paper on the ia
BILE under the kitchen glass. 1t was
the first object that met her gaze as she
looked up
81 see l am in for SIEGE" said Kitty
to herself; but | shall stand it as long
as he can. That's comfort But I'm
afraid Harry will find it pretty dull
work in the closet. What would uncle
say if he should find out he was there?"
Half an hour passed.
The miller, who was a slow reader,
was intent upon a story which I'M
ested him. Kitty saw, with despair
ing glance, that he was not quite half
through it.
She was beginning to be sleepy her.
self, or would have been if she had not
had so much to keep her awake.
''Kitty, said her uncle, looking up
suddenly, ''you had better go to bed.
It's most eleven o'clock"
"Are you going to bed, uncle?"
mo, not just yet. 1 want to finish
this story. It's pretty cute one."
81 will sit up to keep you company"
"But | shan't need any company.
This story will be company enough. So
don't sit up on my account"
81 shouldn't go to sleep if I went to
bed, uncle. Besides, want to get so
much done before go to bed"
"Well, child, just as you like. Bless
me, what's that?"
Kitty turned pale. There was sup
pressed noise in the closet. Harry had
evidently got tired of his constrained
position, and was stirring round little.
cit must be the cat" said Kitty, hur-
riedly.
1.-The cat! Do you allow her in the
closet? She ought to be driven out"
The miller rose, but Kitty hurriedly
anticipated him.
She went to the closet, opened it a
trifle, and called ''scatr
mo, the cat is not there" she said. re-
turning to her seat
Quarter of an hour passed.
Again noise of a more decided char
acter was heard.
Harry's elbow happened to hit against
a plate, and it fell with sudden crash
to the floor
''rll see what it is" exclaimed the
miller, rising.
He threw open the door, and out
rushed Harry, looking rather foolish.
"Well, l neverv' CALCULATED the miller.
Before he had time to say any thing
further Kitty said, hurriedly: .Uncle,
didn't you promise me collar?"
Yes, replied the miller, "but-"
Kitty pressed to the side of her lover,
passed his right arm around her neck,
and then said, while her eyes twinkled
with mischief: This is the collar l
want, uncle. You promised me, you
know"
And I'll keep it, Kitty!" exclaimed
the miller, bursting into a hearty
laugh, mo matter what it costs"
Two months from that day Kitty Cut
ting changed her name. Some years have
elapsed; but she has not yet got tired of
the collar which her uncle gave her.
caroline f. Preston, in Boston Globe.