The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-04-09
AMBITIOUS KITTY.


summer-tide seems to cast a bright
glance behind, when the golden rods
blaze along the roadside and the red
leaves glow in crowded paths when one
would fancy winter an impossibility and
sunshine permanency.
Kitty had not even stopped for her
bonnet when she ran out into the orchard
to get a basket Of striped sweets to
stew for tea. The yellow leaves blew
down into her hair like tricky sprites,
the sweet air famed her cheek, and
locust, directly overhead. wound his
bugle with a certain exultation. She
stood still to breathe in the autumn
freshness.
Kitty Dover was pretty with a solid
built substantial type Of prettiness.
There was nothing fragile or ethereal
about her. any more than there would be
about the Greek slave, il that much
talked about young woman were dressed
In common clothes and set to work in q
farmhouse kitchen.
John" she cried, crisply, to the Of
Tending younger brother, as he came, at
this unfortunate moment, in sight, il
ever you do such thing again"
a. II ever don't do it, you mean," said
Johnny, spontaneously, as he hoisted
up the top bar himself. Yes, I know.
IL Nds awful CdIclcSo vi kl1 DuG L Day,
sis, there's a package for you at the ex-
press otlce. dollar and quarter to
pay"
"A package, John?"
Yes, a package. directed to Miss
Katherine Dover, with De Korate Il
Painthear's stamp on it. didn't bring
1t. because hadn't the money to pay
the express charges"
John, for once in your life you acted
sensible" said Kitty, speaking in slow,
hard voice. "A dollar and a quarter,
indeed! For the privilege Of getting
those horrid paintings on satin back,
with Messrs. De Kcrate d Panthear's
compliments and best thanks, and re-
grets that the overcrowded state Of the
market prevents their accepting the in
closed specimens Of art No! II the
express Office wants a dollar and quar-
ter, let them sell the goods to pay eX-
penses."
Johnny chuckled as he bit into the
rosy de OF juicy striped sweet"
You paid half q dollar last week"
said he, for the return of that thrilling
love story that the editors didn't ac-
az know that" said Kitty; "but I'm
not going to be fool the second time"
II have seen worse stories than that"
observed Johnny. meditativeiy, crunch
ing his apple. Il wonder they didn't
print it. Two murders and an abduction
and a lot OF dialect trash, q la fashionable
novelist! 1t ought to have gone down y
John, you wretch y cried Kitty; 'how
do you know what was In it?''
"Oh, read it that day you went to
the husking picnic 1t wasn't SO bad
tell you," asserted the youthful critic,
looking around for second apple. But
the fifty cents for having 1t returned
that was dead loss, eh. Kitty"
I've burned the hateful stuff" said
Kitty, with a grimace. II never want
to see it again. Oh, John, you don't
know what your privileges are!
Eh?" said John, turning his honest,
freckled cOuntenance toward the excited
speaker.
g You can bind yourself apprentice to
trade. You can run away to sea. You
can earn your livelihood. no matter what
betides. You aren't a woman
mo; thank fortune !" said complacent
John. But all the same, Kit, you
needn't put on such long face
What can 1 do?" sighed Kitty, slowly
hinging apple after apple into the
basket" wrote to the Correspondents
Column and laid my case before 'sm.
But 1t was no use"
What did they say" asked John.
Once more Kitty screwed her red
mouth into letter o, and frowned omi-
nously.
They told me to go to work. doing
what could do best. can't do anything
best"
You're dabster at school teaching"
said John,
What good does that do me when
un1d~ HALL hoo ho lot iof
SCHOOL,"
You can make boss crullers and GIN
gerbread," suggested the loyal younger
brother.
so can every other woman in the
Velert Vale"
heard Aunt Jane say you made tie
prettiest button-holes she ever saw"
Yes, acknowledged Kitty. shoulder
ing the basket, which was now full,
but l can't put botton-holes on the
market. And oh. John, 1 do 80 want to
earn little money! There are SO many
of us children, and father has to work so
hard"
never saw anything like YOU
women, said Johnny, aiming an apple
at bushy-tsiled chipmunk on the near
est rail, and signally missing his target,
You don't know how to get q grip of
things"
What on earth do you mean, John
ny2"
What's the reason you can't put but
ton-holes on the market just as we'll as
anything else?" demanded John. when
was in New York that time Uncle Elihu
bought his new Neutrality-suspicious., and
took me with him cause 1 kept head o,
the class all the term. didn't see print
ed up on big gilt sign on Eighth Aven
ue, Button holes, Tailor-mdde, Upstairs.'
But I'm not tailor"
You can make button-holes. cam
your"
And I'm not in New York"
You can go there. There's no de
mand for button-holss here. There Is Il
New York. or those follows couldn't live
Eli? Do Il see?"
John. remarked Kitty, thoughtfulIy
Il t"ie,v there Is method In your mad
ness.
You bet !" said Johnny. Now, loo
here. Let's make some excuse to go t
New York, Kit, me and you. Let's Sc
If there amt some show fer you. Fathe
and mother neeH1 know but that view
gone to see BIZ. Dooley's wife's ne,
restaurant. She's often invited US. We
prospect little"
Kitty was SO pleased that she actuall
Kissed Johnny. performance that fllo
his youthful mind with astonishment
not to say dread
Don't do that. Kit" said he. "Yo
mean well. but I amt used to KISSING
A stick OF chewing gum when we 20 b
the stere now, should appreciate tn
Kitty and her brother carried out thej
little plan. They found the place, an
discovered, up three pair of stairs
grim-faced New England woman, presto
Ing over squad Of girls, each Of the
With more work than she knew how I
I'm glad to get more hands" sai
MRS. Hawley. There amt one woma