The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-02-19

N--Ir wv W---Jh w n tln g-s hirt, F"
could not disguise; frank and pleasant
expression, and voice that, in spite of
rather nasal tone when its owner was
excited, WIS full and musical-Iugh was
worthy of feminine admiration. He was
siugular!y ignorant of his attractions,
and, though bold in peril, fearing
neither man, bear nor catamount in
single fight, was tImid in the presence
of women, his mother and his sister ex-
ceptcd. The owner, subject to his
mothers life right, of thousand acres
Of mountain land, of which onc.third
was rich "bottom," or level land, with
horses in stall, cattle in meadow and
steers on the hill-rauge, he was at seven
aud-twenty bachelor, while his fellows
were heads of families by tho time they
had come to manhood. He loved his
mother aud sister, who worshiped him,
and he was content.
Kitty M'Kissen was not his sister, how
ever, nor was she his kinswomau. Eigh-
teen years before, John Markham came
there from the East, and bought little
"bottom. patch" OF sixty acres, and set
tied on it with his wife. He built a log
'"pah, oSe w "olh a"hWoIulJ W Cultl-
vate few girdled acres, and tried to ac-
commodate himself to an unusual posi-.
ton. Folk around, naturally suspicious
of strangers, thought he must have done
something wrong TO make him leave
home. He brought books, not over
hundred in number, which the ncighbors
deemed to be a great library. His house
was neat, owing to his young wifc's taste
The ncighbors said: "lt's stuck roun'
with thing.a .majigs till it's plom
sight"
Markhamworkcd hard, and so did his
wife, and, soon after their comm Kitty
was born. She was christcucd Cath
arinc Burnett. Three months after her
birth her mother died, and Mrs.
MKissen, who had just lost child of
nearly the same age, offered to nurse
kitty-an offer thankfully accepted.
But John Markham caught cold by cx-
posme, it settled upon ha, lungs ,and in
less than year he died leaving his little
possessions to his child. Kitty thrivei
and soon became known as M'Kissen,
the circuit riders baptismal certificate to
the contrary Notwithstanding. She and
Hugh, who was Il nlne- year old boy when
she came, had been brought up together.
When she was half-grown, Peter
M'Kisscn was killed by the fall of
girdlcd tree, ,and Kitty became the main
stay of the house. for old Mrs. NJ M'lLissen,
who was ten years senior to her nus
band, hai been half paralytic for years,
and passed her time IN hobbling between
her bed, the kitchen table and the fire.
side.
Frank and good -naturcd, as we'll as
athletic, Hugh was popular young man
his fellows accepting his lead and
young won en- receiving his attentions
courteously. But he never threw the
handkerchief at any particular fair one,
treating all with shy Difference. They
did not come up to the standing Of
Kitty, who had inherited some of the re-
tnement Of her mother; and who, hav-
ing read her fathers books over and over
again, was credited with vast amount
OF learning. That kind of knowledge
did not interfere with her house wifcly
qualities, for she was known to be the
best cook and baker rs well rs the best
buttcrmakcr and ncatcst housekccper
in the county. Huge measured all other
girls by her Procrustean standard. Be-
side, Hugh was not matrimonially in
clncd. His home was too comfortable,
and he was in no hurry to bring n
strange woman there.
But Mrs. MKissen though. it high
time for her son to marry, and spoke to
him about it.
"What's the need, mother2" he re-
spondcd. 'I'm comfortable, aud so are
you. Why should bring q strange girl
hcrc--onc that amt used to us and our
ways, upsetting things?"
"iou needn't do that neither" said
his mother.
But Hugh was tco obtuse to take the
hint and went out to salt the cattle. But
lie communed with himself as he went.
81 might spark Lucy Campbell" he
thought. "Shes been East to school,
and she's sort Of hIga. flyer, but she's
pretty. Old Jim Campbell's we'll of,
and he has only young Jim and Lucy.
dunno. I'll speak to Kitty about it.
And there she is at the COWS, now."
Kitty was there with her milk pals, and
Hugh broachcd the subject at once. She
looked up, blushed little aud then
looked down, and listened.
"Lucy CampbellW she cried. $50,
Boss! Why don't the cre'tur' keep
stillf Lucy Campbcll's nice girl; a
little sharp tempered, but you're not;
and she never turns hand to anything
around the house, but you're not look
ing for housekeeper. Give down,
Sossi -
"Well, there's Nancy Stallins. Nancy's
people are not so well off rs Lucy Camp
bells; but they do say that Nancy is the
most industrious girl in the neghb'r'd. {"
"Ye.," said Kitty; eyes, she's a
worker. She never cleans up her dirt,
t@ough; and she-she chews snuff. You
'lon't like tobacco in that way, do you,
IIugh?"
"M-mphl" CALCULATED Hugh. "Well,
| dunno what to do. Mother, she's at
nc to marry, and I declare, except the
swo, can't think ofa girl I'll IKE 70
have, unless--well, there amt one"
"You stupid!' said Kitty, pettishly.