The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-05-20

aunt, she told us a story i think we
will remember until the day of our
death.
Aunt Iris had long been a puzzle to
us. She was always sad and gentle,
scarcely ever laughing heartily, and
that seemed a very strange thing to us
merry, chatting girls. Although she
was SO very quiet, we all loved her very
dearly.
This afternoon we were outdoors
!azily reclining under the shade of a
great oak tree that threw its friendly
shadows far away, and very cool and
pleasant did they seem this hot day.
We had been having "a very lively
discussion about the life of noted man.
But for nearly half hour scarcely
word had been spoken. Each one was
busy with her own thoughts. Suddenly
the silence was broken by little Mary,
the pet of us all, exclaiming: "a penny
for your thoughts, Aunt lris!''
Thus addressed, my aunt turned her
large, dark eyes upon Mary and smiled
very sadly lit seemed as if her smiles
always had tears back of them and
said, slowly: We'll, girls, if you will all
be very quiet and not condemn me too
much. will try to tell you what ! was
thinking about. 1t has never been told
by my lips, for it is a very sad story.
But, perhaps, it will help you never to
sin as did,
Girls, you all remember that picture
in my album called little Kitty Hart.
You can plainly see what beautiful
creature she was-beautiful as an
angel! Clustering golden curls, sur
rounding face exquisitely fair and in
nocent a pair of heavenly blue eyes
that seemed to look truth into the very
soul How l loved that girl then, and
little did think l should be the one to
ruin her young life. ! was exactly the
opposite of Kitty. l had hair dark as
midnight, wicked, black eyes that could
flash with hate or grow soft and tender
with love. 1t happened that we had a
picnic about this tirse, and there we
met and both fell in love with hand
some Harry Ray. Oh! how loved that
handsome boyish face! l swore then
and there to win him or die in the at
tempt.
81 can see her now as she looked that
day, clad in pure white and wearing
modest daisies. The moment Harry
Ray bowed before sweet Kitty Hart,
his heart passed from his keeping into
hers. | saw it, knew it, yet my pas
sionate, jealous nature decreed to win
him at any cost
las | saw them move away from me
toward the cool and inviting lake
my wrath knew no bounds.
could have ground her beautiful
face into an unshapely mass with
my heel, and have felt a savage
delight in doing it, had it been in my
power. But this was the first of many
just such scenes. Never would Harry
notice me when Kitty was near, and it
80 filed me with wrath that | almost
believe that the love. ! bore him was
turned into hatred. l longed to have
revenge. Time passed on until at last
the marriage day was set, and still |
had found no plan to part the lovers.
AT last an idea filed my brain which
] now think Satan himself must have
prepared for me. l began slowly to
carry it out.
In
Kitty received letter from distant
aunt, begging her to make her a weeks
visit. AS her aunt's health was very
poor. and she was not expected to live
very long, gentle Kitty did not have the
heart to refuse her request, much as she
dislilIed to leave Harry even for so short
time.
The evening before her departure
Harry came over to bid her good-by
Never will | forget that evening. 1t
seemed as if she had a foreboding of
coming evil. She seemed SO very quiet
and unlike her usual merry self. Moth
ing could have been better for me- !
had planned it to make Harry think she
had something else on her mind But |
very well knew it was the separation
from him that made her blue eyes SO
misty and sad Soon they left me and
wandered away by themselves. | fol-
lowed, and hid myself where | could
overhear every word that passed be-
tween them.
Harry Kitty's soft voice was say
ing, i am sorry wrote auntie would
come. know | am very foolish. as it
IL lor so snort Il Tune. But | feel all
the while as if something would hap
pen while | am away. | have tried to
shake off the feeling, but cannot
"'NonsenSe. little one said Harry.
'fou have grown as whimsical as an
oil woman. What can possibly hap
pen? Six weeks from to-day you will
be all my own, and then nothing can
take you from me for even a week SO
cheer up: tomorrow YOU will laugh at
your own fears.
II laughed in fendish glee to myself
to think this was To be the last time
they would ever walk so lovingly to-
gether. ] was shocked at myself; did
not know ] could be so wicked. For
a moment | was almost sorry and had
nearly decided To leave them alone in
peace. Then the tempter whispered
in my ear that ! might have been
Ilarry's betrothed bride had it not been
for Kitty's babyish face. | clinched
my hands in hatred as | thought of it.
and all the good in me died for the time
being. turned and fed from the spot
int Lhe hOilse I dropped a letter |