The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-05-21
ght away, just to let Kitty know you

ELsE?"
right away, just to let Kitty know you
did not care?'
"The next minute could have bitten
my tongue off for saying those silly,
foolish words, for he cast such look
of bitter contempt on me that / was
glad to beat hasty retreat.
Nearly an hour passed before
heard him leave the house and pass
slowly down the gravel walk. The
cruel work was done now, and what
had / gained? l had committed an act
that l should live long years to bitterly
repent. Early the next morning we
were startled by messenger galloping
up the walk and hastily handing my
mother telegram. For minute my
heart seemed to stand still as my moth
er, with trembling fingers, tore open
the envelope. With face pale as death
she read aloud the few terrible words:
Kitty is dead; horse threw her; she
died almost instantly. Come at once
81 stood rooted to the spot, horror
stricken. / saw my mothers pale
face, heard her give orders con-
SCi llllS bllC w DO
made, knew she kissed me good
by and told me not to grieve SO.
| saw her depart upon her sorrowful
journey; yet did not realize anything.
All ! could hear were those awful
words my mother had just read. Sud
denly my great crime dawned upon
me. 1t seemed as if | was her murder
er. / might just as well have slain her
with my own hand. Had it not been
for me she would not have gone away,
and now she would have been well and
happy, instead of being SO stiff and
cold in deaths embrace. Then
thought of Harry, poor, deceived Harry.
All could do was to go to him, confess
all and receive the curses | deserved.
How my heart ached for him now.
With my head almost bursting with
pain | started madly off to tell him
what sinful creature l had been. AS
| drew near the house | saw Harry
seated under a cool, shady tree, his
dark, curly head bowed sorrowfully in
his hands. AS | approached he raised
his head; l noticed how changed his
handsome, boyish face was.
"How told him never knew. re-
member he madly cursed me. / de-
served it. | knew it, yet they seemed
to fall all unheeded by me. My brain
seemed to be burning mass. / longed
to lie down on the cool, green grass
and die. / started homeward, but
only staggered on a few steps
and fell senseless by the dusty
| rnoAcila I 60,
"They told me afterwards how they
had brought poor Kitty home. Nc
mark of violence was seen excepting q
a small dark spot on one white temple
They robed her in white. such as she
had always worn in life. Beautiful
she looked, even in death. A smile was
frozen on the marble face. In death
all must have been peace. They told
me how madly Harry had grieved, call
ing upon her to forgive him for think
ing her false. And to think she diet
believing me false!' he moaned. L die
not know; you will forgive me, darling
"They did not know what he meant
and thought his brain must be turned
by his awful sorrow. After the funera
he went away and we never saw him
again,
"'He will wander over the earth a
heart broken man., said my mother
Little did she dream her own daughter
was the means of bring about that aw
full tragedy. l never told her, for il
would only have made her sorrow
greater to bear. All could do was tc
pray that Kitty might look down from
Heaven and forgive the cruel deed
committed. For long, long years
used to sec her in my dreams, her sad
reproachful eyes full upon me, one lit
tie finger always pointing sowowfully
to her little grave, as if mutely chidins
me for placing it there. But now il ap
pears always smiling brightly aud hcI
hand beclons me TO come. ! sometimes
think perhaps poor Harry is dead ant
has joined her above and now she car
forgive me.
''Now, girls, 10 you wonder | am
sad? All these years | have been re
penting my sinful act
The tears had gathered in our eyes
and were fast falling down our checks
Little Mary always gentle and tender
hearted, was sobbing softly. AS she
finished, we Withdrew one by one, un
til at last she was alone. 1t was lona
time before she joined us again, but W,
knew she had been TO visit little greer
grave that we had often seen but never
knew the story connected with it.
Many years have passed away now
and poor Aunt Iris has gone TO m. e
Kitty above, but her story will remair
fresh In our memory as long as life re
mains in our heart.
BELLg HICKS,