Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-05-20

start now, and you are not ready ut all.
Do not think any more about Harry,
but go now and get ready
81 cannot stir a step, Iris said Kit
ty, very decidedly, until / have seen
Harry and had an explanation from
him.
Here, indeed, was a difficulty. II
she saw Harry she would soon find out
it was all fraud. So, after thinking
n moment, told her TO write a note
and l would carry it to him; of course
he would never see it, and it could do
no harm, only serve to blind her still
more. Soon she had finished the letter
and started slowly away to her room,
while I turned my steps toward the
cool and shady woods, to loiter away
the time until I could return to the
house.
"Oh, that might have been struck
dead before / had retraced my steps!
but in a short time went slowly back,
thinking what could tell Kitty when
she asked me about Harry.
Presently she came down, dressed
as usual, in pure white, and looking SO
pure and beautiful that could hardly
find it in my heart to tell her the cruel
lie, which / knew would destroy her
peace and happiness for Ipany a long
day. But / turned my guilty face
away and went on, unfeelingly, to tell
her it was impossible for Harry to see
her that morning, as he had some very
important business to attend to, but he
sent his best regards and wished her
pleasant journey. Then ] hesitated, as
If I had something more to say, yet
dreaded to proceed.
"'Go on, Iris,' commanded Kitty,
with paling face and flashing eyes, tell
me all
"'Well,' I continued, it is n hard
message to carry, yet it is best that you
should know, cruel as it may seem.
Kitty q tried to make my voice trem-
BILE as il trying to suppress my feel
ings) he requested me to tell you he
did not think best for you to correspond
while you were away.
"'No, indeed" she slowly faltered;
you are not to blame, Iris. You would
do anything in your power to help me,
would you not, -dear?'
"tAhl those trusting words, how they
cut to the very soul!
"a moment she stood lirresolute, then
kissed us all good-by, and descended to
the waiting carriage. As the turn in the
road hid her from view, 7 rushed up
stairs to my own room, closed and
locked the door. Seating myself, l
drew pen and paper toward me for the
purpose of writing letter to Harry.
Sheet after sheet destroyed in my at
tempt to initiate Kitty's writing. At
last succeeded to my satisfaction, and
here is what had written:
"'DEAR HARRY: Pray do not think me cruel
Ind nckle-minded But have gone away from
here, intending to return bride. He Is old and
rich, Harry; that makes the difference. II you
nad had his money. or ] Iris disposition,
should have chosen you, for you are much nicer
looking Good-by, dear old Harry; forgive your
little Kitty II you can
81 smiled in triumph as / read it
again to make sure that it was perfect
ly correct. That clause about myself
Is clever one; perhaps he will marry
me right away, just to spite her. But
little did know Harry's disposition. l
placed the letter in my pocket and went
down to the parlor. / soon had the
pleasure of seeing Harry coming swift
ly across the shady lawn. He smiled
brightly when he saw me, but quickly
looked beyond me, to catch sight of the
little form he loved so well, and was
destined never more to see in life.
Kitty, has she gone? he quickly
asked. 4 came as early as possible;
she did not know was coming. 1
wanted to surprise her. Can it be ! am
too late?'
noticed a shade of disappointment
cross his handsome face, as told him
he was too late, but it quickly cleared
again, as held that cruel, false letter
toward him, saying, in my most allur-
ing tone: Here is "a letter she left for
you, Harry; perhaps that will be lit
tie comfort to YOU
HE fercely graspcd my hands and
begged me to tell him it was not true.
Harry / whispered, going close to
him, she is SO unworthy of you, could
you not think of some one else, some
one not very far away, and marry her
right away, just to let Kitty know you
did notcare?'
1.-THE next minute l 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 basty 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 I gained? had committed an. act
that should live long years to bitterly
repent. Early the next morning we
were startled by u messenger galloping
up the walk and hastily handing my
mother n telegram. For a 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 Mt once
II stood rooted to the spot, horror
stricken. saw my mothers pale
face, heard her give orders con-
cerning the preparations TO be
made, knew she kissed me good
by and told me not TO grieve so.
j 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. II seemed as If | was her murder
err. ! might just as well have slain her
with my own hand. Had IL 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 1
thought of Harry, poor, deceived Harry.
All l 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 of To tell him
what a sinful creature had been. AS
i drew near the house | saw Harry
seated under u cool, shady tree, his
dark, curly head bowed sorrowfully in
his hands. As l approached lac raised
his head; / noticed how changed his
handsome, boyish face was.
How i told him | never knew. | re-
member he madly cursed me. / de-
served it. 7 knew II, yet they seensed
To fall all unheeded by me. My brain
seemed TO be n burning mass | longed
TO lie down on the cool, green grass
and die. l started homeward. bnt /