The Opelousas courier., 1892-04-02

stnSuiarty ignorant OF MS attractions,
and, though bold in peril, fearing
neither man, bear nor c%atalnount in
single fight, was tlmid in the presence
of women, his mother and his sister ex-
cepted. The owner, subject to his
mothers life.right, of a thousand acres
of mountain land, of which one-third
was rich abottom,n or level land, with
horses in stall, cattle in meadow and
steers OF the hill-range, he was at seven.
and-twenty a bachelor, while his fellows
were heads Of families by the time they
had come to manhood. He loved his
mother aud sister, who worshiped him,
and he was content.
Kitty MKissen was not his sister, how
ever, o was she his kinswoman. Eigh-
teen years before, John Markham came
there from the East, and bought a little
s'bottom. patch" Of sixty acres, and set
tied on it with his wife. He built a log
cabin, set to work awkWardly to culti-
vate a 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 a
hundred in number, which the neighbors
deemed to be a great library. His house
was neat, owing to his young wife's taste.
The ~neighbors said: ats stuck roun'
with thing-a-majigs till it's a plom
sightr"
Markham worked hard, aud so did his
wife, end, seon after their coming Kitty
was born. She was christened Cath
arinc Burnett. Three months after her
birth her mother died, and Mrs.
MKissen, who had just lost a child Of
nearly the same age, offered to nurse
Kitty-an offer thankfully accepted.
But John Markham caught cold By ex-
posure, it settled upon has lungs, aud in
less than a year he died, leavinghis little
possessions to his child. Kitty thriyeI
and soon became known as a M'Kissen.
the circuit-rider's baptismal certificate to
the contrary notwithstanding. She and
Hugh, who was d n~ine.year-oId boy when
she came, had been brought up together.
When she vas half-grovn, Peter
M,Kissei was killed by the fall of d
girdled tree, and Kitty beeame the MAIN
stay of the house. fer old Mrs. M'Kissen,
who was ten years senior to her nus
band, hal been half paraIytic for years,
and passed her time III hobbling between
her bed, the kitchen-table and the fire.
side.
Frank and goodsnatured, as well as
athletic, Hugh was a popular young ma
his fellows accepting his lead and
young won en- receiving his attentions
,~ourteously. But be never threw the
handkerchief at any particular fair one,
all with a shy Difference. They
lid not come up to the standing OF
Kitty, who had inherited some of the re-
inement of her mother; and who, hav-
ny read her fathers books oYer and over |
igaln, was credited with a vast amount |
II learning. That kind of knowledge
lid not interfere with her houseYifely
qualities, for she was known to be the |
cook and baker as well as the best
,uttefmaker and neatest. l~ousekeeper
n the county. Huge measured all other
sirls by her Procrusfean standard. Be-
Hugh was not matrimonially in
lined. His home was too comfortable,
nd he was in no hurry to bring a
TRANCE woman there.
But Mrs. MKissen thought it high
for her son % marry. and spoke to
i'm about it.
Whats the need, mother?n he re-
tim comfortable, and Is are
Why should I bring d strange girl
cfe-one that amt used to Us and our
avs, upsetting things2n
You needn't do that neither, g said
IS mother.
But Hugh was too obtuse to take the
mt and went out to salt the cattle. But
! cofnsnuned with himself as he went.
~ might spark Lucy Campbell he
aShe's been East to school,
q she's q sort Of higa-Hyer, but she's
city. Old Jim CampbelIs well of,
q he has only young Jim and Lucy.
dunno. I'LL speak 10 Kitty about ii.
nd there she is AT the cows. now.
Kitty was there withher milk paris. and
ugh broachcd the subject at once. She
oaed up, bIushed i little and then
oked down, and listened.
Lucy CampbelIln she cried. $50,
'sss Why don't the cretur' keen
n4 Llcy CanpbelI's i nice girl; i
tle sharpstempered, but you're not;
9 she never turns d hand TO anything
'und the house but yous 10 not look
for housekeeper. Give down,
,ssl
siNell, there Nancy staIlins. Nancyss
pEle are not 40 well pH Us Lucy Camp
us but they do say that Nancy Ii tie
st industrious girl IN the neghifrsd.v /
said Kitty, es, she's i
tker She never cleans up her dirt. !,
ugh and she-sae cheYs snuff. You
lIke tobacco Id that may, do yoa, !
gh !.
sM-mnhl calculated Hugh. uWeIl. /
lunno what 20 do. Mother, she s at ,
70 marry and I declare. except the !
/ cant think of i girl IA IKE Co /
unless well, there ain oae.a
You stupid said Kitty pettishIy. ]
sEh ]
This Boss Il the most stupid COW i
rsaW. Now. BnIlfaeeI' {