The Republican., 1892-02-05
HUGH AND KITTY.
An Idyl of the Hill Country of
Tennessee.

men of young mountain manhood. Tall
and muscular, with 1.-THE and sinewy
form, whose graceful proportions even
the half coat, half sack, called "a
hunting shirt" could not disguise; a
frank and pleasant expression, and a
voice that, in spite of rather nasal
tone when its owner was excited, was
full and musical-Hugh was worthy of
feminine admiration. He was singu-
larly 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-
cepted. The owner, subject 20 his
mothers life right, Of a thousand acres
of mountain land, of which one-third
was rich bottom" OF level land, with
horses in stall. cattle in meadow and
steers on 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 and sister, who
worshiped him, and he was content
Kitty McKissen was not his sister.
however, nor was she his kinswoman,
Eighteen years before, John Markham
came there from the east, and bought
little bottom patch" of sixty acres.
and settled on it with his wife. lie
built log cabin. set to work awkward
ly to cultivate few girdled acres, and
tried to accommodate himself to an
unusual position. Folks around, natur-
ally 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: "It's stuck roun' with
thing-a-majigs till it's plom sight!'
Markham worked hard, and so did
his wife, and, soon after their coming,
Kitty was born. She was christened
Catharine Burnett Three months
after her birth her mother died,
and Mrs. McKissen, who had just lost
n child of nearly the same age, offered
to nurse Kitty-an offer thankfully
accepted. But John Markham
caught cold by exposure. it set
tied upon his lungs, and in less
than year he died, leaving
his little possessions to his child.
Kitty thrived and soon became
known as McKissen, the circuit
riders baptismal certificate to the con-
trary notwithstanding. She and Hugh,
who was nine year-old boy when she
came, had been brought up together.
When she was half grown Peter Me.
Kissen was killed by the fall of gir-
died tree, and Kitty became the main
stay of the house, for old Mrs McKis-
sen, who was ten years senior to her
husband, had been half paralytic for
years, and passed her time hobbling
beween her bed. the kitchen table and
the fireside, where she comforted her.
self with her cob pipe, frequently re-
filled. AS foster mother, she was the
only one Kitty had known, and the
love between the two was strong.
Frank and good natured, as we'll as
athletic, Hugh was a popular young
man-his fellows accepting his lead
and young women receiving his atten-
tions 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 refinement of her mother; and
who, having read her fathers books
over and over again, was credited with
a vast amount of learning. That kind
of knowledge did not interfere with
her housewifely qualities, for she was
known to be the best cook and baker
as we'll as the best butter maker and
neatest housekeeper in the county.
Hugh measured all other girls by her
Psocrustean standard Besides, Hugh
was not matrimonially inclined. His
home was too comfortable, and he was
in no hurry to bring a strange woman
there.
But Mrs. McKissen thought it high
time for her son to marry, and spoke
to him about it.
Whats the need. mother?" he re-
sponded. I'm comfortable. and so
are you. Why should bring strange
girl here-one that amt used to us and
our ways, upsetting things?"
You needn't do that, neither" said
his mother.
But Hugh was too obtuse to take the
hint and went out to salt the cattle.
But he communed with himself as he
went
II might spark Lucy Campbell" he
thought "She's been cast to school.
and she's a sort of high flyer, but she's
pretty. Old Jim Campbell's we'll off,
and he has only young Jim and Lucy.
dunno. III speak to Kitty about it.
And there she is at the cows, now"
Kitty was there with her milk pals,
and Hugh broached the subject at
once. She looked up, blushed little
and then looked down and listened.
Lucy Campbell!' she cried. 80,
boss! Why don't the cre'tur' keep
still? Lucy Campbelrs 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 a housekeeper Give down,
boss"
well, there's Nancy StallinS Nam
cy's people are not so we'll off as Lucy
Campbell's; but they do say that Nancy
is the most industrious girl in the
neighb'r'd."
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