Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-06-16
MISS KITTY'S HAND.

MISS kITTl'S HAND.
had stated my intention of going
10 see Miss Kitty clearly enough, but
in doing SO had no very fixed idea
HS To what | should do when | did see
her. and in fact, was entirely non
pluSrd by the whole situation.
| determined to retire to my ham
mock and think over matters in gen
cral. A; | lay there, swinging lightly
over the water, and with the distant
sound of the weir lulling my daZcd
senses pleasantly, it is not to be Won
dercd at that | fell into dreamy re-
vcric.
Old half-forgotten rccollections
cam" thronging upon me of little
tiaNcn haired Kitty, whom | used tn
torment and laughing.y ask to be my
little wife. nearly dozen years ago,
when she w:S Il little chit of ten: of
her father my old friend John Dob
son. who used to say in his sober bust
ness way, "And so she shall be. Mil
dcnhall, if l can help you, and you
care to have her when she is grown
up" of that quantity touching clause
i'll poor DobSon'S will by which he had
dome all that lay in his power to help
me.
And |. cngrosscd in turning over
money in the city, had clean forgot
ten all about her.
| WAS aroused by the sound of voices
and looked around. There. in the very
identical place where Mr. Bob Tynck-
rr had done his extremely futile fish
ing in the morning, he and Kitty were
sitting and talking
And 50 the old fcliow-and queer
old fellow he is. too" Mr. Bob was
saying. will be round at the house
TINS very afternoon to see about claim
ing your hand"
"oh. Bob. said Kitty. trembling.
81 say, Kitty" said Bob miSchicv-
ollSly. suppose he really wants to
stick to his old idea of making You
his little wife. ch? What shall you do
them"
''Oh. Bob. don't.' said poor Kitty.
'1lr has been such bugbcar to mo
lately that-that. t."-l"that there is Il
danger of Il young lady shedding tears
at the very mention of his name" |
thought to myself grimly, for Kitty
dld not seem to be able to complete
the sentence hprSrlf.l
"Ncvrr mind. Kitty" said poor
Bob. hugging her tcndcrly. Il am Il
brute to have suggested such an idea.
II he doesn't refuse to have YOU why
YOU Will just have to refuse him, YOU
konw and that will bring the who.c
matter T." the usual way of doing
things, from young lady point of
view. YOU Scc'
=" it WILL said Kitty. Frightening
up once more; but Bob. then the So
"O VIII have to go to the Methodist
chapel. and that is just the very thing
tll;it has been making uncle so terribly
savage
Let him be" said Bob stoutly. "It
won hurt us after to-day; you will be
lr'e lhcn, you see. and marry whoever
YOU like. And we have plenty to set up
housekeeping on between us, without
tnr bcaStIy moncy-lct him be angry
if he likes"
And SO he is. sir" shouted Mr.. Dob
son suddenly, poking his head over the
top of the bank. so he is, 1t would
max" II saint savage to be set at ,lr-
nance i'll this way. begin to
think"
stop" | called out. rising hastily
in my hammock.
Splash. Somebody has fallen into the
water.
Me. by Jove and so | began Strik
ing out Justify on all sides. with hands.
fr"t, hngcrS. rlbowS-I cannot exactly
call myself Il swimmcr-Hnd prttin"
my boots above water more frruueutly
than my head. | am afraid, till | was
suddenly graSpcd by the collar firmly.
keep cool" said my young friend.
Bob Tyncker authoratively-for he it
WhS-nlmbly swimming on his back
with two legs and one arm. and draw
ing me after him with the other.
keep cool: I've got you all right"
cool it iS.' | thought to myself. nv
spirits rcviving as | felt myself towrd
;ilong-rlght across the river, For
Bob. 1t seems, like il rctriever-he GER
tainly swan as well as Onc-would not
cond"Sccnd to lay me anywhere but
ut the feet of his mistress.
There at last. hurra--"
An overwhelming rush of water across
my face cut short my self-conyratula-
tion: | was fairly under, In fact.
And the remarkably unpleasant
thought flashed upon me that was
driving down under the dipping bush.
but Il Sp1Smodic jerk from Tyncker
brought me To the top once more, and
rs | gaspcd for breath l heard his
voice:
shift for yoursclf-catch hold of the
buSh--lm going"'
| caught the branches as high up as
possible and got IL glance behind me.
Tynckcr was not only going-hc was
gone. diving down under the bush.
having sacrificed himself to keep me
from II like fate
saw his face disappearing beneath
the water; ! heard the dcSpairing crv
of Kitty from the bank. and letting 90
my own hold with one hand | thrust
down and caught the poor fellows col
lar and turned Il remarkably wild eve
to the onookrrS.
The old gentleman was helplcssly
shouting and running to and fro. but |
saw his niece rapidly unknotting from
her waist that heavy scarf of gold
which >h" had worn all day. Then.
like II flash of fire in the sunlight. one
end lcaped out at me. Well thrown,
The embroidered fringe fell across tho
branches and over my wrist. Quick
uS thought | had omitted my usrleSs