Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-09-15
A HEROINE.

"Now, Kitty, be sure the pudding
goes over to boil at o'clock. and
keep an eye to the roast meat, for the
Deacon don't like it burned
Yes, ma'am, I'll be sure and re-
member" said Kitty Clifford, curtesy-
ing prettily.
And Kate" said Deacon Osprey,
don't let stragglers in. wha tever you
do. for there's that $500 in gold in
the back bedroom chest, and all the
silver spoons"
Il will be very careful, SIR said
Kitty.
kitty! Kitty! Come here and tie
my cravat,' said Silas Osprey. who
was fidgetting before the mirror
SO Kitty stood up on a footstool,
bluShing and smiling, to tie Mr.. Silas'
cravat for meeting
Il wish you were going with us,
Kitty" said the young man. with his
chin elevated stitf1y in the air. Next
Sunday I'll take you"
"Oh, that will be nice" said Kitty.
growing pinker and pinker. as her
slender fingers pulled out the bow and
adjusted the ends. Twill that do. Mr..
Silas?'
And Mrs. Osprey, who had followed
her husband out to the solid-looking
old lumber wagon, gave a meaning,
backward glance.
Il think Silas is getting fond of our
Kitty. said the mother sagely.
''ls he?' said the Deacon. with Il
disturbed face But, wife. how little
we know about her, except since the
day she came here with her little bun
die under her arm, asking for ser
vice"
Yes. that's very true" said Mrs.
Osprey. but she's pretty and smart,
and know she is good, and
''Slas! Silas! Are you going to
stand there all day. called out the
father. and so they drove away. with
Kitty standing at the lonely farm
rouse door. her slken brown curls
blown about in the dismal November
wind and her blue eyes sparkling be-
meath their prettily-arched brows.
She went back into the house. sing
ing softly under her breath. to prepare
things for the tea-dinner which the
hungry church-gocrs would expect
when they returned-a brisk. neat
handed little Phyllis. whose step was
scarce heavier on the pine floor than
Il falling leaf would have been!
She had put the pudding on to boil
us the kitchen clock chimed 4. and
ran down into the cellar to get the
vegetables from their bins. She was
but minute or two. but when she
returned. the door leading upstairs,
which she had left closed. stood wide
open. and on the lower stair muddy
footprint was distinctly imprinted.
kitty's heart stood still with undc-
fined terror. as she remembered the
bag of $50 gold pieces in the big back
chamber chest.
And while she stood there. holding
by the table for support, she could
hear confused footsteps upstairs, and
the murmur of deep voices.
Then there was more than one.
kitty's first instinct-that of defend
ing her masters treasures to the last.
even were it with her life-gavc way
to more practical considerations She
thought of flying out into the road and
crying aloud for help, but then she
remembered. with pang of despair,
how lonely was the desolate hillside,
with the nearest dwelling full a mile
distant.
What can l do? Oh, what can
dp:" thought Kitty, clasping both her
hands over her throbbing forehead
But while her thoughts run in Il
whirl and her heart beat tempestuous-
ly. the footsteps neared the stairway
the unwelcome guests We're once
more coming down. Instinctively
Kitty shrank behind the ragged brick
projections of the old chimney
The stout-built, short men. dressed
in coarse gray, slouched down into
the kitchen. with the easy confidence
of those who imagine themselves en-
tirely without witnesses. Kitty had
never seen them before, yet they seem
ed quite posted as to the various
rooms in the struggling farm house.
Come on. Jim, we've got all were
likely to get In this confounded old
Shanty." said one balancing his foot
on one of the iron fire-dogs, "and be-
SIDES the folks will be home present.
ly"
SANDY Bill afraidw jeeringly called
out the other, who was opening and
shutting the various cupboards and
drawers about the apartment, greed
lily cycling their contents.
Halo! here's some silver spoons"
'Stow 'em away and let's be NOV
ing" said Bill. "Confound this bag!
it jingles like string O. sleigh bells!'
well, come then," said the other.
discontentedly. 81 opine 500 amt Il
bad days work, but somehow, |
thought from the looks of the crib,
IL - might be old silver or some such
g.. ,ings."
And they lounged out, side by side,
with a cool deliberation that was al
most appalling to the trembling girl
who lurked in the shadow of the
jagged brick-work.
But Kitty Clifford'S mind had been