The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-12-26

catches. But don't mean to give up
Joe-not I And I'll be kinder to
him tomorrow"
She heard the tramp of horse, and
looking out saw Joe riding away on
his beautiful bay, on which he always
appeared so well.
"Oh, so he's gone to the Harveys I"
said Kitty, with toss of her head as
she watched him turn into the orchard
road. ''That's to pay me off, sup
pose, and excite my jealousy. Well,
he'll see. As if l cared -
Cousin Jemlma might as we'll have
carried out her threat of not produc-
ing the tea-cakes, for though Kitty
made point of devouring two or
three of them with great show of
relish, they had lost their charm for
her, and more than once she felt as
though they were choking her.
The next morning she made point
of not going down until Joe had fin
ished his breakfast, and she exulted as
over the stair banisters she saw how
he fingered about the porch and hall
way, pretending to be looking for
missing articles, before he finally fol.
lowed his father to the cornfeld. 1t
was busy time. aud they did not
come home to dinner.
Kitty thought it the longest day
she had ever spent, and she hardly
knew what to do with herself
But in the evening she put on a
white lawn dress, with a rose in her
hair, and went down stairs to where
Joe was sitting on the porch steps,
pretending to read paper.
He looked up wistfully, but Kitty
passed him and went ont to the little
front gate, where presently she was
engaged in an animated chat with
young DIR. Bowers, who happened to
be passing.
Joe knew that the doctor admired
Kitty, and while they stood chatting
together, he sat on the steps, scowling
like thunder cloud.
When the doctor had taken leave
and passed on, he strobe down the
walk and stood by her side.
kitty, did hear you promise that
that fellow to go with him to the
picnic next Tuesday?"
"What fellow?" said Kitty, icily.
"You know who mean /" Joe was
pale with jealousy and wrath. "And
you know that there was an under
standing that 1 was to escort you"
81 presume that 1 can go with
whom 1 choose" answered Kitty,
haughtily.
$50 you can, and want you now
to make your choice; but tell you,
once for all, that if you throw me
over for that Bowers, you'll be done
with me forever |"
Kitty was almost frightened at his
vehemence. She drew back little as
she said
"My goodness, Joe, what temper
you havei"
you've driven me to it; you've
made me Desperate" he retorted.
''This thing must come to an end be-
tween us one way or the other, for 1
will bear it no longer"
She looked at him, and her cheeks
flushed scarlet
"What right have you to speak to
me in that tone? / am not your slave
and 1 shall go with DR.. Bowers to the
picnic. "
Joe looked steadily into her eyes
for an instant.
every well, he said, shortly.
And, turning on his heel, walked
off in the direction CT the barn.
"Joe," called his mother from the
kitchen window, "come in, Joe Sup
per's ready. Come, Kitty, child, be.
fore the rolls get cold"
'I don't want any supper, mother.
and mother"-Joe paused moment,
and his voice seemed to lower and
falter--"don't expect me home to-
night. I'm going over to Uncle
Thomas's.
And he walked on very fast, as if
not wishing to be questioned.
AS Kitty entered the cool dining
room, where the family took their
meals, Miss Jemima was standing at
the window with her arms akimbo,
gazing after Joe.
"That boy" she said solemnly-
'that boy amt himself. l shouldn't
be surprised if he's driven to do
something desp'rate. "
And she looked resentfully at Kitty.
''You don't eat anything, Kitty"
kindly said Uncle Jerry. "Maybe
you think the weather's too warm for
hot rolls and cakes? Well, take some
iced milk and berries and Why,
bless me, what's the matter with the
childP"
"Please, cle-aunt-excuse me" ="
she said, and hastily left the room.
She did not go up stairs, but out of
doors, where she could relieve her
heart by sobbing unseen and unheard.
Passing through the garden and the
orchard, she followed the little foot
path which led to a pretty strip of
woodland, where in cool ravine, ran
a narrow but rather deep stream be-
tween messy banks.
This was favorite haunt of hers.
There had been little rustic bridge
leading to the hillside beyond, but
this had been lately washed away after
heavy rain.
She could see as she approached the
spot one of the posts still standing ;
and-wasn't that Joe leaning against it
like statue, his arms folded and his eyes
bent upon the deep little pool which
the rocks had Just here bent in?