Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-01-25

Joi Supper's ready. Come; hltty
child before the rolls get cold"
81 don't want any supper,
mother, and mother"-JOe paused
moment, aud his voice seemed
to lower and "don't expect
me home tonight. Pm going over
to Uncle Thomas's."
Aud walked on very fast, as it
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 akimbo,
gazing after Joe.
"That boy" she SAID solemnly-
"that boz amt himself. l shouldn't
be surprised if he's driven to do
something desp'rate."
And she looked resenlfnll at
Kitty.
"You don't eat anything, Kit
tyn kindly said Uncle jerry.
"Maybe you think the weather's
too warm for hot rolls and cakesi
We'll, take someiced milk and ber-
rles aud-why, bless me, what's
the matter with the child?
"Please, uncle-aunt-excuse e
me-" she said, and hastily left the
room.
She old not 90 mp stairs, but out
of doors, where she could relieve
her heart by sObbiDg unseen aud
unheard.
Passing though the garden and
the orchard, she followed the little
footpath which led to pretty strip
of woodland, where, IN a cool ra-
vine, ran a narrow but rather deep
stream between messy banks.
This was a favOrIte haunt OF
hers. There had he n a little rus
tic bridge leading to the hillside
beyond, but this had been lately
washed away after a 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 a statue,
his arms folded and his eyes bent
upon the deep little pool which the
rocks had Just here bent IN?
A sudden fear seized Kitty.
Surely surely Joe could not be
thinking of drowning himself3
She stood still and breathless,
watching him. Presently he
started as if from a reverie, and
with lips compressed into look
of firm resolve, picked mp coil OF
rope which lay at his feet.
Then he walked round and
round a tall aud straight tulip
tree growing close to the edge Of
the stream, looking up into its
thick foliage, as If for cOnYenient
branch to which to attach 1t.
KItry's heart froze with horror.
For moment she felt paralyzed;
but as she saw Joe carefully make
a moose on one end of the rope
and prepare to climb the tree, the
spell was broken.
She rushed forward with wild
shrek, and threw her arms about
him.
"Oh, Joe dear Joe -dOn't
10 such dreadful thing. DJn't
hang Yourself. JOe-fOr my sake,
don't Oh, forgive me-fOrglve me,
dear Joe. and III never never
ease or grleye YOU again."
A strange expression came
over J0e's face. He lOOhed down
into the white face of the sObbing
girl, aud his stern eyes softened.
But then he SAID gloomily:
elbow can 1 believe you Kitty
You have as good as told me that
you did not love me. And without
you l don't care to live"
"Dnn't talk so dresdtully, Joe
IL 10 love ouw
"Answer me truly, Kitty Do yOu
really love me'"
eyes," sobbed the girl. "ludeec
[ do Joe! Please, please throw
away that dreadful rope"
Not yet, KITTY. Do yOn love
me above everybody else ia the
worldW
Wes-oh. yes"
"And will you marry me, klttyl
"Yrs, l will, Joe-iudeed l will
"Wnenl"
"Auy time-tomOrrOw-now.'
said Kitty, in desperatIon-"l
you will only throw away tina
dreadful thing and come hOme will
me-"
"Tnere, tben~
And Joe flung the coil of rop
, into a thicket OF laurel on the otbe
side OF the stream, and DRAWN