Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-03-23
How Kitty Said Yes.
BY SUSAN ARCHER WEISS.

hitcHtH WihQOH, huIItiuS, WHilc
niece Jemima made the tea.cakes.
Her white cambria apron was
smoothly tied over her neat dress,
a light calico. sprlnkled with rose
buds and forget-me-nots, which had
taken Uncle Jerry's fancy on his
last visit to town, and which be
could not be convinced was too
young and gay for his wife.
She was pleasant and comely 10
behold, with her smooth bands OF
silyery hair displayed, as the
breeze blew back her cap border, and
the expression of goodness and kind
illness upon her still rosy face
She hummed cheerfully to herself.
as she knitted, something about ia
rest beyond the Skies" while Jemi-
ma, mixing and rolling dough, occa-
sionally took up the refrain.
Presently there came strolling
across the grassy lawn in front Of
the house two pcrsons-one a hand
some, manly-lookit G young man.and
the other pretty girl, with laugh
ing face and mischievous dark eyes.
They sat down on the green bench
on the porch, shaded by the trellis
of multi1ora rose and white jasmine
and Aunt Betsey, in pause oil her
song, heard them talking together.
4" Dear me-" said she to Jemima
"why there's Joe counting Kitty
again y
Well answered Miss Jemima
SITS more'n l would do. How often
he's got to ask that gal befo she
consents to marry him, I'd jes. like
to know"
Unconscious of these comments
Joe was pleading his cause with the
pretty girl Of the bright ,mischievous
eyes.
Kitty, don't like to hear you
talk Of going home. Couldn't you
be content to stay here and make
your home with us always ~
WE'LL" answered Kitty, slowly
as if deeply considering the question
81 like the country, and if"
"If what 2" said Joe, eagerly.
" If I had a handsome country
house and fine carriage
Kitty, will you be in earnest fol-
once +? You know that I can't af.
ford fine house and carriage. But
I love you, Kitty, and will do VERY
thing for your happiness that it is in
my power to do. Don't you believe
me 2"
" Well, don t accu:e you of tell
ing untruths. Joe. But what is the
use OF always talking about suct
things ? We're so young. | an
only eighteen and you twenty-three
Surely there is plenty of time for US
to wait"
GIVE waited over whole year,
said Joe, eloomlly.
Dear me! is it so long? Bu'
after all what is year TO US wher
we have all our lives before US
Why, we may both of US live to be :
hundred years old, like that couple
we were reading OF in the papers
last night, and then we may regret
that we didn't crjoy our youth long
er, instead of getting married 81
young. Besides, | believe in wait
ing. 1t is test of constancy."
My constaLcy needs no test!
said Joe, with firmness.
"But perhaps mine does. How
do | know but that | could like sons
one else better than you ~
She looked at Joe, with her laugh
Jog eyes, just visible above the bunci
of wild roses, which she was holding
to her pretty retrousse nose.
Joe regarded her sternly in reply
and viciously chucked away an limo
cent lady-bug that was crawling OIL
the mu t;fors.
How can you be so cruel, Jos
eph ?" said Kitty, solemnly. "Tha
poor insect never harmed YOU"
:" Look here, Kitty. I've hat
enough of this / don't want to b.
made fool of any longer. Yol
will force me to do something des
perate.'
" Well, l can't help you doing des
perate things if you chose to d.
them. You're old enough to know
how to conduct yourself properly
And now l smell Cousin Jemima
tea-cakes baking-I'm SO glad VI
shall have my fayorite tea-cakes fo
supper I'LL just go and put m,
flowers in water before we are callet
i'm
And she arose and trlpped lightly
away, humming a gay song.
/ "That gall said Miss Jemima
who had caught fragments of th
| foregoing discourse" that cir
would worry the life of Job himself
I've the greatest mind to put ava,
the tea.cakes for to.morrow's suppe
and not let her have taste of then
fo-day.u