Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-01-03
And she looked resentfully at Kitty

~ N&O-- o
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 child?
please, uncle-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 8Obbing unseen and unheard.
Passing through the garden and the
orchard, she folloYed the little foot
path which led to a pretty strip of
woodland, where, in a cool ravine, ran
narrow but rather deep stream be-
tween mossy banks.
This was a favorite haunt of hers.
There had been a 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 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 himself?
She stood still and breathless, watch
ing him. Presently he started as If
from a reverie, and with lips COM
pressed into look of firm resolve,
picked up coil of rope which lay at
his feet.
Then he walked round and round a
tall and straight tulip tree growing
close to the edge of the stream, look
ing up into its thick foliage, as if for
q convenient branch to which to at
tach it.
Kittv's heart froze with horror. For
a 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 a wild
shrek, and threw her arms about him.
ooh, Joe-dear Joe-don't do such
a dreadful thing Don't hang your
self, Joe-for my sake, don't Oh,
forgive me-forgive me, dear Joe, and
I'll never, never tease or grieye you
again.
A strange expression came over Joe S
face. He looked down into the white
face of the sobbing girl, and his stern
ewes softened. But then he said,
gloomily:
"How can | believe you, Kitty ?
You have as good as told me that you
did not love me. And without you |
don't care to live"
Don't talk so dreadfully, Joe I
l do love you"
Answer me truly, Kitty Do you
really love me?"
"Yes," sobbed the girl. Indeed l
do, Joe Please. please throw away
that dreadful rope''
"Not yet, Kitty. Do you love me
above everybody else in the world f?
"Yes-oh, yes
And will you marry me, Kitty
Eyes, I will, Joe-indeed l will !!
When"
ANY time-tomorrow-now, said
Kitty, in desperation-"if you will
only throw away that dreadful thing
and come home with me-
There, then y
And Joe flung the coil of rope into
a thicket of laurel on the other side o.
the stream, and drawing Kitty to him,
kissed her solemnly.
Remember, you have promised tc
be my wife, Kitty"
Yes" she answered, meekly.
And so, handin hand. they returned
through the orchard and the garden
to the house.
"Of all the onaccountable critter
on the face Of the yearth, said Mis-
Jemima, surveying them from the pan
try window, recommend me TO a youn(
courtin' couple I don't believe the.
know their own minds FIVE minutes q
q time, anyways"
Uncle Jerry was sitting on the tol
step of the porch.
"Well, Joe" said he, cheerfully
"hev you fixed that gum-tree with tn
rope all ready to pull it down IN tn
right direction p
No, sir" answered Joe, quietly
"Ill attend to it tomorrow.
"Well, don't forget it, for the soon
er that bridge is finished the better,
we want to get the hay over in goo
time"
Kitty stopped and looked straigt
mn into Joe's face.