The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-02
A PUNISHMENT.

to ilirsationB aud illrtoo,, BIZ. this was
littlo too bad.
Dave Hilton was n general favoritc, a
fine, manly, deserving fellow; and tho
only weak thing no over had done was
his falling IN love with Kitty.
She was u handsome girl, with n fair,
sweet face, bearing no trace OF craft or.
evil In 1t; but. heartless and utterly In.
capable Of loving anyone but herself,
or OF appreclating tho unsollsh dovo-
ton that was oilerod her, sho led Dave
on through whole summer, suffered
all his attention, wont out only with
him. might oven have married him, II
George Marya:t had not presented him.
solt Mt that time as uuitor.
As his expectations weso creator,
Kitty throw over Dave without scruple
cven assumed look Of astonishmout
when he reierred..to tho encouragement
that she had given him; was very gontlo,
very sweet. very cold, aud utterly in.
e1orable.
l never saw q man so thoroughly
beaten down as Dave looked the morn.
ing he loft us. He had lost, not only
her, but his faith for timo in women.
Our indignation was intense; for we
were all personal friends Of Dave, aud
kitty's cold serenity and utter absence
OF even tinge OF renorse was infinitely
provoking. She was 80 wise, however,
so'quiet, so patient and had such child.
ish ways, and, above all, was 10 marvel.
ously pretty. that that the men could
not do loss than BIO civil to her; and, as
she cared nothing whatever about the
girls, they found their indignation
thrown away, and comforted themselves
she had not entrapped George Maryatt,
who had gone away without proposing.
Kitty. however, took her defeat philo-
sophically, and, Just at this iuncture,
down came Paul Daniorth. His arrival
was a surprise to ali, and mystery to
me, for early in the summer he had
sketched his plans tor tho season, aud
"The Pines had by no means entered
into his calculations. He was an init.
mate friend OF Dawes, and it was to him
Dave had como on leaving us; and duly
weighing all these considerations, l
could not but wonder what evil angel
had sent him among us.
From tho first Kitty was not little
struck by his appearance. though he
was not II man to DO highly esteemed.
Curiously enough, it was the first meet
ing Il mean Kitty and PAUL.. and, as he
was warm admirer OF female beauty, l
looked for the immediate initiation Of u
Ntrto n
however. His Indifference wounded the
only love OF which she was capable
seli.love-and reused her from her
usual quiet security TO active exertions.
She positively sought out Paul, IN
trigucd to attract his notice and admira.
ton, and in vain. The innocent un.
consciousness OF this man OF the world
stood in good stead, and all OF Ki,ty's
arrows fell harmless to the ground.
So passed the first three weeks. OF
what follows l shall tell tho talo rs 1t
was told to me aiterward. not as l saw
i. at the time.
Kitty-let US hope. accidentally-had
sprained her ankle. jus. seriously enough
10 prevent her walking out, and to give
her an excuse for becoming morning
caps and the display OF handsome foot
and slipper. and Paul could not bu.
think as no looked at her, that II white
and rose tints, heavenly blue eyes, su-
perb golden hair, rosy little fingers,
rounded chin. little arched foot, aud
all the fooIery of Iaco and bows and
dainty handkerchief could excuse folly,
then was Dave Hilton fully justified in
loving Kitty Dclamare.
Suddenly ho spoko:
"When have you heard from Dave
Hilton, Miss Delamare?"
Il have not heard from him Mt ALL"
she said, timidly. "He 10 much too
angry with me to write to me, and you."
she added, half raising her eyes. but
dropping them instantly before Paul's
burning. inscrutablo looks, you arc
angry. TOO
"I7 What q mistake. I should not
presume to be. What have We in com.
mon?"
Nothing" sho answered. wincing
under his tones, "but l could wish that
NO could hold good opinion Of each
other, as common property. Mr.. Dan
forth, won't you come hero momont2
| have something to say to you."
81 always liked Dave" won't on Kitty
plaintivey. ~ was really fond OF him,
as brother. i told him so. and thought
that he understood. He rayed, per-
sisted, would not BIO refused. l piticd
him; but what could l do? must DO
firm. If had shown him half tho grief
felt no would have never lett me. 1t
would simply have prolonged his misery
and mine. Could have dono other
wiser"
your Certainly not" returned Paul,
with somewhat remarkable accent on
tho pronoun.
~ confess" wont on Kitty, that !
think now havo boon to blanc in not
checking him quickly enough, in not
speaking moro decidedly; but never
dreamed that his intentions were moro
than brothorly, and was 80 fond OF
him."
Hero Hhe honved littlo sigh; and
then came q sicnce, broken Mt last by
little sobs and curious, suppressed
sounds from kitty's corner.
Paul put out his hand and touched
faco wot with genuine toars.
You aro crying. What is tho mat
torI no asked, moro gently than no
had yot spoken.
Nothing"
do ladies cry like that for nothing?'
well, then, | am 30 lonely. Thoy
are all agalnat mo; and you, whom l
thought would be generous and believe
mo. are against mo, too"
"!lowdo you know am againH! your"
Your Hlloncc just now spoke moro
plainly than words"
"Perhaps you nro not tho wisest OF
interpreters. nm not conscious OF hay