Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-08-21
sBURG, W. va, SATURDAY. AUGUST 81. 1897.

Ward. / have heard so much of
You from Kitty that | don't feel as
if we were strangers at ALL"
The dainty lavender kid lay in
his large, ungloved workingman's
palm, and as John looked down at
it memory went back to the days
when Kitty used to write to him
from her city boarding school, and
her roommate, Hattie Grant, al
ways sent him her love in the post
script. John, busy sowing and
reaping and blowing and harvesting,
didn't care much for Miss Grant or
her love, though he punctilious-
ly sent his regards to that young
person every time be answered Kit
tvs letters.
And now Miss Hattie Grant was
there in person, with her band in his
and her bright, pretty eyes smiling
up at him. And, oh how John was
blushing--honest, bashful John l.
and thinking what a brute he was
never to answer that nice little valen-
tine she sent him last year in sport.
And still the wild and windy even
ing was deepening into night, and
the gentleman in the cloak looked
superciliously on.
"You are very good to remember
me y John stammered, dropping the
lavender glove as il it burned him.
"Will you get into the gig? It's
cold here"
Certainly; but first let me make
you acquainted with Mr.. Duval--
Mr.. Ward, Mr.. Duyal."
Mr.. Duyal lifted bis excessively
becoming hat an inch from his ebon
locks and replaced it again, staring
at John all the while as il he we're a
live kangaroo and John seized the
trunk as if it were q work box and
carried it in his strong arms to the
gig. Mr.. Duvall followed with the
young lady, the lap.dog and the
and-box, and took his seat quite as
a matter Of course beside her, while
John drove through the lonely road
whistling "Speed the Plow,' and
trying to appear very much at ease
and quite unconscious of the ami
mated conversation going on behind
him.
Now and then little Miss Grant
would lean over and ask him ques-
ton, but Johns answers were not
elaborate, and talk all on one side
soon Tags.
John might he country farmer,
but he knew q thing or two for all
that. Yet he could not talk with
that bescented dandy behind listen
ing and critioising and sneering at
every word. So he had been whist
ling "Speed the Plow" for upward
of quarter of an hour, when they
drove through wooden gate, up an
avenue of orange hemlocks, and
stopped before tall, old-fashioned
farmhouse, whose windows were all
ablaze with illumination.
At the sound of the wheels the
hall door was thrown open and a
bright face, framed in golden hair,
dimpled and smiling and rosy, peep
ed out. One glance was sufficient,
and with a shrill little shrek of de-
light, Miss Kitty rushed forward
and was clasped in the arms Of MISS
Hattie. Kiss, kiss, kiss.
1t must have been lacerating to
the feelings of Messrs, Ward and
Duval to hear them, as they stood
watching all the frantic hugging and
disregard of rumpled collars, as
Adam and Eve might have stood af.
ter their Punishment and eyed Para
disc.
"My own dear, darling Hattie |!
Oh, I'm so glad you've come p cried
Miss Kitty in sbrill tones of joy.
COB, Kitty, how nice it is to meet
you again !" cried Miss Hattie with
equal shrillnesg. "And how we'll
you are looking ! just TO think, it
is two whole months since we parted
last"
eyes, doesn't it seem ike an age
But come in; ! expect you are freez-
ing.'
LET me make you acquainted
with Mr.. Duval, dearest" was Miss
Hattie's somewhat inopposite reply;
and Mr.. Duval bowed much more
politely to the sister than he did to
the brother, while Kitty gave him
her plump white hand with frank
carelessness and babe him welcome
to Ashfeld.
Then they all followed into the
lighted hall and from thence into
the great family sitting room, where
a real country fire OF huge hemlock
logs blazed in an immense gulf of a
fireplace, and the red and green car.
pet on the floor, and the crimson
window curtains, and the cushioned
rocking chairs. and the home made
sofa, and the ok-case, and the lit
tie cottage piano in the corner, all
looked delightfully."- coy ard home
like in its ruby glow.
But most delightful sight of all,
table covered with the whitest of
damask stood ia the ceater OF the
/ ranrr loHap with chat feminine