Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-06-24


the magnolia and to throw huge black .
shadow, that Of the grove of live oaks,
over the verauda of an old, white
painted southern homestead bowered in
vines and shrubbery a t the end of the /
broad shell pathway leading from the
gate. Somewhere among the foliage /
mocking bird was carcling to the rising |
neon, and the music of soft, girlish |
voices and subdued laughter came drift !
ing out on the evening air. Lambert's !
heart gave q quickened throb or two /
as he recognized Kate Walton's un- |
mistakable tones. He had to traverse |
the length Of the moonlit walk. She, |
with her unseen friend, was in shadow, |
so there was no possibility of trying the |
effect of surprise.
"yTcll. whayuh'n tho wide wuhld q |
..--. ..-,-.-- f--:.. o. was A"r 3OEcaalant |
greeting. "Ah supposed you were
dayd'n buried" (There is no such thing
as spelling that word as pronounced by
the rosiest, sauciest, and possibly sweet
est little mouth in creation. He could
not take his eyes from it, and she knew
it.)-."Miss Awgden, this is Mr.. Lambert.
All think you've heard sister Esthuh
speak of him.-Ah suppose you want 10
go right in to see huh. Ah'll call huh
down."
So Lambert made his bow to Miss
Ogden, who had her own womanly in
buttons MS to the extent of his eager
ness to see sister Esther, and who pres
entity declared she had to go home, and
went without much delay over the
leave-taking. in spite of Katesie's vol
uble remonstrance and well-feigned dis
appointment. Miss Walton, in fact,
hung on to her all the way to the gate
and made every proper and apparent
effort to detain her there; but wise
head had Miss Bette Ogden: she would
not delay. She had heard sister Esther
talk of Mr.. Lambert time and again,
and had read in Katesie's significant
silence or simulated scorn a whole vol
ume of information. She went tripping
lightly, laughingly away, and Katesie
watched her until she was out OF sight
then came dawdling slowly back. She
well knew it would be unlike Esther to
come down inside of 20 minutes.
Lambert was seated in the big
wicker chair, amusing himself with
kitten. He did not even look up when
she finally returned.
Hasn't Esthuh come down yet? All
told huh you wuh hyuh, ten minutes
ago."
"No. Possibly she didn't understand.
I didn't hear her answer. Indeed, l
could hardly hear you call"
"That's because you were listening
to Bette Awgden." pause for reply
or denial: none offcred.) "She doesn't
like Yankees any better'n dido"
Then it was on my account she left
so suddenly. Where does she live? I'll
run and call her back and tell her
what shall tell her?-that l only
wanted to say good-by toMrs. Scroggs"
"Yau haven't said how-de-do yet"
81 haven't? How utterly stupid Of
me! You see between Miss Ogden and
the cat, you were SO engrossed that L
| deferred that ceremony until you
should have time to devote to me.
Permit me-" And carefully depositing
pussy on the chair, he quickly bent low
and seized Miss Katesie's hand,which he
raised toward his lips: Miss Walton,
/ am So kldt " SIC OH OK A4Al' AA-E' A''@'
| night has seemed Il year.
Indignantly she snatched her hand
| away.
"Fawtnightl It's five weeks to-day
| since you were hyuh." Then, sudden
ly conscious: Not that 1 cay-uh."
He started up in feigned astonish-
/ ment Five weeks? You amaze me!
and how sweet of you TO keep count
(Something more than mere teasing
and merriment now in The sparkle of
his ewes and the twitching about the
corners of his handsome, sensitive
mouth) Those five weeks have been
five years.
But she had sprung to the doorway,
wrathful at being SO artfuily trapped.
"Ah didn't keep count. 1t was Moh;
m All don't cay how long you stay
away, or how soon you go. Esthuh!
amt you ayvuh coming down? Mr..
Lambert says he's got to 60"
"You haven't told me how Mrs. Wall
ton is, and Mr.. Scroggs, Miss Katesie.
And how's Cousin Bart?'
Cousin Bart's up at Quitman; SOS
Walton; and Moh's bout the same.
She'll nayvuh be any better so longs
Floyd's whuh he is--weah-ing Yam
l1ee jacket"
"That is queer, isn't it? The queer
est thing about it is that he's just been
made corporal in the very troop he
charged into at Selma. A classmate OF
mine is second lieutenant in the same
troop, and wrote me about IT,
Floyd ought to be the lieutenant
Miss Walton, you continually sur
prise, and now you delight me! This
Is really promising! A southern girl
says her brother ought to be Yankee
officer"
But she flew at him from the door
step, her eyes flashing fire. He seized
the kitten and held the struggling
quadruped, paws foremost, between
him and the impending vengeance.
"Oh All do despise an hate you
nav an nav ey'y time you come
You're mean, spitefui, hateful! fon
know All nevuh meant any such thing.
Ah'd soon him If he was! Ah'd tuhb
nah back on him-as All do on you
now an All wish it was foevuh!"
And, suiting action to word, the tum-
bling, clustering ringlets which fell
upon her pretty shoulders were fouted
almost in his face as she whirled about
and marched tragically back to the
doorway.
WELL" said Lambert, mourntully'
'it's an ill-wind that blows nobody
good. Your wish bids fair to be grant
ed. 1 think won't disturb Mrs
scroggs tonight, and II you'll tell ne
where to find Miss Ogden III bid her
come back to you, so that you can re-
sumo the fun I interrupted. Kindly
say to Mrs. Scroggs that If she has any
thing to send to Floyd and can get il
ready before ten tomorrow morning
I'll be glad to take it with my baggage
, The hotel porter viii come for it. Good
night, pussy. You don't seem to OBJ
ject to Yanks. Good-by. Miss katesie