The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-22
III 7 7 IE.

1t was away out in the country where
dissipation was a word almost without
meaning.
Into this quiet tide a sudden, exciting
element had fallen in the shape of a gay
young girl from neighboring city.
Her name was Jennie Mordant, and
she claimed cousiL-hip with Farmer Nor
dant's brown faced and rather bashful
sons in a daring, coaxing way that was
new and delightful to them, and Jared,
the eldest, grew more demonstrative to-
ward others.
There was a little girl living up at
Low Hill pass whose name had often
been spoken in connection with Jared's,
and it was guessed that they mutually
felt shy fondness for each other. Jared
only called her by her formal Christian
name, katherine, at rare intervals, and
then with a sense of familiarity that
made him half ashamed.
But after Jennie Mordant had tied his
necktie and brushed the threads off his
coat he escaped from her bright eyes and
merry ways and walked to Low Hill
with light step. AS he neared the
house he saw Katherine returning home
''cross ts'' from Widow Sangster's,
where she had been to take the old lady
some buttermilk. With one leap he
scaled the wall. and, hurrying to the
narrow footputh. he said softly:
Don't walk so fast. Kittie.''
The girl stood still, trembling and
blushing, and then she asked in a voice
scarcely audible:
what made you call me-thatY"
''May l call you so again?'
"Yes," she answered simply, and he did
IL
ing. And so they went in silence through
the gathering dew and darkness up TO
the door.
When it was time for Jared to leave.
he sidled up to the kitchen window, and,
reaching in, with one arm on the sill, he
dropped spray of lilac as if by accident
and said, Good night. Kittie."
So the summer passed with new glo-
| ry, and when the evenings grew long and
cool in the autumn a dancing school was
talked of in the village. So the season
opened far more gayly than usual. Then
there was to be a husking at Farmer
| Mordant's in the long, new barn. Long
| before dark the great piles of corn filed
| the barn floor, and the fddlers walked
about, with their pet violins tucked away
| in green bags, while the kitchen was
oyerhowing with food, and row of cider
barrels lay tapped in the yard.
| Katherine Eubbell came down early
| with her brothers.
| The candles were lighted in the sitting
room, and there was Jared-her Jared
| actually romping with Miss Jennie. She
| was standing on her toes to reach his
head, pulling his hair and bothering him,
when suddenly he turned, and. taking the
two little hands in his big brown palms,
he held her so firmly that she could not
| get away, though she struggled and
laughed for minute and then stood still
listening intently.
When he let her go, she patted his
face, smiled brightly and ran away, and
Katherine could see that Jared was
blushing like girl.
She did not go into the sitting room as
though nothing had happened.
She was not actress enough for that
She went slowly round to the kitchen
door and found the girls, and in theil
merry chatter they did not notice her 81
lence. But that Jennie-how could sh,
ever speak to her again?
She could not fiirt and laugh and pre-
tend not to care, as some girls could
Her eyes flashed with anger as sh,
thought of Jared leading Jennie Mordan
to Grandma Mordant's room. she huddle,
herself down by the fire in forlorn littl,
heap. The old lady was not there, bu
she soon came in, and with her was "tha
Jennie" talking low and earnestly.
''She is always in my way" though
Katherine bitterly, but she held he
,l breath to listen as Jennie said:
Jared says he never has a chance t,
see her minute alone, and the house i
so full of company that I'm sure ther
won't be another quiet spot but thi
room. I'll manage to smuggle him il
while she is here, and then do you max
an excuse to go out and leave them
there's dear, good grandma! She i
really a sweet little girl, and Jared is s
fond of her. Do you know he calls he
KittieT'
The old lady chuckled pleasantly t
herself as she went out after a candle
and when she returned with it lighted tn
room was empty. But later the harves
moon dropped lower from the deep sky
and all the radiant stars came near t
| listen to the .ew meaning that echoed i
Jared's voice as he said, Good night
Kittie."
Last night an old man lay dying in
handsome home. His gentle, silver hail
ed wife stood beside him, holding hi
hand. ITS growing dark. Come nearer
Good night, Kittie." And his voice ha
hushed forever.-New York News.
|