Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-24
KITTIE.

Il was away OUT in the country where
| dissipation was 4 word almost without
| meaning.
Into this quiet tide q sudden, exciting
element had fallen in the shape of gay
young girl from a neighboring city.
Her name was Jennie Mordant, and
she claimed cousin-hip with Farmer Nor
dant's brown faced and rather bashful
sons in daring, coaxing way that was
new and delightful to them, and Jared,
the eldest, grew more demonstratiye to-
ward others.
There was o 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 q 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 a light step. As he neared the
house he, saw Katherine returning home
"cross lots" 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 footpath, he said softly:
"Don't walk so fast, Kittie."
The girl stood still, trembling and
blushing, and then she asked in q voice
scarcely audible:
What made you call me-thatr
''May I call you SO again?"
"Yes," she answered simply, and he did
not know how quick her heart was beat
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 sided up to the kitchen window, and,
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 dancing school was
talked of in the village. So the season
opened far more gayly than usual. Then
there was to be husking at Farmer
Mordant's in the long, new barn. Long
before dark the great piles of corn filled
the barn floor, and the fddlers walked
about, with their pet violins tucked away
in green bags, while the kitchen was
overfowing with foed, and row Of cider
barrels lay tapped in the yard.
katherine Hubbell 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 a minute and then stood still,
listening intently.
When he let her go, she patted bis
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 their
merry chatter they did not notice her 81
lence But that Jennie-how could she
ever speak to her again?
She could not firt and laugh and pre-
tend not to care, as some girls could.
Her eyes flashed with anger as she
thought of Jared leading Jennie Mordant
out before them all, and, creeping away
to Grandma Mordant's room, she huddled
herself down by the fire in a forlorn little
heap. The old lady was not there, but
she soon came in, and with her was "that
Jennie" talking low and earnestly.
''She is always in my way" thought
Katherine bitterly, but she held her
breath to listen as Jennie said:
Jared says he never has chance to
see her minute alone, and the house is
SO full of company that I'm sure there
won't be another quiet spot but this
room. I'll manage to smuggle him in ]
while she is here, and then do you make
an excuse to go out and leave them,
there's a dear, good grandma! She is
really, sweet little girl, and Jared is so
fond of her. Do you know he calls her
kittie 2"
The old lady chuckled pleasantly to
herself as she went out after candle,
and when she returned with it lighted the
room was empty. But later the harvest
moon dropped lower from the deep sky,
and all the radiant stars came near to
listen to the new meaning that echoed in
Jared's voice as he said, "Good night,
Kittie"
Last night an old man lay dying in a
handsome home. His gentle, silver hair
ed wife stood beside him, holding his
hand. "It's growing dark. Come nearer.
Good night, Kittie." And his voice had
hushed forever.-New York News.