Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-22

y s 4
 Kitty" said the deputy claimant, looking into the brightsface above him and speaking in the tone of one who repeats lesson, kitty is the farm CTS daughter onsthe farm next to mine Her name is Miss Katherine Elizabeth Brown. She is Farmer Browns only daughter
 Well, go on.''
 1sI don't know any more"
 .'Oh, yes you dc" said the girl, laugh ing. What does she do?''
 ssShe helps her mother.''
 "Oh," in a plying tone. 'Are they poor?"
 ssNo, they are we'll to do.''
 "Can they not afford a servant?"
 "Half dozen of them"
 ssThen why don't they have some?"
 kitty and her mother do just as we'll They would, think it an unheard- of extravagance."
 "Is she pretty?"
 3She is very pretty"
 <'Is she nice?''
 ssShe is very nice."
 ssIs she accomplished?"
 ssHer accomplishments are the envy of the-countryside.''
 The girl on the bank rose suddenly. ssWe had better be getting back" she said. s"The sun wilEsoon be here"
 ssNot for another hour," he said, easily. "And wanttto tell you more about Kitty. As said, she is very ac- complished. She can play the organ---'''
 The girl sat down again.
 Hymn tunes she plays, on Sundays, No. Songs and Solos, Her friend, Miss Robina Merrigold, sings. Miss Merrigold also dances, but Kitty does not approve. She has religious scru- ples. Miss Merrigold plays cards, in select company, but Kitty considers this very wrong. Besides her father won't let her. Kitty is also a beauti- ful hand in the dairy. Her butter--"
 s'Thank you," said the girl, smiling, s'that will do. As you say, she is very accomplished. Now, tell me about Canada. Do you like it ?''
 'sIt is the first country in the world" !"
 'Would Hike it?"
 "No, you wouldn't" ;"
 ssWhy not?" she asked, sharply.
 Because you are in place here, this is your proper setting, this is your home." &
 The girls eyes filled with tears.
 s'My home!" she said. "It will soon belong to that farmer-that stranger. and my home will be with Aunt Maria in a little two-by-four villa on the out skirts of London. Oh, if you only knew that villa, with it's tiny, tiny rooms and it's tiny, tiny garden where everything bigger than a rose tree looks out of place. Oh, I shall suffocate there, I shall dry up and be mummy-lilke Aunt Mariai' -ssspz.s
 The deputy claimant threw the re- mains of his grass blade into the stream with sudden recklessness., His bright, good-natured face became hard and time to be afraid. Turning to her, he took her hand in his and held it firmly. She also had no time to be afraid.
 "Alice,' he said, would you like Cam ada better than that villa-would you like me better than Aunt Maria ?''
 The clasp upon her hand was strong and firm. She had no chance to be evasive. So, with downcast eyes, she answered sEYes," confusedly.
 tsDo you love me, Alice ?"
 fsYes,'' she said.
 The clasp upon her.hand grew firmer, but he did not kiss her. Surprised, she glanced up only tossee:in his face that which caused her eyes to drop again and dyed her cheek with blushes. ssAlice,' he said again, and his voice was stern, fare you sure you Iove--a farmer?''
 'Yes," she said. eCould you,'' his voice faltered a little, "cou1d you love-a thief?" tsI could lovesyou."
 HAnd think, Alice, coward?" CT love you:'
 sMy name,'' he said, tsis Thomas!''
 tsIt is dear name" she whispered.
 ssYou don't understand, he said, desperately; tsana can't take you | until you do. am all those things. I am not the deputy claimant. am | the real claimant. came to take your home from you. I am the thief you spoke of. am the coward. insulted you-now, Alice?"
 The girl withdrew her hand gentry. Her lips were pressed together very tightly. She turned her head away. He could see her slender shoulders shaking with suppressed emotion.
 .sHow long, she said, in choked voice, "how long have you been afraid I to tell me this. Thomas? ?'' "A whole mohth,'' he said, despair I ingly, -four long, cruel weeks" | 8# 1 IL. ,rlJ l I know shall. I can't stop laughing ; She sprang to oher feet and faced him, her eyes bubbling over with merriment, her lips ripping with smiles. l ..Four weeksl" she cried, ssto think that we have lost four lovely weeks. For, of course, knew it all the time!'' Canadian Magazine.
 Puxz1e-Name the Street.
 Clark-There is mosh remarkable | M N T -4..