Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1908-02-08

WITHOUT uiGdHiH-.
/ Into this quiet tide sudden. excit-
| ING element had fallen in the shape
of a gay young girl from neighbor-
| ing city.
Her name was Jennie Mordant, and
she claimed cousinship with Farmer
Mordant's brown faced and rather
bashful sons in daring, coaxing way
that was new and delightful to them,
and Jared the eldest, grew more de-
monstrative toward 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 In
tervals and then with a sense OF ia
miliarity 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 re-
turning 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, hurry
ing to the narrow footpath, he said
softly:
"Don't walk so fast, Kittie."
The girl stood still, trem bling and
blushing, and then she asked in voice
scarcely audible:
"What made you call me that?"
MAY l call you so again?''
eyes," she answered simply, and he
beating. And so they went in silence
through the gathering dew and dark
ness up to the door.
When it was time for Jared to leave
he sided up to the kitchen window,
and, reaching in, with one arm on the
sill. he dropped a spray of lilac as if
by accident and said, Good night,
Kittie.''
So the summer passed with new
glory. 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 husk-
ing at Farmer Mordant's in the long
new barn. Long before dark the great
piles of corn filled the barn floor, and
tie fiddlers walked about. with their
pet violins tucked away in green bags,
while the kitchen was overfiOWing with
food and Il row of cider barrels lay
tapped in the yard.
Katherine Huhbel came down early
with her brothers.
The candles were lighted in the sit
ting room. and there Vas Jared, her
Jared, actually ron!piHG with Miss .Ien-
ME. She was standing on her toes to
reach his head. putin& his hair and
bothering him. when suddenly he turn
ed. and taxing tile two iiftIe' hands in ~
his big brown palms. he held her so
firmly that she could not get away,
though she struggled and laughed for
q minute and then stood still. listenin.
When he let her go she patted his
face. smiled brightly and ran away.
and Katherine could see that Jared
was blushing like a 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
silence. But that Jennie-how could
she ever speak to her again?
She could not fiirt and laugh and r
pretend not to care, as some girls could.
Her eyes flashed with anger as she
thought of Jared leading Jennie Nor
dant out before them all. and, creep
ng away to Grandma Mordant's room
she huddled herself down by the fire
n a forlorn little heap. The old lady
was not there. but she soon came in,
ind with, her was that Jennie" talk
ng 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
Zee her a minute alone and the house
S so full of company that I'm sure
here won't be another quiet spot but
his room. I'll manage to smuggle him
n while she is here, and then do you
make an excuse to go out and leave
hem, there's dear, good grandma,
she is really sweet little girl, and
AIRED is so fond of her. Do you know
lie calls her Kittie?''
The old lady chuckled pleasantly to
Ierself as she went out after candle
nd when she returned with it lighted
he room was empty. But later the
arvest moon dropped lower from the
eep sky, and all the radiant stars
anne near to listen to the new mean
ng that echoed in Jared's voice as he
aid. Good night. Kittie.''
Last night an old man lay dying in
handsome home. His gentle. silver
aired wife stood beside him. holding
Is hand. Its growing dark. Come
carer Good night. Kittie." And his
nia0 had h,1S