The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-05-16
KlTTIE

It was away out in the country
where dissipation was word almost
without meaning.
Into this quiet tide sudden, excl
ting element had fallen in the shape
of gay young girl from a neighbor-
ing city.
Her name was Jennie Mordant, and
she claimed cousinship with Farmer
Mordand'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 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 a shy fondness for each other.
Jared only called her by her formal
Christian name, Katherine, at rare
intervals ana tnen Win 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
ueared the house he saw katherine
returning home "cross lots" from
Widow Sangster's, where she had
been to take the old lady some butter
milk. 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 an d
blushing, and then she asked in a
voice scarcely audible:
"What made you call me that 7"
MAY l call you so again 7"
"Yes," she answered simply, and
he did not know how quick her heart
was beating. 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 ct l'lsc a If
by accident and said, G9od .asai
Kittie."
So the summer pssstd iir
glory, and when Ibe ve s
long and cool in the anlu.fs.a ~.
school was talked 81 - ~. vi .ee.
So the season optneo la bf, safly
than usual Then tnere was To be
husking at Farmer Mordant's in the
long new barn. Long before dark the
great piles of corn filed the barn
floor, and the fiddlers walked about,
with their pet violins tucked away in
green bags, while the kitchen was
overAowing with food and row of
cider barrels lay tapped in the yard.
Katherine Hubbell came down early
with her brothers.
The candles were lighted in the sit
ting room, and there was Jared, her
Jared, actually romping with Miss
Jennie. She was standing on her
1IaIT sfnU oOlnS1inS liIuIs1 a-sszls aael1-
ly he turned, and, taking the two lit
tie 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 gointo 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 ber
silence. But that Jennie--how could
she ever speak to her again?"
She could not firt and laugh and
pretend not to care, as some girls
could. Her eyes flashed with anger
as she thought of Jared leading Jer-
uie Mordant out before them all, and,
creeping away to Grandma Mordant's
room, she huddled herself down by
the forlorn little heap. The old lady
was not there, but she soon came in,
and with her was ''that Jennie, " talk
ing low and earnestly.
"She is always in my way"
thought Katherine bitterly, but she
held her breath as Jennie said:
"Jared says he never has a chance
to see her a 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 SNUG
gle 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 a sweet lit
tie girl, and Jared is so fond of her.
Do you know he calls her Kittie9"
The old lady chuckled pleasantly
to herself as she went out after can
die, and when she returned with 1t
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 ne said, "Good night, Kittie. I"
Last night an old man lay dying In
handsome home. His gentle, silver
haired wife stood beside him, holding
his hand. cts growing dark.
Come nearer. Good night, Kittie." 7"
And his voice had hushed forever.