The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-01-08
......| John DalgGriGldS Love. H..
BY MATT GRIM
By MATT GRIM.

when Kitty comes home, we must
buy new curtains for the parlor," said
Miss Cornelia.
when Kitty comes home, hope 1t
will not be so confoundedly dull here"
said Harry, the elegant young lawyer.
John said nothing, but his eyes rest
ed on the velvet framed photograph
of young school girl, placed on a ut
tie bracket, above the mantel' ana
one morning, while they were at preaK-
fast, a merry voice exclaimed
Dear friends, good morning.
Il declare, there's Kitty, now! cried
Miss Cornelia, leaning back In ner
chair, quite overcome by the loVeiy
apparition in the doorway.
Eyes, it is Kitty" said Kttys own
sweet, clear voice.
Harry sprang up from the table, all
life and animation. to greet her' ana
Miss Cornelia gathered her into the
warmest of loving embraces; Dut
Farmer John rose more deliberately,
though his bronzed face flushed, and
deep bright glow filled his eyes.
They had thought and talked SO
much about her, and now she stood
among them, lovely, tall girl, WIN
brilliant gray eyes, soft, curly fringe
Of golden hair across her white brow.
and an indescribable air Of fashion
about her.
They were so glad to see her; Miss
Cornelia, the old maid who kept house
for John; Harry, who have come OUT
from town to spend few weeks, and
who found the country such a bore;
and John-grave, handsome John, who
had been Kitty's guardian and friend
ever since the sad day her father died,
and left her alone and unprovided for.
She was but little girl then, and
John Dangerfeld young man OF four
and twenty; but he took her up in his
strong arms, stroled her tangled curls
tenderly and poor forlorn little Kit
ty ceased to tremble and feel afraid.
He was now fve-and-thirty, and she
was lovely, blooming girl, just home
from boarding school.
John Dangerfeld was hero, though
unknown to the world. He had once
cherished ambitious dreams; but, just
as the future seemed opening hopefully
before him, his father died, charging
him to take care Of his mother, sister
and young brother. There was but
one way to do it-remain quietly on
the farm and work as he had always
worked, sowing and reaping, with on
ly odd hours, and a day now and then,
for self-culture. He accepted the lot
unmurmuring, putting the hopes, of a
broader more ambitious life forever
from him.
His mother died, his sister grew to
old-maidism, and Harry received the
education he had once intended for
himself.
Harry could not endure the farm and
the rough work of farmers life, and
so must away to lawyers office, to
read little law, and to learn to be a
society young man.
John remained at home, added to the
farm as the years rolled by, studied
books as well as cotton crops, and
watched over Kitty with untiring de-
votion, until the time came for her
ito be sent away to school to finish her
education.
His care did not cease then, and if
ever a girl had cause to feel thank
full, it was Kitty Mclean.
And Kitty had come, and in less than
L IL L
feel her influence All deferred to her,
as to young queen-even fastidious
Harry, who followed her around, her
most devoted admirer. She certainly
made a great change in the old house,
with little graceful feminine adorn-
ments, with her music and painting,
and, above all, with her own joyous
youth.
That was when she first came home,
and her freedom from the routine of
school seemed so new and delightful.
After time a change came over her.
"Aunt Cornelia, what is the matter
with John?"
She had always called the plain eld-
erly spinster "aunt."
Miss Cornelia shook her head.
81 do not know, child. Why?"
"He is so grave and quiet-and-
and he will never go with us, or take
any part in our amusements"
"You must remember, dear, he is not
young, like you and Harry"
az am sure he is not old, said Kitty,
Indignantly.
"No-not exactly old, but approach
ing middle age" said Miss Cornelia,
with calm cruelty.
'Kitty, Kitty, where are your"