The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-25
The End of a
Courtship
BY RUTH GRAHAM

very pretty one. She was contenteu
with her work, though IL was hard.
and she took no thought of marriage.
But one evening Kitty went to dance
and made there the acquaintance of
Peter Brown. Peter was an attractive
chap with devil may care way about
him that was very taking with the
girls.
He danced with Kitty several
times, thus exciting the envy of other
young women, who considered Mr.
Brown the cleverest, handsomest and
in every way the finest catch of the
evening.
The next afternoon when Kitty left
the factory her admirer Of the dance
was there to meet her and walk home
with her. She asked him where he was
working and what time his day of toll
was over, but she did not get very
satisfactory response He told her
that he didn't need to work just at
present He had made some money
and was ready to spend part of it on
her.
He asked her to go TO the theater
with him. Kitty accepted, and that
evening they attended performance.
For some time the stranger courted
the factory girl, limiting at marriage,
but never being just ready. Kitty,
who was not of specially confding
nature, did not commit herself In any
way, waiting for the outcome of Mr.
Browns attentions. At last he gave
her a ring and told her that he was go
ing to town where he owned some
property, after securing which he
would return to her and they would be
married. He seemed very loath to
leave her even for short time. Kitty
encouraged him, assuring him that she
would be making her clothes fer the
wedding while he was away and be
ready for him when he returned. Then
he confessed that the reason for his
distress was that, having experienced
certain pains, he had consulted doc
tor, who told him he had appendicitis
and must go where he would receive
the ordeal safely he would return with
funds and they would set up house
keeping in their own little cottage. He
kissed her again and again and wiped
away tear at the final parting.
Ten days passed during which Kitty |
heard nothing from her lover, then she
received letter through the postofiice |
addressed In an unknown hand. Open
ing 1t she found a note from one sign
ed Hospital Nurse" announcing that /
Peter Brown had been operated on for
appendicitis and had lived but six
hours after the operation. There was
another letter in the envelope from
Peter himself. 1t read as follows:
They tell me, dear heart, that / must
prepare for death. The only preparation
have to make, my darling, is to write
you my last farewell There is no one in
the world whom 1t pains me to leave but
you. Oh, how hard It is to die when
have so much to live for with you'll My
heart is sinking within me. Would, dsr-
ling, you were here, that might die In
your beloved arms. that you might keep
the life within me a little longer by kiss
ing my cold lips with your warm onesl
Farewell, dariingl So long as you live
keep a corner OF your heart for your dying
lover, PETER BROWN.
Though Kitty was duly impressed
with this letter and shed tears over it,
one little matter contained in 1t struck
her practical mind. Peter wrote that
she was the only one whom 1t panied
him to leave. What pity he hadn't
thought to make a will leaving her
that property he had gone fort But
a man who has just come out from
the influence of ether with only few
hours to live should not be expected
to think Of worldly matters.
So Kitty stopped making the we'd
ding clothes she had begun and set Z.
tied herself to recover from her dis
as best she could.
Owing to some financial difficulty the
factory where Kitty worked was shut
down and she was adrift without
means Of support except pittance she
had saved. Being told that another
factory Of the same kind as the one ,
that had closed located in another j
city needed hands, she went there to ,
apply for work. On her arrival, leav- &
ng the station she saw a man leaning 8
against a lanNppost smoking long ci- '
gar. She approached him to ask the {
way and recognized her dead lover,
Peter Brown.
why, Peter!' she exclaimed.
"Who are your" he said, turning !
white and red alternately. 81 never +
Jaw you before" =
This was too much. policeman =
vas standing on the opposite side Of
he street, and Kitty called him over
Arrest that mani" she said.
She went with the policeman and
Peter TO a station. where she made
barge against him, and, since there
vas no bail forthcoming, he was lock-
d up.
At the trial it came out that he
ad wife and several children. The
ase was settled by Peter agreeing
o pay Kitty So week for ten years
lie was a skilled workman, but lazy
he alimony he contracted to pay the
irl he had deceived acted as a spur
pom him, for the alternative was
rison. Consequently he never missed
payment
Kitty congratulated herself on the
utcome, and after taking her annuity
or awhile, in Difference to Peters wife