Year: 1868

the sun, the air was full of the odors
of new-mown hay, and the brown
robbin, whose nest was in the maple
boughs overhanging the Cliffdean
house,, was caroling his very heart
out in song. Every created thing
seemed drinking in the glory of the
summer morning, and reveling in the
mere fact of existence.


That is, every created thing, save
and except little Kitty Seymenr-
she wasn't happy bit; for, as she
came around the densely shadowed
honeysuckle path, in sight of the
front porch, her eye caught sight
of two figures sitting under the
swinging trails OF a woodbine, in a
most absorbing tete a tete--her cousin,
Georgiana Carr and Henry Hales.


The rosy flush Of color died around
Kitty's dimples = the long lashes
dropped and grew misty. There
it was no use striving against that
coming flood OF tears. Miss Kitty
sat down on the grassy bank and
cried heartily.


q hope they will be happy"
sobbed Kitty; "but, oh! how 1 wish
Georgiana had never come here. l
was so happy IN fancying that Henry
liked me little, but now"


And Kitty cried again.


The path to the giant cherry tree
was short and shaded as Kitty crept
through it, never once looking back
to the porch where Georgiana and
Henry were SO happy together, and
the green gloom, studded with the
ruby sparkle of innumerable ripe,
dewy cherries, made her think of
the 'jewel trees she had read about
in childhood, when the "Arabian
Nights" seemed veritable truth, and
fairy land an established fact.


81 wish I were little child again!"
sighed Kitty, her lip beginning to
culver. ''Didn't pass pleasant
days then, with never lover to dis
turb them2 Didn't / climb up this
old tree half dozen times day to
see the blue eggs in the brown
thrushs nest2 / wonder if the nest
is there now! l don't care" ejacu-
lated Kitty, Il don't care single
bit, if 1 am eighteen. l mean to
climb up inte the old cherry tree
again, and fll my little basket
l want to feel the cool leaves against
my hot cheeks. 1 want to be all
alone with the air, and the wind, and
the brown thrushes. / know Aunt
Rachel would scold dreadfully, but l
don't care"


Kitty Seymour swung herself
lightly into the gnarled fork of the
sturdy old tree, and climbed On its
branches as deftly as if she had been
brighteyed squirrel instead of a
young lady. There was q cOnside-
rable spice of the romp about Miss
Kitty, and it must be frankly con-
fessed that she was great deal more
at home in the old cherry tree than
she would have been al her neglect
ed piano.


High up among the futtering
leaves she sat, slowly gathering the
ripe fruit into her little basket, and
locking through a quivering dimness
of tears at the hay makers afar off
on the sunny meadow slopes, think
ing the while how very miserable she
was.


Poor little Kitty! There was no
escape for her now. Prisened among
the swaying branches, she must be
an unwilling auditor to the CONVEX
sation of the two below.


All at once the sound of voices
struck her ear. She parted the leaves,
and looked down from the airy perch,
enly to see Henry Hales and Georgi-
ana Carr establishing themselves
comfortably under the shadow of
this very cherry tree


"Oh, 1 wish they would GO away!'
thought Kitty, beginning to tremble
as she laid her throbbing forehead
against the friendly old tree. 81
cannot bear to hear him speaking
words of love to Georgiana! Oh,
why did l ever come herep"


Her thoughts were cut short by
Henry Hales' voice. He was strip
ping the leaves from q spray of for
get me not, in an absent minded sort
of way, and spoke as if in resump-
ton Of some previous discussion.


"If You. only knew, Georgiana,
how much doubt and apprehension ]
feel in approaching the subject of my
love!'


81 can easily imagine it," said
Georgiana, softly.


The pulses of Kitty's heart seemed
to grow chill, and sick feeling Of
despair came over her.


eff dared suppose for moment, y
went on Henry, 'sthat the treasure Of
such heart could ever be mine"


"Why should You doubt it?" asked
Georgiana, smiling. Remember
Henry, faint heart never won fan
LADY, ! would therefore advise yor
to be courageous"


81 believe / shall take your ad
vice." said Henry; "and 1 am glaC
that l consulted you on the subject
Indeed, Georglana, my love for you