Year: 1876

There was 10 De party CnllsIHas
night at Mr.. billions, and the young
folks of Dillon's Prairie were in state
of most delightful expectation; not that
a party was an uncommon event, but
this was to be the party of the season !;
in addition to its being Christmas night,
it was to be grand affair; there were
no less than twenty couples invited,
every one of whom would be sure to at
tend, and the first snow of the season had
just fallen and they were going in sleds.


Kitty Lanes mind had been in a tur-
moil all day. The trouble was she
couldn't decide whether to go to the
party or not. Of course she couldn't
think of missing this-tAe grandest
party of the season; but she had reasons
for not going; she felt sure that Charlie
Doles was angry at her, and she knew
very well that the greater part of
his happiness would depend on her being
there, and she wanted him to know it
finally, she concluded she would go, and
would act in such manner that Charlie
would feel this much more forcibly than
he would by her staying away.


Were they engaged? you ask. No.
but Kitty knew very well that it was
only Charles bashfulness that prevented
them from being SO and she knew, too,
that it was jealousy that made him angry
now, for she had gone with the school
teacher to the last party, and to spelling
school with him few nights afterward,
and both evenings Charlie had looked
"cross enough to bite her head off" as
she had expressed it to her confidential
friend, Annie Stafford. "And now l
suppose" she said to herself, she thinks
Pll be foolish enough to bother myself
about his i'll humor. Hum i! asif l cared
anything for him 1 do hope Mr.. Tiles
will come for me tomorrow night" And
all the while she knew very well that she
was botheripg herself about his ill
humor, and that she would much rather
he would come for her than any one else,





even Mr.. Tiles.


Kitty Lane was the belle of Dillon's
Prairie; she was the prettiest, the smart
est and richest girl there. Therefore to
be able to 60 with her was an honor to
which all the youths of that vicinity as
pired.


On the night of the party Kitty was
the gayest of the gay; she was the life
of the party; gay, witty, and sparkling,
she was the admiration of every one.
Mr.. Tiles, the school teacher, man
{" slick of hair, and sleek of tongue
who was regarded by the young ladies of
Dillon's Prairie in about the same light
as that in which the gentlemen regarded
Kitty-was her escort.


Charlie had taken Annie Stafford, but
looked gloomy all the evening. Annie,
mischievous creature, rallied him on
his gloomy looks, but to no effect; and
finally, when she had vainly exerted all
of her destinations to draw out his
conversational powers, deserted him for
some one who could talk faster.


Whenever, in the progress of the plays
Charlie and Kitty were brought neal
each other, he was rather abrupt in his
treatment of her, but she was as generous
as could be.


Near the close of the party, as they
were playing a certain game known a
"good-evening," Charlie had been in
stalled as door-keeper; he had admitted
but one couple, Kitty and Mr.. Tiles
when, for some reason, the door had heel
closed for few moments; on opening i
to admit another couple, he saw MI
Tiles slipping a ring on Kitty's finger
this was the last drop in his cup of Sol
row; he was certain it was an engage
ment ring; he had not noticed it on he
finger before.


at is better as it is," he said to hin
self, bitterly. 81 am glad l found ou
her character before had committe
myself. John Tiles, you are welcome t
her as far as 1 am concerned; but if 20


don't rue your bargain before you al


through with it count me falls


prophet"


If he had known that the ring was


Christmas gift from her father, and tina


Mr.. Tiles had only taken it off her fnge
moment before to look at it, he Nigh


have saved himself much exquisit


misery, for just before this he had bee


thinking that he acted like fool, an
that he would go to Kitty and apologiz


for having treated her so rudely, and
J she forgave him he would say somethin