When she turned homewards she met Joel face to
face. He was pale, but a triumphant light shone in his eyes. He came
forward with open arms--'Kitty, my Kitty!' he cried.
"Kitty stood one moment, with eyes that seemed to pierce to his very
heart, then she turned to the splashing waters and pointed solemnly.
"'Elihu, where is Elihu?' she asked; and in that moment, when Joel hung
his head before her without a word of answer, Kitty fell down like a
dead thing at his feet.
"And I, who knew her so well, I tell you that Kitty died there on that
meadow by the race, just twenty year ago to-day.
"Joel, you ask? What come to Joel? Well, p'raps he felt bad just at
first, for he went away for two, three year, I believe. But he come
back, did Joel, and Kitty never molested him by word or deed. You can
see his house there below the mill; he's married long since and his
house is full of children. But never, since that June night twenty year
ago, has he dared set foot at the old homestead. Folks talked--of course
they talked--but Kitty, the staid, sad woman they called Kitty, heeded
nothing that was said. Joel, he tried to right himself and writ her many
a long letter at the first.
"'It was a fair wrestle,' said he, 'and him as was beaten was to leave
the place and not come back for months or years.
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