The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-03-07
But here Kitty broke down and cried


said Kitty, drying her tears. "My side has
ached very hard all day, and would rather
stay at home and rest
"Oh, that's all imagination, DEAR" said
Mrs. Gregory, caressingly "See these cor
dons of pearls have brought for your hair.
Come-I particularly want you to eclipse
the other stars in Mrs. De la Tours horizon
to night"
In vain Kitty pleaded weariness of mind
and body-her aunt was affectionately i'm
perative and so Victorine dressed her in the
pink, floating waves of drapery, and clasped
the bracelets round her alabaster arms, and
wreathed her lovely hair with the ropes of
pearls, and graceful lily sprays, until she
seemed the very impersonation Of all that
was beautiful.
"Come girls-hurry up!' shouted the
CHEEKY voice of Uncle James, in the ante
room. "Don't keep fellow waiting here
all nightr'
ave are all ready-come imp said Mrs.
Gregory. "Does not Kitty look sweet to-
nightr'
"Sweet!' calculated Uncle James, giving
her kiss which half the young men in
New York would have sold themselves
bodily to obtain, 'she's a perfect little rose
bud! Upon my word, Kitty, that pink
dress is the prettiest concern you've ever
worn!'
As the carriage rolled swiftly away through
the gloomy streets, DIR. Walker ascended the
steps of the opposite mansion, with his wife
leaning on his arm.
"Surely," said he, pausing abruptly, as the
brilliance of a corner lamp streamed mo
mentarily on the occupants of the vehicle,
'surely that is not Kitty Gregory, going out
again to nights g.
"Certainly it is-why do you ask?''
"Nothing." said he, between his set teeth,
"only that if all kinds of murder were pro
perly punished, Mrs. James Gregory would
deserve halter.."
"W hat do you mean 2"
81 mean, my dear" said the doctor, quiet
ly shaking the SLOW from his umbrella in
who came two months ago from the coun
try, fresher than any daisy, is now standing
face to face with Death. Night after night
have seen her come out into the bitter
snow and wind, her fair neck and shoulders
protected only by thin wrapping Of silk,
and her feet in paper soled satin slippers
day after day [ have seen her, totally ex
hausted by the nights whirl of gayety with
light burning on her cheek that show me
her gravel
"But why do you not speak to her
auntr
He shrugged his shoulders. "Cui bono,
my dear! [ should probably get blamed
for an impertinent meddler. And now let's
90 to bedp'
The polished floor of the ballroom was
all in tremble with the flying feet--the
music, sounding merrily from its balconied
corner, chmed in with the voices of the
young and gay, and the rooms were all
ia crush with satins and velvets and blazing
Jewels.
"How beautiful Miss Gregory is to night"
said one young man to his neighbor.-
"What color she has in her cheeks. By
Jove, she is more like an angel than hu
man creature at this momentr'
"Allow me, madam, to congratulate you
on Miss Kitty's remarkable loveliness this
evening"" said courteous gentleman of the
old school to Mrs. Gregory. But almost
ere he had concluded his sentence, the lady
to whom it was addressed sprang forward
with scream.
For the crimson had faded suddenly from
kitty's cheek-the scarlet had paled in her
lip, and, whittier than her own pearls she
had sunk to the floor in the midst of the
whirling dance!
"Sir-give her air!'' "Bring glass of
waterr "No no-let it be wine!'' "Stand
away, I say, good people-she will be suffo
Gated p "What is the matter-is she dead g
"There-let the fresh air blow upon her
face.'' The hubbub of CALCULATIONS and
shrieks and exclamations finally blended in
to murmur of horror, as a gray y-haired
physician after moments survey, scienti
fc lingering of the pulse, and an instantane
Gus listening at the lips, turned away with a
shake of the head.
sIt's of no use," he said, in low voice
'sTake her home-she will soon be beyond
the reach Of earthly pangs."
The perfumed and bejeweled crowd
separated on either side, with pale, horror
frozen faces, as the helpless burden was
borne through the doorway. 1t was not to
view scene like this that they had come
to the festive halls that hight!
When the orange dawn light streamed
over the spires of the huge city Kitty Gre
CORY died. From the moment that they
brought her home she never stirred, nor
lifted the waxen lids of her heavy eyes, and
yet the aunt hoped on until the sleep of
Inconsistencies passed into the dreamless
hush and repose of death Then for the
first time she felt the terrible weight of re
sponsioiity that rested upon her shoulders
alone.
Il knew it, said Dir. Walker, as his wife
came, white with dismav, to tell him what
had happened in the brown stone palace
opposite. ''That child should have been in
bed four weeks ago, and under the physi
clans care | wonder if that woman of the
world knows that she has murdered her
niece?
ooh, Charles, do not speak So said Mrs
Walker.
at is the truth" he responded, sternly
The gilded finger of the little clock in
IKitty's darkened dressing room had scarcely
travelled round to noon Of the same day, ere
Mrs. Gregory was summoned down stairs to
see "a stranger" and she went slowly to the