The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-03
MISS MONKTON'S MAR
RIAGE.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "a FRENCH HEIREss
IN HER OWN CHATEAU"
CHAPTER X-(CoNTINuEp.)

back kitchen beyond. Letita did not
come down. After dinner Mrs. Pratt
retired into the parlor, and seated her.
self in her own large armchair, quite de-
termined, with such dangerous people in
her house, not to go to sleep as usual.
But nature and habit were too much for
her, and perhaps she slept with unusual
soundness, after herlagitationin the morn
ing.
Crosby went out into the garden, and
Kitty into the yard, where everything
was very quiet. There was always lull
IN the framework in the middle of the
day, and just now not man was to be
seen about the premises; possibly one or
two were resting themselves in warm
corner of the barn. Kitty went to the
yard-gate, and locked up and down the
road; not a creature was to be seen.
Yes! there was horse trotting up the
lane. In another minute he had stopped
at the gate.
"Good-day," said Kitty, perceiving at
once that the rider was one of Sir Georges
men.
"Good-day, missus. We are in sad
trouble down at Sir George Monkton's.
Our young lady's gone, and we are
searching for her all over the country.
You haven't seen nothing of her?'
eff | had," said Kitty, "don't YOU
think I'd have brought her hack by now?
She's not young lady to be wandering
about by herself"
"That she amt. Well, l wonder
where she can be gone. There was an
Irish gentleman, Captain Crosby, as they
say is tai'or's son. Sir George thinks
she's run off with him, perhaps to Lon
DON"
"Mark my Words" said Kitty, ''if she's
gone with him, they'd never do such
blundering thing as to go to London.
Why, it's full of Sir Georges friends,
surely. They'd find them in minute.
No, they'd have gore straight off to Ire
land. No doubt about it, That's the
road you ought to take, young man, Of
you want to catch them"
"Ireland Well, l shouldn't wonder
if you was right, missus," said the man;
and he touched his hat and rode off
"Crosby-a taiIor's sonl" repeated
Kitty to herself, a. she turned from tile
gate. anyhow, | must help them. l
wonder if she knows it, though, throwing
of herself away like that. Well, it's time
for me to harness Boney."
Fortunately for Kitty's designs the
stable where her fathers best horses
lived, and the place where the gig was
kept, were in quiet corner of the prem
ises, with their backs turned to the large
yard, and opening on little grass yard
of their own, only commanded from
the house by Kitty's own window. From
this small court there were two gates,
one into the large yard, and the other
into large field with grass road across
it, SO that a carriage could drive away
from Jacks Croft quite silently.
Just as Kitty was buckling her last
strap Captain Crosby appeared at the
stable-door. .........
"Doing it yourself?' he said.
"The fewer we trust, the safer we are,
sir" replied Kitty. .
ut is early for you to have come to
that conclusion" said Crosby, hardly
noticing the GOODNESS Of Kitty's manner
towards himself.
"Well, sir, if you'll put him into the
gig" said Kitty, "I'll fetch the young
lady"
"Kitty, one moment; are you repent
ing your goodness to us?'
"Repent" said Kitty, scornfully. She
hesitated moment, and then went on,
speaking very quickly: "There was one
of Sir Georges men at the gate just now,
asking for her. l sent him off pretty
quick. But he told me something about
you"
"What was it, now? That my father
was tailorT
His laughing eyes were almost too
much for Kitty; she turned away from
them.
"Well, if he was, you're not good
enough for Miss Monkton; you know
you're not And l suppose she knows
nothing about it?'
"Ask her. Say anything you like to
her. give you free permission" said
COSBY.
II might do it without that" NUT
tered Kitty, as she walked away.
She found Letitia in a feverish state
of impatience waiting for her. She had
been looking out of the window into the
yard, and had seen Crosby standing at
the stable-door laughing, and wondered
why in the world he was wasting time SO.
Kitty looked rather grave as she came
into the room.
before we go down, ma'am, may I
say word to your she said.
20 yes; to tell me to walk softly. Of
course I WILL" said Letitia.
eyes; but there's something else. I've
promised to serve you, and / mean to
keep my word; but I've just now heard
something new about the Captain, from
one who came asking for you. They say
he's tailor's son, and I thought you
ought to know it"
"Why Kitty" exclaimed Letitia, turn
ing round in asudden fire of Indignation,
''am ] to be tormented this way by you,
too7 / neither know nor care whose son
he is If he was your lover, would you
care whether his father was king, or a