The Worthington advance., 1882-08-17

solved the mystery, 20 I hastily poured
in some cold water, whereupon the bot
tom cracked and only saved the life Of
my fire by jerking of the thing, and
burning my hand to blister with the
red hot handle. It doesn't matter Q par
ticle what said. Teddie would have
called it wicked swear word," and
Kitzie would have beon shocked by it.
bYt it does mt matter. ! threw it clear
acrosl the room, and Il made hole big
enough to hold an egg in the door-cas-
ing. / was discouraged after that;
besides, I discovered on surveying my
tlb g., that I had put on three different
styles Of milk pitchers, four butter dish
es, enough plates for regiment, no cas-
ter, and had forgotten to change tho
fancy damask spread for the one We eat
tain Of, and that was coffee: We had
made that too often in camp to fail on it
now, so I boiled some water in q nan
and set it going, then hunted up ham
and cut off fourteen slices. I knew I
was hungry; doubtless Kitzie was, and
~besidee It might shrivel In acookinR fcv
I found it took four skillets and two 9TH
er irons to cook it. 1t began to look like
q good deal for two people to eat at one
meal; but still Ilet it all sizzls away, and
went to find something else, for when
Kitzie didn't have q variety took Occa-
sion to grumble.
There were potatoes, eggs and pick
les; yes, that would do, so took eight
OF the first, ten of the second, and six
of the third, and clambered up staira
with them, and wondered if l had
enough. kitzie would laugh If hadn't.
Six big pickles in cunningly fashion
ed leaf shaped dish looked promising,
50 l put them proudly on the table
and went back to chuck my potatoes
into the oven, and my eggs into some
cold water.
Then the coffee boiled over, and the
ham began to smoke and smell, pulled
them both off, first taking the precau-
ton to cover my hands, but % the ham
began to cool l remembered it Vas only
cooked on one side, 60 I turned it over
and put it back. After that there was
nothing to do for q little while, 30 l sat
down IN the window and wished
had hadn't burned the morning paper up;
but had and that was the end Of it.
the table again; not that it was cheerful
looking, because it wasn't; on tho con-
trary, it was dismal, but then it was fin
lshed. and that was some consolation.
These chilly mornings kitzie always had
4 bright fire sparkling in the crate, and
the fresh sunshine playing across the
table; none of that was there now. Last
night ashes adorned the crate, the blinds
and curtains were still down. and 10,
under the impression that night still
reigned, sat in his swing. with his
head poked resi9nedly under his wing,
and swung dolefu!iy back and forth.
Whatever reflections l might have been
@snt We're cut short Se1 By w nine %n stroEes tGe}a
that assailed my astonished ears4rom
the sitting room, and rushed frantically
back to the kitchen to take up my break
fast. When placed on the table it
looked tempting, l do assure you.
There were four platters of ham, burned
almost black; three dishes of potatoes,
hard as brickbats; wire castle full o1
eggs as soft as nature first made them,
monstrous coffee pot filled with scorched
eat but the pickles. I surveyed il
solemnly, then solemnly went up the
back stairs, tiptoe to the front room and
exchanged my cooking for downtown
habiliments, then went down to the
parlor, where Kitzie sat at the piano in
the daintiest of white morning gowns;
with squire inch of lace and some blue
bows on her sunny hair.
''Kitzie Treherne," said with terrible
solemnity, and staring fixedly at the pi.
ano stool so as not to see the laugh lurk.
ing in her dimples, ''you can 70 out and
eat your breakfast if you want it.
cooked SO much that it made me sick
Patric has left, and the tea kettles brok-
en-, the milk's gone, the pans smashed,
and broke the cats leg. don't know
when you'll see me again. Good by."
didn't 60 home to dinner-her LAUGH
haunted me all day, but by evening ]
grew so desperate to see her and beg al
manner Of pardons that I mortally of
Tended 2 late customer. for WHICH
didn't care, but left the
locking up to Michael and departed in
haste, only stopping long enoug gh at the
confectloners to get chunky bag OF
caramels. which I knew would make
peace if it was necessary. The windows
OF my dainty domicile were all open, and
| couldn't resist stopping to peep in.
kitzie sat reading pensively under the
gas light, with the crippled kitten in he1
lap; the piano was open and there were
flowers on it, and in the room beyond
was the tea table, fresh and sweet in
snowy linen and shining glass, and tall,
slender vase with graceful fern leaves
and scarlet sage. l went in-bnt the
rest is nothing to You.