The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-25
must have absolute quiet" Kit answered
with ungallant obstinacy,


his sister, who was whimpering plain
lively in one corner of the big hair cloth
sofa ''He is very fond of you, just as
we all are; he appreciates your unselfish
sympathy for us and your generous desire
to assist us. And to be sure we never
needed friend as we do now."
"You have no immediate cause to feel
disheartened, SIS" the brother remarked,
with a disappearing glance toward the
small figure crouched on the sofa.
"Ah, then there is really no danger;
dear Mrs. Dolitcl will recover" interpo-
lated Maud, mistaking the import OF
what had just been uttered.
sOh. mamma will soon be we'll again.
| But misfortunes never come singly and
we are in such trouble" was walled
| from the sofa.
The young lady looked very interested
| and commiserative, and Kit frowned and
turned away as if the topic were no less
| Improbable than distasteful.
i'All the whole year Kit had been so
unfortunate about getting work, con-
tined the weeping Miss Dolitel, unheed-
inc the frown land where there is so
much illness and no employment there
are always debts and difficulties about
rent and everything. To be sure the
rent is not so much to owe; but we must
pay the quarter at once or we must leave
the apartments, the agent says"
''How very sad," murmured Maud,
| looking decidedly uneasy. Perhaps she
| felt that her unselfish sympathies were
being tested too severely just then.
| Il Go not mind bit for myself" the
other resumed, Exit and l can always
manage somehow +! But mamma is too
weak to be taken away; the excitement
would be fatal to anybody just conva-
lescing as she is"
Dear Mrs. Dolitel could remain with
me. you know that" Maud said, hastily.
and with another uneasy glance toward
Kit. for whom she had an anunaiGected par
tlality; 'but | am afraid my room would
be entirely too unquiet for her disordered
nerves! she would be distracted by the
eternal prating and scrceching of the
Odious parrot. | cannot understand why
Rachel Lennard keeps such a disagree
able bird; but then she is not the sort of
girl to have any consideration for her
ncighbors."
Kit, standing by window and gazing
impatiently down into the busy avenue,
smiled dryly beneath his handsome mus
tache.
''Mother would not mind the parrot, -
he interposed, coldly, "but she would
decline being burden to you. We
shall no: impose any such inconvenience
upon your generosity, Miss Maud"
"Ah, but you know | am willing to
do anything in the world for you, Maud
iterated, with an air of inconcealable re-
lief
To be sure you would" Miss Dolitel
fastened to say; 'and if my brother
were not so absurdly proud he would not
hesitate to mention one thing you really
can do for u.s. He knows you would only
too gladly loan us for time the amount
which the agent requires"
''Sis!" her brother calculated, in ac-
cents of rebuke and CONSERVATION.
But there was another grim smile be-
hind the handsome mustache, as he
noted the suggestive expression of the
pretty, brunette features.
"Ah, what an unlucky body I am"
Maud exclaimed. with gesture as if of
uEutterable regret. Il have just made
most expensive purchasc-some inery,
so costly that shall be obliged to scrimp
my own board money for long time to
come, fear. am SO sorry you did not
mention the matter before l had invest
ed all my savings, and a good deal /
have vet to earn beside"
''We know you are sorry, DEAR" Miss
Dolitel sighed, ruefuliy. "But we take
the will for tic deed, and thank you
, just the same. You mnst not fret about
us, Maudie," she added, as the young
, lady moved toward the door; but Kit
looked only amused as the door closed
behind her.
, Il have notion our worries have un
, settled your wits, SIS" he said, with a
look of profound annoyance. You
must know l should never request nor
receive such loan from any young
, woman, and assuredly not from Maud
Kayne, whose refusal is precisely what
should have predicted, the lovely zouave
jacket and sundry specious trifles not.
withstanding. People who so zealously
thrust undcsired trities upon their neigh
bors are often the people who deny the
one thing which would be beneficial and
really prlzed," he concluded, senten-
tiously.
AS he still fingered by the window,
. his mind reverted to the deprecated
young music teacher who had never
been prodigal of her neighborly civil
ties, who had held herself aloof with
gentle dignity, and who had nothing to
, love but great green parrot.
'But even great green parrot is
preferable to an insincere friend" he
thought.
Just then there was sound of foot
steps on the stairs outside, then a sweet
voice responsive to deep bass, which
was unfamiliar, and then a timid little
! tap upon the door.
.'Come in," the maiden sister called
fretfully from her disturbed repose
, among the sofa cushions.
And at the instant Kit turned to be-
hold Rachel Lennard-a fair, slim girl
) with large, grave eyes and the calm face
of pictured Madonna.
!, She was not alone--a prepossessing
old gentleman held open the door for hel
that she might introduce himself and his
2 crrand.
: He was the father of one of her pupils
she gracefully explained, and he had
, come to tender her neighbor vacancy
in his manufactory.
q ''But the ex planation is not complete, ,
the gentleman said, as he placed a de
!. tanning hand upon the arm of the gir
who. with beautiful blush, had turned
to withdraw 'You must not be allowed
to remain ignorant of the sacrifice Mis-:
Rachel proposed to make for you. Wher
oho hooay,o ware of yOur q ifficultv about