Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-04-16
Kill.

breakfast table.
Preferring the request suggested TO her by
Mrs Presty Kitty had fastened the presen-
tatiOn Of the birthday gifts by getting into
her mothers bed in the morning and exact
ing her mothers promise before she would
consent to get out again. By her own ex-
press wish she was left in ignorance OF what
the presents would prove to be. Hide them
from me-" said this young epcure in pleas
urablc sensations. "and make me wan: TO see
them until | can bear it no longer" The
gifts had accordingly been collected in an
embTasure of one OF the windows; and the
time had now arrived when Kitty could bear
ii no longer
In the procession of the presents, Mrs Lin
ley led the way.
She had passed behind The screen which
had thus far protected the hidden treasures
from discovery, and appeared again with a
vision of beauty in the shape of doll. The
dress of this wonderful creature exhibited
the latest audacitics of French fashion. Her
head made a bow; her eyes went TO s.eep
and woke again; she had voice that said
two words-lnore precious than 1000 in the
mouth of a mere living creature Kitty s
arms opened and embraced her gift with a
scream OF ecstasy. That fcrvent pressure
found its way to the right spring. The doll
squcaked: mamma and creaked-and
cried again-and said: "Papa" Kitty sat
down on the floor; her legs would support
her no longer. II think | shall faint" she
said, quite seriously.
In the midst of the general laughter Sgd
ney silently placed new toy "a pretty little
imitation of a jewelers. caskeD at Kitty's
sale and drew back before the child could
look at her Mrs. Presty was the only per
son present who noticed her pale face and
the trembling nj her hands as she made the
effort which preserved her conposure.
The dolls necklace, bracelets, and watch
and chain rvvtrd kitty's attention on the
caSket just as size thought of looking round
for her dear sgd her father prtluced new
outburst Of delight by presemtinga perambu-
lator worthy of the doll. Her uncle follow
ed with parisoI, devoted to the preserva-
ton Of the dolls complexion when she went
out for an airing. Then there came pause.
Where was the generous grlndmotiIerS gift?
Nobody remembered it; Mrs. PreSty herself
discovered the imcStimabc sixpenuy picture
book east away and forgotten on distant
window seat. II have a great mind to keep
this" she said Ia Kitty, Till YOU are old
enough to valu" il properly" In the mo-
mcnt of her absence at the window Linley's
mother-inl,w lost the chance at seeing him
whisper to sydney. Meet me in the shrub
berry in half an hour" he said She stepped
back from him startled by the proposal.
When Mrs. Pr'Sty was in the middle of the
room NJ lin Linlcy and the govrrnrss were
no longer near each other.
Having by this time recovered herself,
Kitty got on her legs. Now" the spoilt
child declared, addressing the company pres,
emit I'm going to play
The doll WAS PIT into the pcrambulator
and was wheeled about the ROOM while Mrs,
Linley moved Ga" chairs ont of the way and
Randal-uttcnded with tic open parasol-tIn-
der orders to pretend that the sun was shin
ing" Once more the siXprnny pictme-book
was neglected. Mrs. prcSty picked 1t UP
from the iloor, determined by this time TO
hold it in reserve until her ungratcful grand
child reached Years OF diScr, ton. She pu,
eager to see the dolls splendid clothes taken
of and put on again Come and look at
1t. she said Ia Sydney; Il want you to eli
JOY my birthday rs much ~ do" Left by
himself, X udal got rid If the paraSoI by
putting it on table hear the door. Mrs.
frcsty hcckoncd tn him to join her at the
farther end Of the room.
Il want lou to do me Il favor" she began.
CHANGING nj l.ihley before she proceeded,
Alrs. PrcSty took up newspaper and affect
ed TO hc consulting Raudals opinion on a
passage which had attracted her attention
~ our brother is lookns our way" She wills
pcred; "hc mu~t't suspect that there is IA Sc
crct between Us.
False rTctrnScs OF amy kind invariably irri-
lated Randall what do You want me to
dor he asked sharply.
The reply only increased his pc9plexity.
Observe Miss WcStrrhcld and your broth
er. Look 1T them now
Randall o5cIcd. What Is there to look
at?' he inquired
Cant you see!'
i Sc" they are talking to each other"
They arc talking conldentally; talking
so that Mrs. linley cant hear them. Look
>Vnin."
Randall fixed his cN,S on Mrs Frosty with
an expression Mhicu ~, wed his dislike ut
that lady little tn" = ainly. Before tie
conld answer what she had just said to hjm
ms lively little M 'cc hit on a new idea The
sun WAS shining, I'll. flowers were in their
brightest bcauty-and the dol had not vet
been taken into the garden! Kitty at once
Ied the way out; so completely preoccupied
In steering the perambulator In a straight
course that she forgot her uncle and the para
sol Only waiting TO remind her husband
and Sydney that they were wasting the beau
tful morning indoors, Mrs. Linley followed
her daughtcr-and mnocently placed fatal
obstacle In Mrs PrcSty'S way by leaving tile
nom. Having consulted each other by a
look, Ltnley and the gavcrneSs went out next.
Left alone with Randall. Mrs. Presty's anger,
.tAr fh.,,
fully laid scheme, set restraint at defiance
My daughters married life is wreck"
she burst out pointing Electrically To the
door by which Linley and Sydney Wester-
field had retired And Catherine has the
vile creature whom your brother picked up
In London To thank for It'll Now do you UNI
derStand me?"
Less than ever" Randall anSwered-"un-
less you have taken leave of your senses"
Mrs PreSty recovered the command of her
temper.
On that tine morning her daughter might
remain In the garden until the luncheon bell
rang. Linley had only To say that he wish
cd TO speak with his wife, and the private in
terrIew, which he had so rudely insisted on
rs his sole privilege, would assuredly take
place. The one chance left of still defeating
nun on his own ground was to force Randall
10 interfere by convincing him of his broth
ers guilt Moderation of language and COM
posture of manner offered the only hopeful
prospect OF reaching this end Airs. Presty
assumed the disguise OF pstieu, submission.
and used the irresistible influence of good
humor and good sense.
Il don't complain, dear Randall, OF what
you have said of me" she replied. my in
discretion has deserved It | ought to have
produced my proofs, and have left it to YOU
10 draw the conclusion. Sit down, II YOU
please. Iwon't detain You for more than
few minutes"
Randall had not anticipated such modera-
ton as this; he took the chair that was near
est to Mrs. Presty. They were both now sit
ting with their backs turned to the entrance
from the library to the drawing ROOM
Il won't trouble you with my OWE impress
stous,S Ms. Presty went on, Il will be care
full only to mention what l have seen and
heard. II you refuse to believe me refer
you 10 the guilty persons themselves"
She had just got TO the end of those intro
ductory words when Mrs. Linley returned. by
WAY of the library. to fetch the forgotten
parlsol
Randall insisted on making Mrs. Prestv ex-
press herself plainly. Yen speak of guilty
persons" he said. Am l 70 understand
that one of those guilty persons is my BROTH
er.''