Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-01
XIII,


They were all assembled as usual at the
breakfast table.
PrefeTing 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 epicure in pleas
urable sensations land make me want to see
them until l can bear it no longer" The
gifts had accordingly been collected in an
embrasure of one Of the windows; and the
time had now arrived when Kitty could bear
it 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
vision Of beauty in the shape of doll. The
dress of this wonderful creature exhibited
the latest audacities of French fashion. Her
head made a bow; her eyes went to sleep
and woke again; she had voice that said
two words-more precious than 1900 in the
mouth of mere living creature. Kitty's
earns opened and embraced her gift with a
scream Of ecstasy. That feryent pressure
found its way to the right spring. The doll
squeaked: Mamma !'-and creaked-and
cried again-and said: "Papa?' Kitty sat
down on the floor; her legs would support
her no longer. 81 think l shall faint" she
said, quite seriously.
In the midst of the general laughter Sgd
ney silently placed a new toy "a pretty little
imitation of a jewelers. casket) at Kitty S
side, 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 Of her hands as she made the
effort which preserved her cOmp0Sure.
The dolls necklace, bracelets, and watch
and chain riveted Kitty's attention on the
casket. Just as she thought of looking round
for her dear sgd her father produced new
outburst of delight by presenting perambu-
lator worthy of the doll. Her uncle follow
ed with parasol, devoted to the preserva-
ton of the dolls complexion when she went
out for an airing. Then there came pause.
| Where was the generous gTandmOtherS giftf
| Nobody remembered it; Mrs. Presty herself
| discovered the inestimable siXpenny picture
| book cast away and forgotten on distant
window-seat Il have a great mind to keep
| this" she said to Kitty, ''tiIl you are old
enough to value it properly" In the mo-
ment Of her absence at the window Linley's
mother-in-law lost the chance Of 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. Presty was in the middle of the
room again Linley and the governesS were
I no longer near each other.
Having by this time recovered herself
Kitty got on her legs. ''Now," the spoiIt
| child declared, addressing the company pres.
ent, I'm going to play"
The doll was put into the perambuIatol
and was wheeled about the room, while Mrs
| Linley moved the chairs out of the way and
Randall attended with the open parasol-un.
der orders to pretend that the sun was shin,
ing" Once more the siXpenny pieture-boob
was neglected. Mrs. Presty picked it UP
from the floor, determined by this time to
hold it in reserve until her Jngrateful grand
child reached years Of discretion. She put