The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-25


been peisively gazing as she buttoned
her glove.
WHIST tie matter cried Kitty. hast.
eniug toward the evidently disturbed
damscl
"Mrs Rutledges carriage IS at the
door exclaimed the latter she prom
ised TO call Tor me Oh dear what shall
| dos She viii be simply furious Il she
finds Fred here"
"Oh, never mind her. said Kitty reas-
suringly "Shc won't come Up She II
send the footman"
oh. yes. she viii said Miss Window.
"See, he exclaimed ptepinE cautiously
from the window. there she l.. getting
n'.t-md -yes-sh.'s coming right into
the house
There was no doubt about H. In a
moment We heard tic elevator boy out
side
"Ihat door maam. No. e
Thank YOU Yea. harsh voice ie-
spondod II SEQ the name on the door.
And then there came loud. authotita-
tive knock Luckily The door was not
open, as IL had been when we came Up
There wa8 @ moment tCr elaboration
looked GROUND.
tile screen whispered Kitty
The very thing she lurfaureI back.
"But. DO Mr.. kltlcJgo b. "a regular
monscr. Wheneycr siie comes hego with
Laura she Invariably prowli over the
whole place aud poke into every ling
"Rat-tat--tat.' came from Tie door
insistcntly
Il have il, came all 90 once from Kitty
in On exaggerated stage whisper Hero
laura Take your chair 90 once. So
Now, then. Mr. Rdeburnc, stand here
Hurry. Malcolm help me 20 roll the screen
around him. On yourkncrs Mr. Eaobume
You can pay little Ia the meanwhile, D.
you want 10, for cur escape. lcu might
do something 10 assist Tie general effort
With thi.. and having Eaeburne faiIi,
imprisoned, she proceeded to throw ovci
the screen q heavy portiere, which wa.
one u the properties, 50 10 speak, Of Lei
ateior
Don't you dare even 10 breathe" wa
her parting injunction 20 poor Fred
I'm not likely to. came ln smotheree
tones from under tho picture. "A-choo
Whewl How dusty that curtain ISL
Rat.tat-tat bang came from the door
And then hand ratified the knob im
patiently.
"Wfat shall I do with Won Malcolm
gasped Kitty. "Oh. fSnow Here hurry
Take this cloak, Producing all immense
dizzy, red affair Vow, tho hat. cram
ming q big tapping Mexican arransemel
over both eyes and Ears "NOw, Till
dagger There. stand in tnir dark corner
with your face TO the wall end try TO loo.
wooden-no, don't Try, just look nature
and youl do"
Having got me thus thoroughly dis
guised as lay figure the little w0mai
turned with an elaborate courtesy IL tn
direction Of the door
Now. madam, she said. Il an at you
service"
She stuck = paint brush scross he
mouth in business like fashion. hung be-
palette on her thumb and opened th
door
"Oh Mrs Rutledge-you-Im go sorr,
10 have kept yOu waiting Dnlcigne
surprise was IN every tone oi hitty
short speech
Mrs. Rutledge bowed without sasiu
anything inreply. and walked maiosiicall
into the room. amid pr0di-ous ustlln.
Of silks She surveyed the apartment TO-
moment u could see her in a small miro
that hing on the wall directly IN front 20.
mel shifted once on twice and then asked
abruptly.
Is there any one else here
only Miss Window. as Yen see
madam. responded KITTY. muOcontly.
Who's been smoking demanded Mrs
Rntledge. with another su.U
"Er-only me Kitty wss evidently
taken aback by this question which wac
in The nature Of a poser, but seeing ther
was but one way ont oi tho dilemma .h'
walked into it like the little heroine
.hc is
You smoke queried the elder lady
! severely.
Yes" said Kitty. You know we Bo
hemiaus will have our little designations.
BY the way, If you don't mind III have g
Cigarette now.
Suiting the action TO the word. Kitty
picked up lny case where had CHANGED &
la7 il on tho mantol, selected a ciglrett,
with the air Of Il c0nnOisseur iit II and
began to puff / could see a qualin pas
over tie poor little wOmsns face as do
expelled-the first m0uthful Of SMOKE. bn'
with the resolution Of e martyr she sfuci
10 her cigarette 10 tie no small ast0nisL
nicnt and disgust Of her caller
Il owe you an apology Tor keeping yor
waiting, Mrs. Rutledgc, explained hitty
But the fact is. was az work Ola very
! delicate part % the portrait when gov
knoched-one VI your wards beautiful
ewes, and, not dreaming that Il could bs
YOU. thought it best TO finish before GO
lng 10 the door
oh, Kitty, You little POCKET edition a
Sapphira, how glibly you did lie that VIII
ter afternoon
Mrs Rutledge turned to her ward
"Are you almost ready 10 80 home
Laura?' she asked.
"Not quite, Mrs Rutledge But yot
! needn't wait can walk quite a. well
It will be tiresome for you up here will
nothing TO do"
II shall wait, interposed the matroI
abruptly Then going up to the girl, she
| looked at her closely Laura she said
what is the matter with your You ar'
flushed and trembling. Laura dispason)
have you been seeing that man agalnl'
What mani murmured poor Laura.
But here a suppressed sneeze from IN
derneath the portiere interrupted her
Mrs. Rutledge turned hastily around
What was thaty she demanded, look
ing suspiciously at the screen.