Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-14

gested. Fred gradually came sur OF vfntE
quarters and bearaed On Us again with his
usual conversational warmth
Il didn't know he said to Miss Wiz
dom, that you and K-Miss Kitty were
acquainted How long have you knsv1
each other;
Let me see, returned the girl. looking
over at kitty. how long have VIE known
each other, Miss Clydes"
Then the two. for some irexplicasls
reason. went Of into another fit Il II
astonishing how much laughter that can't
he accounted for Is INDUCED in at times
by the sex
oh. dare say it's very amusing" ex-
claimed Fred, IN f-ster. bat don't you
think il would convey more information
to Us who are not in the secret II you'd
answer my question:
Come here, Fred. J" said Miss Window,
resnming her gravity and her perpen-
dicular q. the zane time I've some
thing to show you. Nay II she asked Of
Kitty. as she passed her.
Kitty shrugged her shoulders. and the
young girl evidently taking this as sign
Of assent. led her sEzin to the further
end Of the room. where kitty's easel
stood near back window. There they
leaned over a picture which stood upon
the easel. but which was Invisible TO me
from where sat Seeing them engaged
together turned to Kitty and demanded:
"WilI you please inform me now. Miss
Clyde. how this School for Scandal stu
alton has soae to he precipitated upon Us
two offensive niortalsl'
Nothing easier. quoth Kitty. Then
she relapsed for a moment into an amused
ehuckle Excuse me, Malcolm. but 1t
was SO funny When you two men got
out Of your chairs you looked for all the
world as If you had just been earted
around from the Eden Musee
| tried TO appear amused. and waited
patiently for kitty's explanation.
You see, D." she began, Il have been do
ing some more work for The Talltower.
This time i have been writing up the
Gotham studios. Well. in my distribution
Of puTs lid not forget myself. You may
DO sure | described elaborately those
sketches | made on the Jersey coast last
summer The pen pictures were some
how a good deal nicer than the brush
ones" commented Kitty pensivciy
We'll, it so happened that Miss Window
saw the article and. being an amateur Of
painting and having sketched on the
Jersey coast herself. she came up TO see
my pictures What more she bought
some OF them, added Kitty looking over
to where Miss Window was just ten
making pretty picture of herself J.
ing over the easel with the winter sun
light falling on her blonde head turning
the masses Of her hair into gold
What have you got on the easel over
theref' queried
Its . portrait Of her-Laura." Kitty
replied. She liked my method so well
that she insisted on my painting her por
trait. You know she's very rich. and she
pays me quite handsomely for it. She is
a dear. good girl, and I'm very fond Of
her. looking affectionately at the subject
of her encomiums She comes up nearly
every day for 9 sitting We were At it
when you came IN was just finishing
one Of her eyes. and told her to keep quiet
for = moment. Then the conversation
out here became so personal that we
couldn't announce ourselves. And Kitty
relapsed into an amused giggle-
Kitty. | said severely, that joke is
getting to be chestnut"
At this moment the other two joined us,
and we drew up together around the cory
fireplace and prepared to spend pleasant
afternoon together.
Kitty made tea ordinarily hate tea,
but as Kitty makes it RUSSIAN fashion.
she says. and served with q slice of
lemon, it is far from bad. By and by she
got down her banjo and played us two or
three soft. plaintive melodies. which had
the effect Of sleeping US in . sort of ten
der melancholy Raeburne, indeed, be-
came so maudlin that nothing would do
him but that Miss Window should sing
That is always the way Whenever | sec
a lovely face which quite satisfies me.
some idiot insists on the statue opening
It's mouth to disenchant me. | settled
back In my chair and prepared to hear
White Wings, or The Lost Chord
with what fortitude might Miss Win
dom took the banjo, struck few soft
notes, and then in q low. sweet voice. full
Of expression, sang the verses which fol
low. got copy Of them afterward
from Raeburne It seems ho wrote them
one moonlight night during an especially
desperate crisis OF the tender passion.
Miss Window composed the air. | was
surprised on reading them to find so little
Of the dreamy pathos that seemed to per
wade them. when Miss Window sang
them.
Sweetheart Of mine, Tapped In the gloom lie
Mid bitter thoughts. Yet, dear. | will rejoice,
II IL be 20, that must make the choice,
To take my love and let the world go by.
Sweetheart Of mine
Sweetheart Of mine. far through the silent night
Ny heart turns toward my darling where she
lies,
To breathe . kiss upon her fast shut eyes,
And Ill her sleep with happy dreams and
Sweetheart of miue
Sweetheart OF mine whatever may befall;
Come veal, come woe come pleasure come
Sorrows shall heat upon my heart In vain
Your perfect love is recompense for all
Sweetheart Of mine.
When the last notes had died away
there was an eloquent silence. mentally
followed Goldsmith's example and handed
the young lady my hat. But the ire
pressible Raeburne could not long be
muzzled
Thanks nwfully. Laura" he said Il
could sit here forever to listen to you
Could not you, Miss Clydef''
Hardly forever. unless | was 'deuced-
ly fond Of her, replied Kitty, merrily
joined Kittys laugh this time, though
in truth the joke was getting shop worn.
But it's just as well to have Fred squelch-
ed once In while. If not he's apt to be-
come so dreadfully universal
Miss Windon. with q little sigh. put
down the banjo. and. rising. said with an
expressive glance at Raeburne: Il really
must 60. Thank you very much for my
pleasant afternoon. Miss Clyde May l.
may say Kittyf''
That you may" responded our little
hostess heartily. Il shall be only too
pleased to have you"
Miss Window strolled over to the win
dow and began drawing on her gloves
How strangely few simple notes can
affect one. said l. assuming my favorite
Colossus OF Rhodes attitude before the
FIRE, II remember in Paris once being
awakened by hand organ playing Home,
Sweet Home beneath my window. and do
you know
There is somebody going to play
Home. Sweet Home, beneath this win
dow cried Miss Window. starting back
from the easement, out Of which she had
been pensively gazing as she buttoned
her glove
What's the mstterf' cried Kitty. hast
ening toward the evidently disturbed
dsmsel.
Mrs. Rutledge's carriage is at the
door. exclaimed the latter. She prom
ised to call for me. Oh. dear, what shall
dor She will be simply furious If she
finds Fred here"
"0h, never mind her. said Kitty reas-
suringly. She won't come up. She'll
send the tootman."
oh. yes. she will. said Miss Window
See" she exclaimed. peeping cautiously
from the window. there she is getting
out--and-yes-shes coming right into
the house.