The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-11-20

said indignant Kitty. I do ike Alan,
and he likes me There And if you
laugh any more, I'll slap you"
But you haven't told your story yet, :
said Geoffrey. soothingly. Il may not
come to the desert isIind point vet Lis
Ten. Alan Kate Is going ID lie married
again"
Nonsense !" said Alan Darcy.
But she is, though. We have ii from
the very best Of authority Eli, Kitty -
:" And We want you 10 speak to her
and tell her not to" hysterically cried
Kitty. Because We never, never could
be happy then again, if there was sec
ond husband prowling about. Especial
ly Colonel Percival. Ifthere's man in
that We hate aud despise. its Colonel Per-
cival- And only think, Alamo more
nice moonlight sailing in the Lady
Ceres no more boating parties Of just
Us four-no more delicious days in the
woods when nuts are ripe, and the golden
rod comes into bloom. Oh, Alan, you
Rlast dissnade her"
Alan Darcy stood pulling his long,
black mnstache With restless hand.
" Il would be pity said he. Well,
don't fret, poor little mites / don't sup
pose / have much influence with your
mother, but can at least have Try at
it. Stay you here with the boat, chill
dren- III go up to the house and see
what all this means"
Kitty, still weeping, seated herself in
the stern Of the boat, with Der beloved
" Iyanhee in her lap. Godfrey flung
himself on sunny stretch Of sand Alan
Darcy strobe up through the strawberries
into the sweet rose garden where Mrs.
Cardel generally spent good portion of
her mornings.
But she was not here to-day. Hecould
see her on the lawn beyond, where
monstrous walnut tree cast its moving is
let of shade, and he went straight to-
wards her
Kate" said he, Is this true"
Is what true, Alan ?" with start
What the children tell me. That
you are to be married again Indeed, =
he added, little bitterly, it is no won
der that you blush "
a did not blush ~ cried indignant
Mrs. Cardel, who was only Kitty grown
up and blossOmed from the bud into the
full, perfect rose. And why should L?
Have l not right to be married twice,
three times-f04y times, if l please Is
there any one whose business it is to die
tate to me?v
You mean that as a hint for me,
suppose" said Alan Darcy, reddening
" Well. perhaps have deserved if. At
all events shall take care not to trans
gress again. Only, Kate, as We were such
old friends"
Wers p Mrs. CArdelIs sweet voice
had softened indescribably. Are still,
Alan, / hope"
Thanks he said, bitterly. am
not particularly interested in Colonel
Percivsls wife. But cannot hear the
pleAdings Of those children without, at
least, an effort to save them this cruel
pang"
Kate Cardel was silent Apparently
she was intent on the rose she was pluck
ing to pieces But Is he looked at her,
her lips quivered 4 sudden tear splash
ed down among the rose-petals. She
lifted her soft eyes pleadingly to his face.
Alan Alan!' she cried, don't be
so cruel y
"Cruel To you, my darling ;"
In second he had her in his arms,
her golden tresses streaming over his
shoulder, her forehead close pressed
against his head They understood each
other without a word.
He loved her. She Vas pledged to be
has wife,
But what will the children say ~
cried Kate, disheveled and charming.
They have such horror of-of-S
A step-father,7 said Alan. But they
haven't horror of me. All have 10 DO
is to 90 down and tell them that Colonel
Percival has gone 10 his New Mexico
ranch. 1t viii better to be quite frank
with them"
And be went valiantly to the beach,
and told them the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
Kitty looked little downcast at first.
Then" said she, the desert island
plan wouldn't do OF all. And you tro,lid
have suited me, Alan However, mag
unanimously, Il would rather have Kate
happy than to be happy myself. Kate
has had rather a stormy time of it, Of
late
Geof looked grave.
Kitty said he, :: We must turn over a
new leaf We must not keep calling
papa and mamms, Kate and Alan
any more"
lie looked slyly st Darcy as he spoke.
THANK you, my boy said Alan,
promptly. II think it would be better
in pnblic, at least. Aud you shall see
that III take better care Of you than Col
onel Percival would have done. Ny
word for that"
Kitty stood on tiptoe to kiss her new
fasher. Geof elung lovingly to his side.
And 50 the children were converted TO
the inevitable.
But all the time, it seems Kitty said,
solemnly, 'the old cats were talking
about Alan-papa, l mean-when We
thought they meant the Colonel. How
do you suppose they knew, Geoffrey ?"
~What does it matter how they knew"
retorted Godfrey, so long as be is com
ing home TO live, and mamma is 50 hap
py, and you and are suited, Kitty ?"
Which remark embodied all the prin-
cipIes of true philosophy.
Gard Of Thanks.
TT the nronrietor If Ea-7nss Paisarn