The Red Cloud chief., 1889-11-08

KITTY"
into the travelling bag under her berth
when she went to her state-room, forgetting
that hers and Katherine's were exactly
alike.
Katherine found il, guessed how 1t came
there and laughed heartily to herself when
she read it, thinking of the CONSERVATION
With which it must have been read when
Mrs. Clafain turned her glass upon it.
Then she re-read it. Something in il
moved her strangely, and she read it again.
1t did not sound like q Jest. A vague U n
happiness she could not account for took
possession Of her and all the rest Of the day
she was absent-minded and quiet.
Now that Eustis was disposed of, Mrs.
Claf1in felt that she could relax her vigi-
lance, and retired to her state-room to su
perintend her packing.
Katherine strOlled out to the bow and
leaned over the railing to watch the fasci-
mating rise and fall of the foam-tipped
waves. It was almost dark. They would
be in sight Of the harbor lights before mid
night.
Presently Rob came up beside her. ''Can
I be Of any service tomorrow, Kittyf' he
asked. ut Is tedious business getting
through LuC CuSVUu1-uOuSCs
'Oh, no, thank you," she answered.
"James will be there to do every thing"
Then she laughed.
"Mrs. Ciaflin thinks she has nipped q fine
romance in the bud. She thinks you have
proposed to me, that you believe ! received
your note and paid no attention to it, and
that I am ignorant OF the true state Of AZ
fairs. But she saw through a glass dark
- ,-h1- ~lo 10000 L.. 1nu. o~ 40 o~A ko~
little stratagem was useless"
Rob did not answer. She stood there q
moment. feeling Q strange restraint In his
silence. Some u-naccountable barrier seemed
between them, and she could not go on jok-
ing as she had done before. Presently he
offered her his arm, and they began to walk
slowly back and forth.
Darkness drew down over b sea, but
tho light streamed out from the cabin doors
and port holes.
NO." he said at length. ''her little strata
gem was not useless. It brought me face to
face with myself. All that I wrote you that
night in Jest l have come out here tonight
to repeat to you in earnest, and q thousand
times more than that. l know now that ]
loved you then, or I could not have written
as / did. / know that this may seem sudden
10 yOus UOt ~ ID uOV ouOOCus y - OOC0 tA0
slow growth Of years, though I have been
so long in recognizing it."
The deep, earnest voice struck . Q
sponsive chord in the girls heart, but shc
would not let him know 1t.
swell, Rob" she said, gaily, "you always
could carry out a Joke better than any ous
hear you now"
"Oh, Katherine, do be serious" he pre-
tested, with adesperate earnestness. s'Be-
lieve me, sweetheart, it is the happiness 81
a lifetime l am asking for. Don't you care
for mel in the leastr
He bent over her in the darkness. Her
hand rested a moment In his, but the sweet
willful lips so rear his own spoke no word.
and the night hid the answer he might have
read in her eyes.
Mrs. Espey passed with her maid.
"MrA Claffin is looking for you" ahs
said in passing. ''She is around on the other
side"
"Wait," pleaded Rob. "You have not
answered me. l will see you tomorrow
ut your homel No; tell me now, Kitty. /
can't let you go without some little wort
Of hope"
She gave him both her hands m instant
IN q quick, impetuous way, and then was
zone.
Early next morning Mrs. Clafain stood
With glass in hand, eagerly scanning the
hundreds Of people at the docks for . sight
II James wel!-known face, and glancing at
katherine now and then 70 wonder how
they would impress each other. She no
iced her bow to some me- just starting
lown the gang plank, and turned In time to
see Robert Eustis raise his hat In what
seemed to her . very cool, Indifferent man
ner.
He couldn't have been 20 much In love
with her a. his letter seemed 70 indicate"
she thought to herself, ''or he never would
have gotten over it SO quickly. No telling,
though, what it might have cone to II !
hadn't interfercd. Thank goodness. here