St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-30
Mr., KILVINGTON'S LETTERS.
Or How the Pretty Widow Whom He Tilted Got Even With
Him.

llG
breaking his engagement with the
pretty widow, Mrs. ThOIp. until he mad
actually proposed 10 and been accepted
by Miss Romans, the American heiress.
But. having thus secured his future
happiness, he lost no time in waiting
upon the widow in order to obtain his
congo.
Mr.. Kilvington naturally felt trliie
i'll at ease when he started OFF on this
delicate errand, and upon being ushered
into the widows dainty drawing room
he gazed around him with vague Sensa-
tons of regretful remorSe. 1t was
charming little apartment, suggestive
of its owner-bright, pretty, tasteful
and luxurious. But it was limited, like
the widows income. whereas the wealth
of Miss Romans was immense. Oh! If
Mrs. Thorp had only been little better
off! She was really. in other respects,
much superior TO the heireSS.
Mr.. KilvingtOn yielded for an instant
10 this little Outburst of sentiment, ana
then SteTnly pulled himself together.
He needed only To recall TO mind that
Mrs. Thorp would probably have cost
him considerably more per annum to
maintain as a wife than the income she
would have brought to feel entirely
recopciled to the course he had decided
upon. But he could not help experience
ing considerable nervousness at the
ordeal of facing Mrs. Thorp. He I'M
agined that he was going TO break her
heart. or at least anticipated / painful
scene. He was sorry for the poor
woman. but he was chiefly sorry for
himself at having to reveal unpleasant
news to her. He would infinitely have
preferred to do it by letter, but prudence
whispered that any personal incon-
Venience was better than the risk of
terminating the engagement by writ
ten document He had a wholesome
horror of an action for breach of prom
Use, and he intended that the words of
separation should be spoken by the
lady. and not by him. He had been
quietly leading up to the present crisis
for a considerable time, and he tiattered
himself that the note he had written de-
mandiIg the interview was master
piece of diplomacy.
In the midst of his uneasy medIta-
tions the door opened and the pretty
widow sailed into the room. Her eyes
sparkled, her face was flushed. Kill
VingtOn thought he had never seen her
look so handsome. But she did not
suffer him to appTOch her. and greeted
him with a little nod which was half
careless, half.defiant.
Did YOU receive my note, Agnes?"
he said in a Subdued and melancholy
tone.
Yes, Mr.. KilvingtOn," said Mrs.
ThOrp, barricading herself, as it were,
behind a small tea table.
"Oh, Agnes. Why Mr.. KiIvington?''
he asked reprOachfully.
Because | don't wish to be called
Agnes any more-at least by you, Mir.
Kilvington!' said Mrs. ThOrp pretty
sharply.
Il am to understand, Mrs. ThOrp.
that you desire to terminate our-our
engagement" said Mr.. KilvingtOn with
uncomfortable eagerness.
'Of course. That is what you meant
by your note and by your recent extra
ordinary behavior, isn't ito" inquired
the widow, raising her arched eye
browS.
DIFF you think so, Mrs Thorp-," began
Mr.. Kilvington. rising in a dignified
way from his seat.
i do, and what is more, have come
prepared. you see. Here are your pres
ents." said the widow. producing
small parcel and laying it on the table.
Il little thought. that it would ever
come to this between us, Mrs. Thorp."
said Mr.. KilVingtOn, in as depressed a
tone as possible.
Il never thought that it would come
to much else, Mr.. kilvington," replied
Mrs. Thorp, with rather a Sbrill little
laugh. Il always suspected that you
were fonder OF Yourself than of me. l
have found you useful as an escort, but
] really cannot tolerate you any longer.
And SO-bOn jour. monsieur"
The widow kissed the tips of her
pink fingers at the empty space be-
tween them, with another little laugh.
KilVingtOn. who had been mentally re-
hearsing farewell speech of mingled
reprOach and tenderness, suddenly con-
cluded that he had, perhaps, better ter
inmate the interview, so he cOughed
uneasily and took up his hat.
Il hope that we shall remain friends,
Mrs. Thorp," he murmured, as lie eX-
tended his hand dOHbtfully.
NO, Mr.. KilvingtOn, we are enc
mics" replied the widow, scoffingly.
though there was an unpleasant ring of
decision In her tone. Il shall tell every
one my opinion of yOu.'
Really. Mrs. ThoTp-" began Kill
vington, considerably embarrassed.
ut is only fair to warn you," inter
posed the widow, very brisllly, that l
shall, if possible, expose you. Ii j had
been & young, inexperienced girl, your
conduct might have ruined my happi-
ness. l think you are the most selfish,
heartleSS, mean-spirited man L have
ever met"
''Oh, very well. ThenI will say good
day. replied Kilvington, not indeed
knowing what else to say in his cOnfu-
sion.
Coed day, Mr.. KilvIngton," said the
widow, with an irOnical bow.
Il will return your letters" he re-
marked.
81 shall keepyOurs, replied the lady,
quietly.
"Whatm exclaimed Kilvington, with
a start.
"You surely do not wish to deprive
me of then,' said the widow, with a
malicious smile. "They are such nice,
frank, straightforward, manly letters,
AT. KilVingtOn."
"Why do you wish to keep them,
MADAME" said Kilvington, UneaSily.
''Oh! you need not be afraid. There
is not a word in them that a Judge or
jury could interpret into a promise to
marry me-" retorted the widow, with a
scornful laugh.
Il will BOT remain here to be i'll
suited, Mrs. Thorp," said Kilvington,
moving toward the door with an at
tempt at dignity which was ludicrousIy
at variance with his painful confusion.
stay, Mr.. KilvihgtOn. You have for
gotten your parcel" said the widow.
with grim pOlitencss.
"Thank you," said he, turning back
and taking the small packet from the
table with a creStfalIen air.
The things will perhaps suit Miss
Romanis," observed the widow very
sWcetly.
Kilvington skunk out of the room like
dog with its tail between its legs, and
took 10 notice of the widows parting
shaft, though it made him vince. His
face were a scared expression as he
emerged from the house, and the echo
OF the ripping laughter which accom-
PANIED his exit sounded ominously OF
his ears. Till that moment he had no
been aware that Mrs. Thorp knew OF
Miss Romans existence; still less tha
she knew or suspected his attention Il