Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-11

affirmed it tar better than having a cripple
for husband, even though he might have
made his wife Lady Egbert Poindexter.
Now at last to this fatigued struggler would
come the blessed release of repose. Not
the repose of rest, however. Margaretta
Kennaird was of the kind whose most peace
ful hours are spent in the hustle of ball
rooms and for whom there can be no more
distracting mental turmoil than simply
staying al home?
The remark which we have heard regard
ing the richness of Kathleen's costume
worn at her lovers little banquet in her
honor contained an undeserved sneer. Mrs.
Kennaird had gone rather deeply into debt
since the engagement, but she had not bor-
rowed q dollar of Alonzo. Her course, how
ever, had worried Kathleen not little, and
it was with reference to that same sable
trimmed garment that the girl had said:
Mamma, what is the use of such splen-
dor? Everybody knows We can't afford it. :"
"My dear, was the reply, NOBODY knows
very much about us financially. l read in
the society column of some paper the
other day that my late husband had left me
only s., 600 year. ] couldn't help wishing
heo left me one. Bat I'd Just as lief have
Ii thought that l possessed $40, 900. If
you can't be comfortably we'll off the next
best thing is to appear SO"
81 don't agree with you; think just the
opposite" protested Kathleen "Besides,
mamma, there's but one way that these
bills can be paid
Certainly, there is but one way, dear
You will pay them after you're Mrs Lisp
enard."
'But it isn't nice"
ITO mention the matter now? Very true,
II isn't But you brough. it up, my child.
I've always insisted that taste and silence
are twin sisters, and that our salvation
largely depends on the things We do not
saw"
This evening, after they had reached
home, Mrs hennaird's humoc was notably
bland. The event of the afternoon had put,
as it were, final filigree on the structure
of her attainments Her future spread
deliciously halcyon. Still, during dinner,
and throughout the remainder of the even
ing, she had much to say concerning the
Chcester suicide, and her words were
blended with hints of worrment that came
and fed along the current of her speech
like lights and shades along lapse OF
meadow.
1--WE might have gone to the Ogstons, after
all" She said to Kathleen at desert. It's
only q small affair, and the Patriarch's ball
may quite spoil it: but then the Ogstons are
so selecf Th y have no real right to their
extremely lofty position it's true, but"
"DoHt you recoilect, mauma?" Kathleen
broke in. "We thought it best not to go
everywhere nowadays on account of
rump ing good gowns for larger entertain
meuts. Now, don't change your mind at tho
last moment; please don't. I've an interest
ing book, and I'd intended passing a quiet
Then Alonzo isn't coming at all to-
night9"
q think he will not come" replied Kath-
leen, who at the same time hoped he would
come, yet did not presume to prOphesy-
Aionzo, as it turned out remained absent
Kathleen forgave him, knowing what an ex-
n f,,ve clsaf cad
an evening of suspense that was ended by
disappointment.
She slept i'll that night, and rose so late
that when she appeared at breakfast her
mother had completed the meal and met her
with half-crumpled morning paper in one
hand while the other employed itself in lit
things printed about the suicide of Mr..
Chichester" Mrs. Kennaird announced.
,,Oh, perfectly dreadful things! 1t can't be
true though that he has ruined the firm be-
fore blowing his brains out!'
NO, no." faltered Kathleen. as she seated
herself the breakfast table "AlooSo will
will be here this morning, I'm sure. and tell
US the real facts"
He came, but not till late that afternoon.
He had been with his uncle until quite late
on the previous evening, and he had spent
all the earlier part of his day at the bank.
Ruin, ruin, or something almost rs hOrr1-
ble," rang through his brain as he stood at
kathleen's doorstep. He was silently quot
ing the words of his uncle, uttered just be-
fore they parted.
kathleen received him alone. "rm so
glad your mother isn't here" he began, as
they sank beside one another on sofa.
I've great deal to tell you"
And he made clear what he had to tell. 1t
was terrible tidings The Lispenard wealth
had been wildly squandered. "I'm poor
man." Alonzo at length finished As he
thus spoke he caught Kathleen's hand, and
instead of pressing it waited for her to do so.
The clasp came, but more family than he
had expected.
'Ilathleen!" he exclaimed, and withdrew
his hand entirely from hers. 'LonZ! LonZ!'
she said, and looked at him with wistful
eyes that a threat of fearful storm seemed
Garkening. .
just then Mrs Kennaird entered. She had
been listening, but by no means had caught
all that AlOnZo had spoken His voice had
been too low, in the. first place, and in the
second she had used an overplus of caution.
A ONO gave her q somewhat fiurTied
greeting and slipped from the apartment
within the next few minutes, promising
Kathleen that he would come back that
evening.
Bat it was five good days before he came
back. During this time he wrote his sweet
heart seN eTal eager and soulful letters in
more than one of which he offered to release
her from all bonds OF betrothal. Repeatedly
Kathleen replied that she would not consent
20 be released. During those days the very
worst became patent to Alonzo. mere
wreck was left to his sister and himself Of
their former splendid patrimony. The
young man was surprised by his own calm
ness. He arranged in the most quiet way
for g sale or all his possessions; he held more
than one very painful interview with MS
sister at his own residence; he discharged
his servants and engaged small suite OF
rooms, placing q bill upon his house in
Gramercy Park. His many costly art treas
ures he offered to an auctioneer on condition
of their immediate sale. He amazed every
body who observed him by his cOolness and
serenity. And ali the while his heart was
stIaincG bya wretched suspicion OF Kathleen.
Not that he thoroughly doubted her, but
there had been a nameless dread born OF
that last meeting-a dread which her letters
did not dissipate, for he seemed to read be-
tween their lines, and as he thus read,
voice vaguely cried to hlm-"lt IS not Shel
It Is not the woman you SO trusted Some
thing that you believed would leap from
her and breathe itselfto you, burning, living,
unmistakably has not shown ITSELF"
And yet he might be Wronglng her so
sternlyi What If his dear and faithful friend,
Philip Lexington, would go to her and hold
q little talk with her. and tell him afterward
whether he was madly sel:-conscious fool
or whether there had really been good cause
for his doubts?
Alonzo felt his heart warm toward Philip
Lexington rs be thought these thoughts.
Dear Philip" ran his musings. He will
come TO me on the instant and seek to aid
ME all he can"
Lexington obeyed the summons. He looked
as handsome as ever and listened with his
usual gracious calm to all that Alon=o said.
When his turn came to reply, howe' er,
Lexington shifted his legs uneasly and
posed a little sideways mis- dark, shapely
head.
II don't a bit want to sound Miss Kinnaird
on this question" he softly declared. I'D
ever so much rather be excused. Frankly,
would"
AIonzo stared st Kim and then dropped his
eyes. ''oh, you prefer not to serve meT All
aWhy put it like THAR" came the reply.
ard serve you, If l could. in some other
.tD,,. .l,;,,r- oe .o,,,o o+ber rn,nnarn Al