The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-12
THE BAKERS DOZENTH.

upon NE us hi uu4IShCu Gub, SDCCilllCu
fresh from the woods. And the truth is,
have been out of the world so long that l
have old fashioned notions of women. These
modern girls are bewilderingto my mind. l
should never know how TO approach one OF
them"
* tty isn't made Of spun glass" said the
old man. "She's deuced obstinate, hard
bitted little jade When she gets heI head
set, you couldn't rout her with your heav-
lest artillery. You Sec" his voice soften
ing. the gill has been an orphan from
babyhood. and l have sadly spoiled her.
But if she married true mau-not one of
those sneaking civilians, but brave, hon
est solder-she would be constant as the
sun"
Il see what you mean, dear General"
said the Captain, with emotion in his voice.
but don't think OF ii, sir, II cannot be, and
he extended his hand.
The old General grasped the outstretched
hand in his.
'Robert," said lie. show can l held think
ing Of it? You and that girl are all have
in the world. and l had hoped 10 keep you
near me IN my old age"
After that poor Kitty had hard lines with
her uncle. There were constant twIngeS in
his leg, and he was always in vile humOr
when she WAS present; but she often heard
him laughing uproarlously with the Cap
tain when alone in their private sessions.
Toward the young man himself She was
Studiously polite. and he met her in the
same spirit She firted more desperately
than ever. Baby DetmoTe was the favoTite
of the hour. She b0ated with him, danced
with HIM, played croquet with him. rode
with him, aud spent long after moons RAM
bling with him in the delightful laurel
woods that skrted the lake.
" am disappointed in my calculations
ahpur ha bal-ar's do - r % 4 naT
one evening, as they stood in the warm glow
of the sunset on the piazza, the beautiful
radiance shining on hitty's FURNISHED hair.
Il thought you would have that tall Cap
tam At your feet long before this; but the
Baby seems to be the favOrite. Do you
know, Eve caught the Captain looking at
you with saTdonic expression of mingled
admiration and dlsapproval? 1t would not
be strange II you were weaving your coils
about hn They say TO hate is the surest
way to begin love. Who knows but num-
Der thirteen may be the winning horse,
after all ?'
Don't talk slang, Rose" said Kitty,
with dignity. " You know nothing about
the Captain; he is q msogynst."
Good heavens! Kitty, what is that?'
l don't know. 1t is a word l hear the
professor use"
When I want to hurI an epithet of
whitening contempt at a man." laughed
Louise, Il shall call him misogynist"
That night Kitty stole away from the
dancers and enter, the Generals little
IaTlor flied with the sweet shaduesS Of
the sumner evening. There were two CT
CARS that shOne like stars, and the two
friends were telling campaigning stories,
fighting their battles over again. The deep
sonoTuus voice OF the Captain went on
steadily for half an hour. He used the best
and tersest English, and the picture he drew
Was graphic and spirited. 1t was an ac-
count u very daring exploit in which he
bad taken the principal part, but in the re-
cital he kept himself out of sight.
why, pusS, is that you? l thought You
were dancing your feet of" said the Gen
eTal. in great surprise
- did not care about dancing tonight"
said Kitty, as she came slowly forward.
Bring me the candle, child"
He had not spoken so kindly for weeks.
Kitty brought the candle, and as she did so
the Captain turned his back and looked out
the window. Size was in white, and there
was bunch Of fOrget-me-nOts in the bosom
OF her dress. She put up her face TO be
kissed, like spoiled child.
Love me q little, tonight, uncle" she
Whispered; Il am as blue as | can be-"
The old man could not help kissing her
fondly and stroking her hair; md as he did
so the little bunch of forget-me-nots fell
out. When she left the room the Captain
picked them W unseen, and put them some
where inside his "oat.
Poor Kitty's fair weather did not last
long. The next morning her uncle, In a
towering rage, sent for her.
sit down there, he said, pointing to
chair opposite, and she obeyed. ''What is
this hear about your engagement to that
IDIOT Delmore"
81 don't know, sir"
And you don't know" cried he, "that he
is an unprincipled knave apd a brainless
fool His father is a reckless gambler in
Wall street, covered up with debts that he
N q rr 10 rYa fo
help him to pay. But, by heaven, not a
copper Of my fortune shall 20 that way.
Promise me that you will not engage your
self TO that young ape, or that you will
break with him If you have had the folly to
do so already, or you will never see shll-
ling Of my money after l am gone"
There were legal-loUkinR documents on
the table before the old man.
DO you promise2" he cried, holding a
pen suspended in his nand
M she said. as she rose Indignantly to
her feet, 81 cannot be frightened by
threats" and she swept proudly from the
room.
Kitty carried her sun hat in her hand-a
pretty, broad-brlmmed Leghorn, trimmed
with trailing vine. .Dry-eyed and pale
walked swiftly down the path that led TO
the laurel wood. She had no more than
reached the shade. when young Dstmore
sprang into the path before her.
ol, hitty' dearest Kitty" he began,
eeargerly, " am so glad to find you here! i
have something very particular to say"
Step" cried Kitty, imperiously, land
listen to what | have to say to you. am a
poor girl, Mr.. ID tmore l havenot a penny
OF my own in the world. Go and tell the
other young men at the hotel that my uncle
has wlled all his fortune away from me-"
The young man stood as if petriied, and
she swept on down the path before him,
A quarter OF mile of rapid walking
through the underground brought Kitty sud-
denly against the professor, who had car
RED his lexicon out into the shade. In
moment be had confronted her, his saIIow
face beaming
am so glad to fiud you here alonep'
said be. For days have sought an oppor-
tunlty to speak to you"
Don't do it," said Kitty, with tragic de-
spalr; let me speak to you. / am poor
glr, and 1t is all mistake about my being
an heiress. My uncle has wiled away from
NE every penny Of his money"
MISS Mortimer" exclaimed the professor
In panied and reprOachful tone, chow
could you think me so mercenary? l have
loved you for yourself alone"
Don t. don't! cried Kitty In plaintiye
tone: You are good man-wcrlds above
me. put could not marry you. l should be
milestone around your neck"
Sbe ran from him abruptly and dashed
into the thick woods farther and farther
deeper and deeper, losing breath, then
stopping to listen il she we're followed.
She was In strange place, where large.
somber trees grew. twas late in the after
noon; the sun was setting, the twilight
gathering around her, when She rested on
messy log. and leaned against a tree trunk.
with her feet In the ferns. She was sob.
bling because she felt utterly miserable. de-
1ected and abandoned. And stealthily the
night s, came -, on: Suddenly there was
and Kitty sprang up with little nervous
scream.
Dent be afraid" said deep. manly
voice she well knew; Miss Mortimer"
said Captain Heath, you here alone, miles
away from the hoteli know the aversion
you cherish toward me-" he added, but
yOn must allow me to see you to the house"
Kitty tried to hide her tear-sCained face.
81 know that you dislike me, Captain
Heath" she answered, "and it is unneces-
sary for you to impose so disagreeabe task
upon yourself. l can walk quite as well
alone"
Miss Mortimer" said he, ignoring this
speech, Il see that you have been weeping,
and know that you have quarreled with
your uncle. He was on the point of doing
you great wrong But let me relieve your