The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-07-09

book am Q stranger to them all, and
the two cooks and the two coachmen
and the two gardeners have taken up the
quarrel. and all fight each other Tom
Childers shoots our cats wncn they
perch on the brick wall. and the cook
throws the dead cats over into our gar
den. and our cook throws them back,
with the addition Of broken crockery
bottles and old boota"
That is not the worst Of it." said
MrA Spoford with 4 sigh, taking up her
embroidery again 1T iS almost the
same as II Kitty and Aunt Sophy and
Uncle Ben were all dead and buried.
Your father and have agreed never to
speak Of them. to ignore the place just
as II It did not exist, but we can't sit on
our veranda when they are on theirs, for
every word is plainly overheard, or II
we do we are forced TO speak In whis-
pers We have heard Uncle Ben say
Odious things about US when our backs
were turned. and some Of the warmest
days have closeted myself and nearly
stifled because 1t was 90 painful to sit
there and see my old friend Mrs. Chill
ders looking thin and pale and worn. !
know II weighs on her. too, poor womani
She has been i'll lately. and It has gone
TO my heart to know she is 30 poorly
without being able to say kind word
Uncle Ben's nature seems quite changed
He tries TO irritate your father in every
way. The pipes broke some weeks ago
and flooded the cellar. and now he has
begun q suit against Us for damages
Something about the connecting drama
don't understand It at all. and dare
not ask your father to explain; 1t makes
him look 50 apathetic. sometimes
think this quarrel will shorten his days
would gladly sell the house and move
away, but your father never will give
in II would look too much rs II he
were the under dog in the fight. Why
it's almost like living in perpetual state
Of siege. You never know when your
enemy will make breach in the wall.
and then to remember that you have
once loved the enemy sodearly, and that
now it is your duty to hate him, distorts
things horribly"
Mark had gone back to his low chair,
and sat with his elbows on his knees,
and his big hands thrust through his
thick chestnut locks. As he raised his
eyes from the carpet his glance passed
through the open window, and there in
plain sight was the wall Of Kitty's
home, a brick and gray stone wall over.
run with wisteria vine. that clambered
about the drawing room window, screened
by lace curtain. with large bowl Of
geraniums which Kitty's hands had ar
ranged
Mark knew that his own bedroom win
dow was exactly opposite Kitty's, on
the second story, across pretty piece OF
greensward, shaded by clumpof droop
ing elms But Kitty's window on that
side was always closed with shutters and
blinds There were two other windows
opening from her room on the garden,
and the prospect Of her ever appearing
on the Spofford side Of the house seemed
quite hopeless However. poor Mark
was not absolutely without some sign Of
her existence. At that very moment
the sound Of Kitty's piano came stealing
across from the other house He could
in fancy sre his Kitty sitting there on
the stool. lingering the white keys with
her little dimpled hands. the rings Of
golden hair curling like tendrils about
her forehead. and hehind her ear. that
pretty ear itself pearly and pink like a
shell. and the gentle. suAve turn Of her
neck. and her smile that seemed to cash
out on him bewildsringly. for no one
ever had so sunny a smile as Kitty. 1t
irradiated her whole face, flooded her
blue eyes. touched the gracious curve Of
her forehead, dimpled her cheek and
made her both captivating and arch
The thought Of Kitty's smile maddeued
Mark He got up and prowled about
the room. disarranged the bric-a-brac on
the chimney piece. overset inkBtand
broke q flower vase and turned his moth
er's work basket upside down. and ut
last that much enduring lady lost all
patience.
"You are worse than q bull in q china
shop. Mark, Do go and subdue yourself
by practicing with Indian clubs or swing
ing dumb bells. would suggest ten
mile walk, or the breaking Of q wild
pouy-anything to work Of your super.
huOus strength before you have broken
everything within doors"
"T'll tell you, nanny dear, I've
mind to go aud knock hole In the gar.
den wall"
Better not. Mark. Tom keeps ter.
rible Siberian mastiR named Grip that
even the family are afraid Of. He came
near tearing the butchers boy in pieces
the other day. and II you were TO venture
upon him when he Is unclaimed there
would be nothing left Of you but the
buttons"
Mark went out bareheaded into the
garden and strolled around the paths in
his slippers. He crammed his little
black students pipe full Of tobacco, and
began putting away meditatively as he
cast his weather eye up at Kittys win.
dow on the garden side. With a great
head and mighty shock Of curling au.
burn hair. Mark had good deal Of in.
ventive genius slowed away in the cham
bers Of his capacious brain. BE had
given himself 10 the study Of electricity
with ardor, and had devised one or two
little improvements that had brought
him patent rights and some fame among
the fraternity Of electricians. But what
was the use Of being IN inventor, with
the thunderbolts Of Jove in his posses
sion. II be was walled In the dungeon Of
come genii's old Castle Dolorous. with
Kitty in the extinguisher tower, and he
unable to communicate with her BY
word or look. by telephone or phono-
graph. or any other means under heaven1
He thought Of setting himself up with