The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-01
A DISASTROUS PLOT.

Kitty looked at me with grieved, indig-
nant eyes = great, brown eyes with q
golden light In their depths which made
the small, colorless face at times posi-
lively radiant.
We were sitting on the stairs at Mrs.
Crampton's last ball. There was always
a crush at the Crampton mansion, and
Kitty and had made our way out OF the
whirling vortex of dancers at imminent
risk Of life and limb, and had gladly
sought this last refuge. Every other
corner, every room, every niche seemed
overfiowing with gayly dressed people in
groups, but more often in pairs, laugh
ing, chatting, flirting. And sitting here,
just behind the marble statue OF Psyche,
! had accused Kitty Hathaway OF being q
fiirt.
Well, it looked like it, must confess,
for she was always surrounded by an ad-
miring group, upon whom she lavished
impartial sweetness, looking all the time
30 demure and innocent as to almost de-
ceive me. !, Alan Gordon, aged twenty
Ave, had never been in love in my life.
II were one of the crowd OF cavaliers
who knelt at sweet Kitty Hathaway's
feet it was only because she was so alto
gether bewitching that had no choice in
the matter. Tonight her fiirtations had
exceeded their usual limit.
"Miss Kitty"-I assumed my most
magisterial expression" don't you know
that it is wrong to firt?"
Is it?" with swift glance, quickly
withdrawn. "Who-who fiirts? Oh,
yes, knowi You are referring to Annie
Merton. must confess she does, or
rather tries to fiirt successfully, but
don't believe she understands the art"
"Annie Merton, indeed" feel myself
getting indignant. "An old maid of forty
at least. You know perfectly well that
am referring to a certain brown-eyed
maiden surnamed Hathaway. Miss Kitty,
it is shame for you to break all these low
ing hearts,"
She laughed, q clear, ringing laugh.
Bah! Nonsensel You men have no
hearts to break. Your hearts are petri-
fed, ossified, fossilized, and all tn rest of
II. You do not know what IL Is to love a
woman truly, steadfastly."
kitty, stopl You are wrong, and you
know it. You know that am not fosl-
ish, flirting fellow. You know-or you
ought to know-that love -
"Miss Kittyl beg ten thousand par
dons, Gordon, but this Is my dance. The
Manola, Miss Kitty; and you did promise
IL to me-"
/ felt like annihilating the tall young
man who had made his way with diff
Guilty to our secluded corner. But there
was no hope; she must go. She rose,
and fancied aregretful look in the lovely
brown eyes as she turned to me and de-
posted her bouquet-a magnificent col
lection of orchids-in my hand.
"Keep il until return" she whispered.
"If I survive this waltz 1 will be back
here; so don't go away"
My eyes met hers; smiled and nodded
and then she was gone. And all at
once it occurred to me how dark and
dreary the place had grcwn-what a dull
affair the Champion ball had become and
how missed Kitty Hathaway.
And then something else occurred to
me also-something that came crushing
down upon me with q sudden force,
nearly depriving me Of my senses.
awoke all at once to the fact that / loved
her--I, Alan Gordon, who had long looked
upon one and marriage as a remote con-
tingency--all accident which must befall
me sometime, but not now. Oh, mol
was my own master; fortune OF half
a million had fallen to me year ago, and
was quite alone In the world save for my
mother. She had given up the hope of
my falling in love, for not the slightest
fancy had ever troubled the peaceful
waters OF my existence. But was awake
at last to the knowledge that while had
been dreaming love had stolen in at the
door of my heart, and aroused myself to
a realization of the truth when 1t was too
late to bar the intruder out.
While / sat there with Kitty's orchids
in my hand, my eyes dreamily watching
the floating white-robed fgure--she was
all in white, fieecy, gauzy, diaphanous
material striped with silver threads--and
occasionally intercepting sly glance
from the merry brown eyes from over her
partners shoulder, Mrs. Crampton, with
her daug hter Clara in tow, made her way
with difficulty to my side.
"Dear me, Alan, what q place to sit, to
be surelv Mrs. Champion had known me
all nv life, and always addressed me by
nv given name. "You have not met
Clara since her return from school. My
dear,n with a swift glance into Miss
Clara's face, this Is your old schoolmate
and playfellow, Alan Gordon. You are
five wears her senior, Alan. Now I am
going to leave you two to renew old
friendship, while I go to Mrs. Marcy
yonder. declare, the old lady is looking
faint and I'LL"
"No wonder: the atmosphere Is sti-
fling" I thought, as / made way for
Miss Clara, who sank into the seat at my
side which Kitty had vacated.
Aslender, painfully slender, young lady
was Miss Clara Champion, with pale blue
eyes and pale yellow hair, and an air Of
languor.
"Just see Kitty Hathawayi" calculated
that young ladyj show overdressed she
Is. and she dances all the time Sec, she
is flirting with young Grangerl"
Hooked; how could l help it? Had
not been looking at every opportunity
while the dancers danced and the sweet
waltz music surged upon the perfumed
airY Yes, IL looked like flirting. for
Kitty's eyes were uplifted to Granger's
handsome face, and the very manner OF