The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-24
kATIE'S PERIL.

the rest OF Inc world sleeps, say you Will
H,eet me- Katie" whispered "a modern
Romeo to his love. while he apparently
shook hands like mere acquaintance.
Katie Burne was the beauty and the
heiress of Southwood
Her father owned large factories just
outside the town, and she lived with him
she had no brothers or sisters, and her
mother Was dead-in big, old fashioned,
ram bling house that adjoined them.
OF course all the young men in the
neighborhood were more or less devoted to
Katie, and her father favored the suit of
the Hon. Alan Chev,snix, the impecunious
son of the Earl of TIlnb erley.
But what mattered impecuniosity to Mr.
Burner Rank, - he said. was what he
wanted for his ''gal."
He little guessed as yet what spoke the
aristocratic wheel would receive by the
coming to Southwood of Kenneth Moore.
He had only been there week, and al
ready Katie was over head and ears in
love, her eyes only too eloquently tellins.
their tale as they gazed into his in affirm
alive answer to his imprisoned question.
"By the gate. when the rest of the world
sleeps"
It was not only risky, it was positively
imprudent, but when do foolish girls,
when they are in love, think of prudences
though Kate mrrmured to herself as she
walked along the street toward her home:
If father knew loved Kenneth, be-
ieve he would kill him, and if he knew l
met him in secret he would kill me-"
And yet there was nothing tangible
against Kenneth Moore. He was steady,
hardworking young archite st-a more de-
sirable match in many ways than tbs
Tightly, turf loving Hon. Alan Chevenix
But Mr.. Burne had set his heart on a
marriage between Katie and the Hon
Alan, and Mr.. Burne was hard, self con-
fdent man and not easy to change from
fixed purpose.
Somewhat to her CONSERVATION, when
Katie arrived at home she found Mr.. Chew
enix in the drawing room with her father
"How late you are, Katiel Where have
you been?" said Mr.. Burne, but rather
less Grossly than usual. He was on his
good behavior before his future son-in-law.
II was at Miss Odshan's tea party"
mercy! One would think you were
going to take to caps and aprons yourself,
judging from the way you run after those
old frumps. Well, fly now and get your
things off. Mr.. Chevenix is going to stay
to dinner, and we will have a pleasant
evening-music and billiards. By the
way, Chevenix, would it not be better for
you to stay all night? Then we can go
early in the morning and look at that
roam mare you have fancy for.
Thanks, it would suit me down to the
ground if you can send over and tell my
man to bring my things"
Nothing easier" answered Mr.. Burne,
beaming as he rang the bell.
But there was no beam of satisfaction
on Katie's face as she went out of the room
to get ready for dinner.
Tonight it would be more than usually
rash to meet Kenneth. Yet how was she
to let him knowa Impossible. She must
risk it.
The maid was waiting to dress her
1.-THE master says you are to look your
best tonight, miss, SO have put out the
white silk dress with the yellow lace"
Absurd, Haines. There is no one here
but Mr.. Chevenix, and he is not even in
evening dress"
''Lor, miss, what does it matter if it
pleases your PAP"
Katie shrugged her shoulders. She was
too worried to care much what she wore,
so she put on the white silk dress and went
down TO dinner.
Mr.. Burne was noisily facetious, and
Katie would have been on tenter hooks
had che cared bit about Alan Chevenix;
as it was, she thought him mercenary
wretch for putting up with Mr.. Burne's
vulgarity in order to win his money.
And she looked every now and again at
the clock, wondering when it would be
time to go and meet Kenneth.
Alan Chevenix was not so wholly mer-
cenary as Katie imagined. He was quite
prepared to be devoted to her, for he
thought her the sweetest little girl he had
ever seen, and all through dinner he never
took his eyes off her except when COM
PEELED.
After dinner she sang a plaintive love
ditty She had charming voice and had
been we'll taught.
Alan Chevenix, who loved music, was
more captivated than ever, and it was
only when Katie declared she was too tired
and sleepy to sing any more that Mr..
Burne at last got him into the billiard
room.
Now they are safe," thought Katie.
Once engrossed with billiards, they will
not think about anything else, and, thank
goodness, the billiard room is not ON the
Hame side of the house as the garden
gate"
So, having babe them good night, she
tped up stairs to Haines. "Don't sit up"
she said. II will not undress just yet.
Papa would like me to go and watch the
game"
Only too thankful to go to bed, Haines
was 10 further obstacle.
Believing the coast to be absolutely
clear, Katie threw light cloak over her
shoulders and once more went down
stairs.
Unfortunately the only mode Of egress,
unless she went by the front door, which
she dnred not venture to unfasten, was by
a side entrance close to the billiard room.
She opened it with the greatest precau-
ton and pulled it after her, not wholly
shutting it, because she could not do so
from the outside without slam
Now she was freel What delicious
niGhtt Oulta foveIy hraazo Rather