The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-14

she did not utter single word, but at
fected To go on with her breakfast uD-
concernedly until her father and her
two young sisters had quilted the room.
mothers chair to prevent the white
anguish of her face being seen, she
said in breathless staccato sentences:
Read that, mother. 1t is from Capt
Darlington Never speak either of it
or of him to me again"
And before her mother had realized
that something horrible had happened
to sever the lovers Kitty had swept in
the queenliest way from the room.
Nor even in the privacy of her own
room did she for long time break
down into abject tears. She stood as
though turned 10 white marble. facing
defantly the captains photograph
over the mantle piece. as though daring
it to repeat the outrageous language of
the letter.
When her mothers timid knock came
presently to the door Kitty asked in q
dull dead voice:
What is it?'
'1t's l, dear"
well, mother. what is it?' she re-
peated upon her mothers entrance
Its some misunderstanding, Kitty
some dreadful Misunderstanding
mischief making of his aun.'s. From
the first dear, never liked"
Don't, mother, l asked you not and
meant it," she said in tone which at
once silenced and terrified her gentle
mother
Turning to say something not less re-
pellant and steel-cold to her mother,
Kitty caught the yearning trouble in
her gentle eyes and was moved to fold
her impdlsively in her arms and sob:
Dear mother! Dear, dear motherl"
And soon the poor girl was again a
child upon her mothers knee. Yet
even then she would not let her mother
talk of that letter or its writer
IF struck you in the face, mother.
you wonid not like ever to speak OF it.
or have it spoken of. Let me try TO for
get it; it's the most can hope for" she
said, with an aching desolation in her
voice which made her mother press her
almost passionately to her bosom.
But, though poor Kitty would not al
low her mother to discuss the letter or
its writer. or the motive of its writing
with an inconsistency that girls will
understand, she permitted, even per
haps encouraged, her dearest friend.
Miss Bell Herbert, to discuss the whole
affair exhaustively.
ats the aunt. of course; and it's Mr.
Rolleston, of course; but nothing you
could do or she could say justifes such
a letter l should dearly like 10 give
him little lesson with this" switching
her riding whip viciously in the air.
Need say that little of this vigor-
Gus virago talk of physical vengeance
upon the recreant had reactionary eff
feet on Kitty? Her love was dead
murdered, as she thought-but she rev.
erenced, so to say. the body of the
dead, and could not endure its desecra-
ton by such talk.
AS Bell had the tact TO perceive this,
she went at once upon the opposite
taIh Va u ing ~ AAsS 'iit GA 1NNteohS
provocation for such a letter.
She cross-exarnined Kitty upon all
flirtations with Mr.. Rolleston without
finding anything which anyone could
candidly consider disloyalty to her en-
gagement
But there's no knowing what she'd
think improper" she wound up-"she"
L Z 4h~ 49,
aunt. Some of these prim English
women are like Ned's wooden soldiers
SO stiff that anything which pushes
them out Of the perpendicular by a
hairs breadth sends them over al
together"
Having done something by her sym
pathy at least, If not by her comments
and her counsel, To comfort poor kitty's
narrowed heart, Bell had TO quit her
to ride home. where there happened 70
be urgent need Of her presence at
lunch
Just as she was in the act of mount
ing her mare unaided, and for this
purpose had gathered up her habit
with one hand. she caught sight OF the
recreant captain standing staring q,
her as though turned to stone
He had no sooner posted his letter 20
Kitty than he repeDted Of its brutality
and hurried after il or rather with IL
in the limited mail 10 ireland.
His intense love coming upon him
with rush swept everything before IL.
so that in this mood and for the mo-
meut he would believe nothing-not
that Internal photograph, no, his own
very eyes-against Kitty's truth and
modestv
Bell, though she had no idea that
this was the captain whom she had
never seen. was arrested By the stupe-
faction expressed in the face Of this
man who stared a. her as a: the ghos.
Of some one he had murdered
Presently he took out photograph
and compared il with her face and fig
ure-not forgetting her riding trouscrsi
II beg your pardon. he stsmmered,
''hu. is this your
Yes, IL was Bell sure enough. with
Kitty sitting on her trousered knees
In riding she had overtzksn Kitty and
been oTertalren By shower
t-@avirg her horse with her groom,