The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-09-13


Dear me, Alan, what a place to
sit to he sure" Mrs. Champion had
known me all nv life, and always ad'
dressed me by my given nane. \ on
have not met Clara since her return
from school. My dear with aswiit
| glance into Miss Clara's face, This
is your old schuolmate and playiel-
low, Alan Gordon You are five years
her senior, Aian. Now | am going
to leave you two 10 renew Old friend.
ship. while | 60 to Mrs Macy. l
declare, the old lady is looking faint
and ill"
NO wonder: the atmosphere is
s|tifi'lHg. l thought, as l made my
way for Miss Clara. who sank into
the seat at my side which Kitty had
vacated.
A slender, painfully slender, young
lady vas MSs lara Champion, with
pale blue eyes and pale yellow hair,
and an air OF languor.
Just see Kitty Hathaway ejacu.
lated that young lady; how over
dressed she is, and she dances all the
time See, she is flirting with young
Granger"
l looked; how could l help it:
Had l not been looking at every OPP
p%ortGnity while the dances danced
and the sweet waltz music
surged upon the perfumed air?
Yes, it looked Ike tlirting, for Kit
tvs eyes were uplitted TO Changers
handsome face, and the very manner
Of the little witch convinced me that
there was mischief brewing. All,
we'll. she was not mine. / had 20
right 20 dictate or interfere.
And you know"-Mlss Clara's
voice i'oated across my reverie like a
chill east wind" that tn Hatha-
ways are in reduced circumstan eS,
and Kitty is bound TO marry a rich
man. Dear me. she told me so. Mr..
Gordon. She declares that she must
marry a fortune. What is the mat
ter"
/ had started up with an involun-
tary exclamation which could not
repress. Did the girl know-or care
that she was driving me mad: And
Just at that instant with a broken
wall. the musir died into silence. l
arose to my feet.
''Pardou NE. Miss Crampton." l
began, striving hard to be calm and
courteous: Il have Miss Hathaway's
orchids, and must return them TO
her. orchids are too valuable to be
lightly thrown away
Miss Clara bowed, but there was a
look of displeasure upon her thin
face.
made my way slowly from the Sc
cluded niche back to the ballroom.
TO Kitty Hathawav's side. l laid the
orchids in her hand.
They are TOO valuable to lose" l
suggested.
They are hideous." she cried, toss
ing them upon a table near II
never could understand the beauty Of
an orchid any more than car appre-
ciate the beauty OF a mushroom. But
Mr.. Granger sen them. and /"
/ bowed.
Il understand. He is the last
favored suffer-" l cut in. harshly.
Kitty lifted her eyes to my face
again with that same indignant
glance. but full OF pathos, too.
"Will you get my Cloak" she
asked, softly, land please find
mamma. think l shall 60 home"
With secret satisfaction l obeyed
her, and when the carriage had
driven away | went back to bid the
hostess goodnight, and took my de.
parture also.
| had made up my mind to ask
Kitty Hathaway TO be my wife. |
loved her. Good heavens. OF what
ha- | been thinking all these months.
not 10 have foam out the truth be-
fore.
| rang the bell a. the pretty little
home OF the Hathaway> the next
evening. Kitty and her mother lived
in a retired street IN a neat cottage,
which, with a small income, consti-
tuted their entire wealth.
She came into the cosy parlor.
where | awaited her. She vas ali in
black and her face was very pile I
arose and took her hand in mine at
once. would make no prelude or
preparation, but would 20 directly to
the point.
kitty" l whispered, Il have
come to ask YOU to he my wife. l
think l have always loved YOU.
Kitty, Kitty, what is your answer"
The sweet. pale face dropped.
d am sorry" she murmured
family. 'but l. | can not All my
pride was up in a moment.
You refuse me, them" l cried
bitterly. And oh, how l love YOU,
kitty"
She wa trembling ike d leaf, but
she turned away with calm c0npos.
ure. Snatched my hat and turned
TO the door, angry, hurt, my pride