Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1894-07-19

his hand clasped the lapel of his coat just
below the mignonette.
Seeing that he still stared and did not
move, she retreated Indignantly into the
shop half crying:
''Oh, that false Kittie'
Kittie meanwhile was still sitting alone
In the morning room in M square
She was wondering how her plan had pro-
gressed, whether the young man with the
mignonette in his buttonhole had indeed
been there, and if he had taken any notice
of Edytha.
She would certainly hear the whole sto-
ry. Edytha was so correct and staid, she
would be dreadfully indignant. Would
she, Kittie, ever see the hero of her first
dream again? Now that she had lost her
chance she was half sorry and half inclin-
ed to wish she had taken it.
It was at morning concert that Edytha
Vansittart again met Dick Willoughby.
He had, in fact, gone there with friend
who happened to know Miss Vansittart
slightly in the express hope of seeing her
and gaining an introduction, and he sue
ceeded Kittie was sitting in the stall be-
hind, but Dick never noticed her. He was
entirely occupied by his desire to repair to
Miss Vansittart his unfortunate mistake.
He saw that she was completely inno-
cent of any design in wearing the pink
rose. He did not care to explain the hid
den meaning of the strange coincidence,
partly on account of the weakness of hia
own ultra credulity, partly from sense
of honor toward his unknown correspond
ent. He still thought it possible that tho
letter might be genuine.
IT. on the other hand he had been trick
cd, it was safer to pose before Miss Vansit-
tart as a villain than a victim Therefore
he strove to make his peace by humble
avowal of folly and abject promises Of
amendment She had taught him les
son, he said.
Three weeks later Edytha Vansittart
camo into the morning room of the house
in M square with the news of her en-
gagement. She was very content and
prosperous and happy, very reasonably
fond of her Dick.
Dick Willoughby was rich, and Edytha
was already planning her trousseau. She
was to have few gowns from Worth.
Edytha was married at the end of the
W
maids
It was at villa at Arcachon that she
met Dick Willoughby again. She had been
ordered abroad for the winter, and Dick
and his wife, lingering south on their bri-
dal journey, came there to sec her.
Kittie lay by the open window, her face
smaller, more childlike than of old, her
eyes larger. Dick Willoughby sat by her
side. Edytha had gone into tho town.
They were leaving Arcachon on the NOR
row, and she had some purchases to make.
''You will come back quite strong for
next season, Kittic."
The girl was silent. Then, turning her
eyes upon him, patient and full of tears,
You have been very good to me, Dick,
and want to tell you that don't think
shall come back again.
Il have done nothing for you, child. 1"
There was a huskiness in the man s throat.
He went away from her side for a mo-
ment, moving restlessly about the room.
On the davenport lay letter directed in
Kittie's handwriting to her father. She
wrote few letters now. Her correspond
encc with Edytha had b~en carried on late
| ly through the friend who acted as her
| chaperon and nurse.
! Dick stared at the envelope, then went
back to the sofa, excited, eager, expectant
"Kittie," he said, looking at her stead
lily, tell me, were you at q ball at S.
last springs had fancied all along that
had known you somewhere before
There was no answer. A little, thin hand
crept up to shield her eyes, her face
| The man knelt down by her side and
drew the hand away.
Darling, tell me, was it you who should
have worn the pink rose?"
1t was a mere breathless whisper. Still
there was no answer. The rcd blood wav-
ed right up to the soft rufflcd hair, but she
would not lift her eyes.
"Oh, my love, my little love, why have
I known too lateP" His voice broke al
most to sob.
| y
Kittie never spent another season in
town. When the spring came, there was
u newly made grave in the English quar-
ter of tho cemetery at Arcachon marked
by white cross and planted with La
France roses. The doctors said that she
had inherited consumptive tendencies,
which no care would check.-Sala's Jour-
nal