The Van Buren press., 1895-08-10

ayes It had. And Kittie raised hes
DARK blue eyes to his with more in their
passionate look than . hundred words
could have said
SAKE forgot his determination and
plunged on. 'May meet you st one
o'clock. then. after I've visited the
guard?' Kittie nodded and hung her
head. s.But this is not fair to Apple
ton. II we are to do this you must end
everything with him. and marry me.
VIII you?" A long pause; Kittie
seemed to be thinking. The waltz was
nearly ended; yes. the last notes were
wailing now-if she could put OF the
answer for a moment will you?'
insisted SAKE. Another pause. Apple
ton was making his way toward them;
he did not like the look of things
"Kittie. will you?" repeated SAKE.
Il must think" she answered. III
tell you at one o'clock" The smile
she gave him as she muttered this
below her breath was assurance
enough. Both were VIGOROUSLY
happy. Kittie told appleton that
she feared SAKE was badly in love
with her, and chatted on SO happily
that he regained his wavering faith.
Kittie went home and waited until
one o'clock. She planned her revenge
with delight SAKE should be thrown
over so calmly that his stiff pride
would never recover.
At one o'clock she threw q shawl
over her light gown and crept down.
stairs She was badly frightened,
little inclined to turn back Things
were assuming serious aspect. If she
should be caught it would be bad Out
side, she waited in the corner of the
house and heard approaching footsteps
and the ciinlxing of the saber OF the
officer of the day. His figure doomed
up out of the darkness quite close to
her; he hesitated and looked up at her
window; then. Is his glance fell, he
seemed to see the muffled figure in the
corner He strobe toward it,
Harry" she whispered.
A pause. Yes was answered, also
in whisper. He came to herand took
her In his arms, without word. He
was too uncertain to speak.
Kittie whispered again: 81 thought
you mightn't come, after all"
But did" gsszazz 4.si.asa-ss
Yes Kittie, with her head resting
on his shoulder, waited for him TO ask
for his answer, but ne said nothing.
This was awkward; she could not be-
gin herself. "You look enough like
Fred, in the dark, to be his brother.'
Yes"
"lf your voice were notso unlike his
l should say it was he."
"Really?'
'"Good gracious! can't you say any
thing except in monosyllables?"
"What is there to say?'
Kittie was desperate; what could he
mean? Again she forgot herself and
reversed the order of things.
"You might kiss me, at least I
think" .
"Shall n"
"Shall you? What question" and
she turned up her face to him.
"And now must go, Kittie dear.
Oh, Kittie. Kittie," he whispered
huskily.
She drew back. "Why. what is the
matter?s But he was walking away.
Don't you want your answer?' she
ran after him saying.
mot now; not tonight"
She turned and crept into the house.
Then she knew what she had done.
Chilled by the night air and trembling
with fright, she stood in the middle of
the floor and looked straight ahead,
seeing all her mistake and the shame
fulness of IL as she had not before. To
accomplish revenge, she had come to
this; she had thrown herself into a
mans arms almost unasked. And the
man had acted curiously. Small won
der. She sank upon the floor and sat
| for hours with her head hanging down.
Then she undressed and went to bed,
but lay awake until morning. She
thought of Appleton now, and how she
had betrayed him, and she loved him
more than ever she had before. 1t was
a hard struggle between shame and In
born frankness; but she determined at
last to tell him the truth In the morn
ing and let him do as he liked, throw
her over II he wished; but then he
would not, she was sure of that. Only
| her old role of dispenser OF favors and
privileges would be ended; it would be
he who would play the magnanimous
henceforth. II only she could have
back the crimson rose she had pinned
on Saxe's coat II he were to wear it
the next day, Appleton would recog-
nize it as one of the bunch he had
given her, and remember that he had
told her that red roses meant love.
She worried and marveled that she
should have rushed headlong into such
disgrace. She was one of those women
whose tears come easily, but she had
been too frightened and ashamed to cry;
at least. at reveille, she sobbed away
her griefs and slept.
After guard mounting she went into
the garden with scarlet face. She
saw Appleton coming up the walk and
paled with fear of what she had to tell
him. She dropped her eyes and fin
gered a flower nervously until he stood
beside her. "oh, good morning, Fred"
she said. cheerily.
Good morning, Kittie." sF
A silence; Kittie bit her lip and pulled
at the flower. well, why don't say
something?" she inquired, petulantly.
eve nothing much to say"
She glanced up and saw red rose
pinned to his coat-a crushed and
wilted rose. She caught hold of his
arm to steady herself. He let her hand
lie on his sleeve.
II only came TO ask if you had any
massaua for Saxe He fell into n nost-