The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-10-09

| L
my word and be engaged to him." An
other great sigh escaped her.
But surely, Miss Kitty, if you don't
care for him you won't promise to marry
him."
81 don't know"
"Do you love himf"
81 guess so. -
"Don't you know9''
81 suppose not. 1 suppose I don't
know"
kcarney waxed wroth at a man who
| would bully trusting child into an en-
gagement "Why are you permitting your
self to be browbeaten into thisH" he asked
angrily.
ooh, please don't be cross-pleaseP She
was on the verge of tears.
He took her hand again. She was not
engaged yet. ANSWER me, Kitty"
| 1t wouldn't be right not to, would it?'
Then Kearney went boldly to work to
prove that it certainly would be right not
| 10.
But he loves me-" protested Miss Eos
| ter.
$50 do-what if he does2 You don't
! love him"
"But ought to- Maybe shall" And
that was all that could be done with Kitty.
Her mother came to the door of the car.
kitty, you must come in right away. II
your head aches, you can go to bed"
My heads better now" she saitl, ris-
ing. Cant 1 just stay up until We get
to Wilcox? 1 think maybe Carrie, or per
haps Mr.. Lowell, will be down there
They went back into the sleeper, where
the officers and their wives sat talking and
trying to keep awake one-half hour longer
until Wilcox should be reached The COM
panies from Grant were expected to be
waiting there for the next train east, and
many pleasant meetings might be crowded
into the short delay at the station.
Miss Foster got pillow and curled up
on seat. IF fall asleep, Mr. Appleton,
will you waken me at Wilcox" she re-
questcd
Certainly Miss Foster" he answered
Kitty closed her big, dark blue eyes and
thought. She thought how funny it is
when "a man who has called you kitty
and has been awfully in love with you
says Miss Foster" and pretends he Is
mere acquaintance. She thought Apple
ton was nicer than Ferris or SAKE or Low
ell But he wasn't as nice as Mr.. Kcarncy
not quite. She thought she had done
very well with Mr. Kearney. She disitin-
guished in the matter of condolences, did
promising situation to mere friendship SO
quickly and successfully as an open, frank,
whole souled confession. Such thing
was clumsy, and Kitty loathed clumsiness
in these matters. She had withheld enough
of her plant to turn it cleverly to account
She had made Kcarney sorry for her and
had refused his advice with prosrrated
grace
Then Miss Foster fell asleep and dream
cd rosy dreams until Appleton touched her
arm with Il book he had been reading.
ave are at Wilcox, Miss Foster
"Oh, dear! What did you hit me with |
that hard thing for?" she cried, jumping
up. "It hurtr Her lips trombled, and
her eyes filled.
"kitty, child, 1 didn't mean to hurt you
that is-really, beg your pardon, Miss |
Foster"
Certainly, Fr-Mr. Appleton" she re-
piled, rubbing her arm, with chuclile |
which passed for Il sob suppressed.
They drew up at the station, where |
lights twinkled from the blnckness all |
about them. There was no one on the plat |
form; there were none of the shouts of well |
come expected.
Kearncy rushed into the car. "Say, |
what do you think? They've left-evcry
laSU one OF CHCIn-Qn Inc Train ahcaQ. |
They've got big start Of Us"
Miss Foster cried "Ohr and beamed |
with delight. She began to believe thut |
heaven cares for its own.
"We've only three minutes here" Kear
ney called back over his shoulder as he
rushed out again.
The train had begun to move when
Kearncy rcappenred. He brought with
him Il can of oysters whereof the top had |
been hacked open. They're all l had
time to get, Miss Kitty" he explained as
lie set them before her ON the window sill.
Kitty was IL daughter of the plains and
knew the worth of an oyster. She clapped |
her little hands in high gIce.
Suddenly kearney's face fell. "By Jove,
I've 10 fork or spoon!"
I'VE might use Il pencil if you'd sharpen
it," suggested Miss Foster
COR Il hatpin.''
mo. l like the pencil idea better
Then Miss Foster took the pencil and
the can and went to spearing the bivalves.
They were nice, but they've made my
head ache again" murmured Miss Foster.
Its so close in here!"
"PerhaEs another breath of fresh air
would do it good, kearney suggested.
Maybe, assented she, and they slipped
more.
Kitty drew in the night air with delight.
She trilled bar of song. "Oh, Pm
500 happy said she.
$50 am l, said Kearney as he held her
steady with his arm hall about her.
why" queried Miss Foster, fitting back
her head to look innocently into his eyes.
The little fluffy head was SO near, the parted
lips were so childish, the round eyes were
SO tender, Kcarney bent over her.
"Why, do you think, Kitty
ooh, Mr.. Kearney, you mustn't" she
cried, pulling away.
"But you're not engaged, " he suggested.
"That's So" answered Kitty thought
fully.
Unless you will be to me?" He caught
both her hands and tried to force her to
look at him. Twill you be-" he insisted.
eff you think / d better, - said Miss Eos
ter Gwendo in Overton in San Francisco
Argonaut