Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-20
THE SIGHTED MAN.

the lake. lie had implored her to start
carly. and she had consented. with her
usual smile. Mrs. Shandon ran out at the
sound OF tho wheels.
"Ob. Belle. aG'n't you surprised?" cried
the gayost OF girlish voices az the hostess
appeared In the doorway. "Auntie ac-
tuaily let me come for the whole four
weeks Ar'n't you stunned" and n
1.-THE little figure flashed over the wheels
and caught Mrs Shandon in a most un-
convcntionally hea<ty embrace.
Whether Mrs. Shsndon was stunned or
not. Grinnel certainly was This was his
washed-out young "school-ma' am with
blue goggles" and "frowzy hair" this
radiant little creature with the merriest
pair OF dancing brown eyes laughing out
OF a perfect rose OF q face. II was so
bright and fresh and sweet. and with
crisp. brown ringlets poking out from
behind her ears and dowr into her eyes
and stealing out from every coil OF tho
braids at the back He took her all I'm
from the red Tam O. Shanter. cooked on
one side like a quizzical rabbits ear,
down 10 the prettiest tan golf-waist That
ever set of graceful figure. on down
10 the little russell shoes that twinkled
about as though they couldn't keep still
and he simply stared-stared and
more.
So the smooth lap Of Madame Expe-
rlence became tempestuous ocean and
poor Grlnnel was tossed upon IL until he
became mentally and soulfully seasick.
once only. just before the night closed
I'm upon him. did she allow him n ray Of
sunshine. and then only 10 show him
what he was losing.
Grnnel went through nearly every mood
I'm the catalogue under these tOrturcs.
when the hostess had him on the rack
he was savage. nothing milder. For the
first time i'm his life he was envious of
Monr0e's fine strength and splendid
height, and Il chafed him that his grandly
swelling soul should be prisoned in such
an insignificant little body, and for the
first time he tasted OF inferiorlty and
second fiddle Miss Julia's politely yelled
but none the less comprohendible re-
proaches and hints bowed him down also.
for they were keen enough 10 make him
squiI1n, and too Just TO be resented. Oc-
casiOnally his self-respect would straight
en- up a little with the recollection Of
Kittys aamiring look that never quite
faded out Of her eyes when they looked
on him. Then he would get so hungry
for more admitting looks among all these
snubbing ones that he would realize the
impossibility of getting them. and no
would grow blue again. SO it was but
one Of many moods.
Mrs. ShandOn never caught any Of these
admiring looks. She was too intent on
her vengeance 20 see much else. But
at last her eyes were opened. They
spent their Fourth-of-July holiday on an
excursion TO the other side OF the lake
10 FISH. Grinnel managed TO appropriate
Kitty for a few bissful minutes on the
h'msy prcteXt Of hunting for bait under
some Of The moss-covcred stones in the
woods that stood back on the shore But
when they got there he was so enchanted
with his success that he forgot all about
the mlEerable little worms, and just
stayed down on his knees and ga the dirt
bcaming at her.
Kitty was doing a little beaming on her
own account too. but she grew embar-
raised for awhile.
It's very warm" she said. finally,
perhaps TO account for the warmth Of her
checks.
ITS q perfect day" said Grinnel. en-
Enthusiastically. Then, as though that had
anything TO do with It. he added: ITS
the first day we've been together"
Kitty tried so hard TO look surprised
that he believed her and waIed indig-
nant. "Oh, come, now" he said, don't
say that you haven't noticed that /
haven't taken you anywhere since you
came"
Kittie tried for another astonshed mega
tive. but ne looked so deeply injured that
she broke down with laugh instead, Il
know you haven't" she admitted, but.
then, 1 can't expect every one to like
me. you know
That was rather artful for such a
10 presented a charming opportunity
ooh. l like YOU he cried, and he
dropped the bait-can. and held out both
his muddy hands toward her in his eager
ness. Il ike you awfully; you must see
that Oh. good heavens, you mustn't
think that that was il. 1t was only
that 1 was engaged to Miss Monroe before
YOU came, and she held me TO it or /
never would have left you from the
instant you first stepped out Of that
wagon"---.
Poor Grnnel! lie knew so well what
he meant that he never thought how it
would sound 10 her He couldn't imagine
what the matter was with her. when the
real surprise in her face changed TO hor-
ror. incredulity, disappointment. anger.
and a culver as though she were going
to cry Just then Monroe came striding
ND the path. shouting: Hi. Miss Kitty,
Mir. ShandOn's hooked a beauty; come
and see him, Grinnel. you fraud. you
know we don't want that kind Of bait;
come along!' Kitty went primly over TO
him. and walked primly at his side.
leaving GIinnel still on his knees in the
dirt, gazing after her with surprise
equal TO her own.
But when the furry over the wonderful
fish was over she stole away into the
f.nf
ing. found her crouchng behind a hazel
bush with her head down on her knees
and her whole body shaken by big, choky
sObs.
"NIy head aches" she moaned, when at
last she could be induced TO raise her
pretty face. grown so piteously miserable
an in a fash My head aches and
want TO go home"
That was all that could be got out Of
her. but while they were engaged in
carrying out her wish a little more
light came. Kitty insisted that Mr. Shan
don should be the ore to row her back,
and Mrs. Shandon insisted on going with
her They were pushing off quietly, when
Grinnel reached the shore and called after
them:
what's the matter with Kitty? Where
are you eoing?" and there was some
thing in his voice that made the young
wfe's heart leap with sudden sympathy.
and flutter in tender excitement the rest
Of the row.
The remainder Of the light came after
she had got the invalid nicely settled in
her own room in the tiny cottage. with
a cup Of hot tea to settle her nerves,
and bandage of cold water for her
head. and the ammonia bottle and the
headache medicine beside her. As she
bent over her for farewell kiss. Kitty
turned away. whispering brokeny:
why why-didn't you tell me they
were engaced?"