The Monitor-register., 1896-09-04

tenor to her soprano. But the old days
were gone by.
Kitty came into the little shop one
morning, sweetly radiant. She put her
arms around the little milliner and kissed
her.
"Dear Miss Blossom she said, Il
want you to make me a hat, and this
time-the rose-must be white"
A sudden chill gathered about Miss
Blossoms heart. 1t was all true, then,
what she had heard!
"Yes, l am going to settle down and be
good at last" said Kitty, with shy eyes
and smiling lips.
II hore you'll be happy" said the elder
woman, gently, and Kitty looked up
quickly, fancying there was a quiver in
the soft voice. "Henry Ballard is a good
man." said Miss Blossom, meeting the
eyes bravely.
"Henry Ballard! Why. I'm going to
marry jack"
A sudden joy and relief leaped into
Miss Blossoms face.
"Oh. Jackr
She laughed a little excitedly, a laugh
that sounded as If the tears were very
close.
"Of curse it's jack" Kitty answered,
with a tender thrill in her voice. sit
couldn't be anybody else."
Then she looked up suddenly illumined.
"Miss Blossom, you needn't tell me a
single word. l understand all about it.
That horrid Barbara Wilcoxl Dear Miss
Blossom, Pm so glad"
But this was too much for the little
milliner, aud the first she knew her head
was Of Kitty's shoulder, n she was
being petted and comforted by Kitty's
soft touches and soothing words.
Il can't think what makes me act So"
said Miss Blossom.
81 guess you amt very we'll. But
you'll be we'll now, ~and-why, it's Just
like a novel for all the world"
But Miss Blossom shook her head.
"No," she said, ats too late now"
But after the momentous question of
ribbons and roses had been settled, Kitty
marched away with a determined air.
She went straight to Henry Ballard.
They had grown to be great cbums, and
she did not feel the least bit afraid of him,
even if he was so rich and so grave and
SO old.
"Mr. Henry" she said, "I've got a
fairy story to tell you
But I'd rather have a true one," said
the man, teasingly, looking up into the
girls misohievous face, I'm too old for
fairy stories now"
'Fairy stories may be true,'' said
Kitty, frownipg at him. "And some
times there are morals in 'em-great big
ones"
The man laughed lazily, and settled
himself to listen.
"Once upon a time there lived a prin-
cess in a castle, and there was a prince
who loved her. And when the prince
went away into a far country the princess
waited for him to come back. Every day
she thought of him, and thought of the
time when he would come, and she
wouldn't marry any of the other princes
who came to WOO her. At last the
prince came back again after a great
many years but for some reason he was
too careless or too timid too fiod out for
sure whether she still cared for him. The
poor princess waited and waited, and an
evil old witch came and told her that the
prince had forgotten, and had gone to
wed a Eighty young thing over in the
next county. And the princess"
"Hush!" he said in q queer, mufied
voice. you've told enough, child. I'll
finish the story myself" And with that
he walked away.
"Oh, my goodness!' said Kitty to her.
self, looking after him. Il wonder if
I've put m ? foot in it!'
Henry Ballard walked straight down
the village street and in at Miss Blossoms
gate. She paled a little when she opened
the door for him. Something in his face
made her tremble.
"Cinthy," he said, "1've come to ask
you a question, if it amt too late. I've
been trying to forget it; l thought you
didn't care. l want you, Cinthy. You're
the only m in the world l can love.
l want a home, and 1 want you"
care you sure ?" A light grew slowly
in the little woman's face; all the hunger
of her long waiting was in her eyes, '1've
loved you all the time," she said softly,
Thought of you every hour"
Barbara Wilcox came over that after.
noon, this time with her sunbonnet on.
81 guess it's really true that Kitty and
Henry is going to make a match of it,"
she said. "Kitty's got Miss Tucker over
there to sew"
But Miss Blossom only smiled Vac
erly.