Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-02-06
Kill.

They were all assembled as usual at the
breakfast table.
Preferring the request suggested to her by
Mrs. Presty, Kitty had fastened the presen-
tation OF the birthday gifts by getting into
her mothers bed in the morning and exact
ing her mothers promise before she would
consent to get out again. BY her own eX-
press wish she was left in ignorance OF what
the presents would prove to be. Hide them
from me-" said this young epicure in pleas
urable sensations, and make Inc want TO see
them until l can bear ii no longer" The
gifts had accordingly been collected in all
! embrasure of one of the windows; and the
time had now arrived when Kitty could bear
1t no longer.
In the procession of the presents, Mrs. Lin
| ley led the way.
She had passed behind the screen which
had thus far protected the hidden treasures
from discovery, and appeared again with a
vision Of beauty in the shape of a doll. The
dress OF this wonderful creature exhibited
the latest audacities of French fashion. Her
head made a bow; her eyes went TO sleep
and woke again; she had a voice that said
two words-more precious than 1000 In the
mouth OF a mere living creature. kitty's
arms opened aud embraced her gift with a
scream of ecstasy. That feryent pressure
found its way to the right spring. The doll
sQueaked: Mamma .'-and creaked-and
| cried again-and said: Papa Kitty sat
down on the floor; her legs would support
her no longer. II think / shall faint" she
said, quite seriously.
In the midst of the general laughter Sgd
ney silently placed a new toy Ga pretty little
| imitation of a jewelers. casket) at Kitty's
side, and drew back before the child could
look at her. Mrs. Presty was the only per-
son present who noticed her pale face and
the trembling of her hands as she made the
effort which preserved her composure.
The dolls necklace, bracelets, and watch
and chain riyeted Kitty's attention on the
casket. Just as she thought of looking round
for her dear sgd her father produced a new
| outburst of delight by presenting q perambu-
! lator worthy of the doll. Her uncle follow.
| cd with a parasol, devoted TO the prcs-isa-
| ton OF the dolls complexion when she went
| out for an airing. Then there came a pause.
| Where was the generous grandmother's gift?
| Nobody remembered it: Mrs. Presty herself
| discovered the inestimable sixpenny picture
book cast away and forgotten on a distant
wIndow-seat. II have a great mind to keep
this she said to Kitty, It'll you are old
| enough to value il PROPERLY" In the mo-
ment OF her absence at the window Linley's
| mother-in-law lost the chance of seeing him
| whisper to Sydney. "Meet me In the shrub
berry In half an hour he said. She stepped
back from him startled by the proposal.
| When Mrs. Presty was in the middle of the
room again Linley and the goyerness were
no longer near each other.
Having by this time recovered herself,
| Kitty got on her legs. Now the spoilt
| child declared, addressing the company pres
ent, ''Tm going TO play"
The doll was put into the p~erambulatoi
| and was wheeled about the room. while Mrs.
| Linley moved the chairs out Of the way and
| Randall attended with the open pamsol-un-
| der orders to pretend that the sun wal shin
ing" Once more the sixpe"ny plcture-book
| was neglected. Mrs. Presty picked IL up
| from the floor, determined by this time TO
| hold il In reserve until her mgrateful grand
child reached years of discretion. She put
II i'm the bookcase between Byron's don
| Juan" and Buffers "Lives of the Saints"
In the position which she now occupied,
| Linley was visible approaching Sydney
again. "Yonr own interests are seriously
concerned" he whispered, I'm something
that l have to tell YOU"
Incapable OF hearing what passed between
them, Mrs. Prcsty could see that a secret un-
derstanding united her son-in-law and the
goyemess. She looked round cautiously at
Mrs. Linley.
Kitty's humor had changed; she was now
eager to see the dolls splendid clothes taken
on and put on again. Come and look al
IT. she said TO sydney; II want you to en-
| Joy my birthday as MUCH as ! do" Lett by
himself, Randall got rid OF the parasol by
putting 1t on . table near tho door. Mr..
fresty beckoned 10 him TO join her at the
farther end Ut tho room.
y want you TO 10 me . favor" she began.
Qlascins at Linlsy before the proceeded,