The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-15

she Is alone at the mercy OF the our
Slar, Jane, their only servant, being
cut.
As she speaks the man turns quickly,
in his hand the tickle moonbeams play
upon something white and cleaning
AT sight of this all of Kittie's bravado
leaves her, she sinks into her chair limp
and white.
What are you going to do?" she
cries in dismay, you are not going to
kill me, are you?"
L don't know, hope not" answers
the burglar in low, muffled tones. Life
never loked so sweet to the frightened
girl as it did at that particular moment
with death seemingly staring her in
the face. With the desperate energy
of despair she takes off her rings.
Here" she cries holding the glitter
ing jewels toward him, they are the
only valuables 1 have about me; take
them, but please don't kill me-" There
is little frightened sob in her voice.
Slowly the burglar moves in her di-
rection, the girls heart is in her mouth
but to her intense relief she sees that
he is unarmed. He SeiZeS her out
stretched hands in his but he does not
take the rings: instead he very gently
turns her hands over so that she spills
the jewels upon the table.
Il don't want your rings, Kittie,"
says the burglar, Il want you"
Surely, this is the most audacious
burglar Kittie has ever met. True,
her experience has been somewhat
limited, but she has read about them
in her favorite novels and never did
one of the midnight gentry of fiction
have the boldness, the effrontry of this
one. And yet, strange as it may
seem, his very audacity pleased her.
She looked at his hand, still holding
hers. They We're strong and white, not
at all like the grimy paw one would ex-
pect to see belonging to a gentleman
of his profession. She tried to catch
a glimpse of his face but here her in
Vestigations were less satisfactory, for
his hat was pulled over his eyes and his
coat collar turned up about his ears,
but even in the dim light Kittie could
see that his eyes looked upon her kind
ly. He had called her by her Chris
tan name, too, in his soft, low voice
and she had not resented it, nor in
deed, had wished to. Just here a
spasm of virtuous Indignation suddenly
overcame her; what did this burglar
mean by preSuming to hold her hand,
and speaking of her so Familiarity?
What would Constance say could she
only know that her sister, Kathleen
North, the belle of the season, had al
lowed herself to be made love to by a
common burglar?
For want of something better to do,
Kittie angerly jerks her hand away,
What do you mean?" she asks again.
Suppose we have little more light
on the subject?' says the burglar. as
he coolly touches the electric button
attached to the lamp, and as the brill
liant light springs up kttie sees that
the burglar before her is no less a per-
sonage than Glenn Carley himself.
Mr. Carley?" she cries, in unbound
ed surprise, why, what are you doing
here? How did you get in? / thought
you We're at the ball.
Il was at the ball" responds Mr..
Carley, until your sister told me that
you We're too indisposed to be present,
then l left, the gay throng having no
further attractions for me-" AS he
speaks he seats himself beside her ard
endeavors to look into her doWncast
eyes. but as she is silent, continues
with history. Walking past your
house I met Jane coming out. After
few moments conversation with that
young woman, which resulted some
what to her pecuniary advantage, she
at last so far overcame her scruples as
to allow me to enter the house Hnan-
nounced. The first door I opened |
found you, but you were asleep. ] sat
and watched you for a few moments,
and then arose to go. fearing to fright
en- you should you awaken suddenly
and find me there AS 1 was about to
open the door your picture on the writ
ing desk attracted my attention; while
looking at it you awe kened, took me
for burglar and turned out the light"
Yes, and the silver frame of the
picture for a pistol" finished the girl,
with an uneasy laugh.
My poor little Kittie," says Mr.. Car
ley, tenderly, did l frighten you very
badly?" Some way Miss North's
Christian name seems to slip uncon-
sciously from his tongue instead of her
more formal surname.
"DreadfulIy," says Kittie, in answer
TO his question; really I don't know
what I ought to say TO Jane for be-
traying me in such a manner; but she
does not look very angry at the absent
offender, and Mr.. Carley does nor dread
the consequences.
After a while Kittie makes him
some tea from a little swinging brass
tea kettle. which he sips luxuriously
from a dainty Sevres cup, and as he
does so he looks across the table at
Kittie. whose pretty color has all come
back to her as she chats and laughs
with all her old-time sparkle. Mr.. Car
ley thinks how delightful it would he
if he and Kittie We're sitting just as
they We're at the present moment in a
home of their own. He lays down his
empty cup thoughtfully; as he docs so
his fingers come in contact with Kit
ties rings still lying on the table; a
sudden idea occurs to him.
ffHera UO1lr Kitfja