The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-15
KITlIE'S BURGLAR.
written for the "Record-Union" by


written for the "Record-Union py
Beselena.)
Are you sure, quite sure, that you
will not be afraid to be left in the house
alone this EVENING"" asked Mrs. GeoI-
frey anxiously as she pulled on her long
suede evening gloves and glanced at
her sister, who lay in a pathetic, imp
little heap on the couch.
ooh, quite sure" answered muff1ed
voice from the very lowest depths OF
the silken cushions where she mad
buried her blonde curls. Don't yon
worry about me, Sis I'll be'all right.
But Mrs Godfrey did not feel salts
fed She wanted to go to the ball and
at the same time she did not like TO
leave Kittie. 1t was too provoking OF
her to get one of her bad headaches
just at the last moment. OF course the
child couldn't help it, but then
You know, my dear" she says pres
emily, II wouldn't go to this ball at all
If hadn't promised Mrs. Clayton faith
fully that 1 wouldn't disappoint her,
and you know"
But here Kittie cut off her sisters
excuses by covering her ears with her
hands. Il wish you wouldn't talk to
me-" she says pettishly, you make
my head worse"
Mrs. Godfrey heaved profound sigh,
sank into a chair and waited the ap-
pearance of her husband. She had
counted so much on taking her sister
to this, the last ball of the season.
Glenn Carley, the catch of the season,
had paid most assiduous court to Kit
tie all through the winter, and Mrs.
FL hot no
allowed to attend this ball matters
would have been brought to a crisis.
She glanced compassonately at the
back of her sisters fluffy, yellow head,
and almost wished it had been her fate
to have been the victim instead of Kit
tie; Kittie could have gone to the ball
then with the Traceys, who lived across
the street. Here her reflections were
cut short by the appearance of her hus-
band with her opera cloak over his
arm.
''All ready, Constance?" he asks as
he wraps his wifes cloak about her.
"Ho, how is the head, Kittie?"
Better says Miss North, sitting
up, Il dare say I shall be all right in
an hour or two.
Don't sit up late" is Mrs Geof-
frey's parting injunction, land be sure
you battle your head with the eau de
cologne you will find on my dressing
case"
Left alone. Kittie turns out all the
lights in the room, with the exception
OF the reading lamp burning on the
center taEle. Then she draws a big
lounging chair close under its mellow
rays, takes up one of the late novels
and prepal es to read. but for some I'M
accountable reason she cannot concen-
1rate her thoughts on the printed page
before her; instead her thoughts per
eist on wandering to the ball ana from
the ball to Glenn Carley.
I suppose he is having the first waltz
At this particular moment with that
horrid little Montague girl l never
could endure her, anyway. with her
simpeling little baby ways. There s
one satisfaction, she doesn't dance as
Well as l do; she bounces terribly. My
new dress was SO becoming. too" signs
poor Kittie, thinking regretfully of the
pretty pale green silk with its silver
trimmings lying on her bed up stairs.
'Heigh no, l can just hear my favor
tie waltz being played by that lovely
orchestra" and Kittie arose and go
ing over to the open piano plays
through the waltz in question. but the
performance is far from satisfactory.
and she leaves the instrument looking
more injured than ever.
a sudden spirit of unrest has taken
possession of her, and she wanders
restlessly about the room, examining
the various ornaments almost as
though she had never seen them be
fore. After a while she comes back to
the table, throws herself once more in
the chair and closes her eyes. The
warmth and the subdued light have a
soothing effect on her and almost be-
fore she knows it she is fast asleep.
How long she sleeps she does not
know; she is suddenly aroused to full
consciousness by the feeling that she
Is no longer alone. She opens her eyes
quickly and sees that a man is crouch
ing over the open desk at the other
end Of the room with his back turned
toward her She gives a little fright
ened gasp. half rises from her seat
then turns out the light, leaving the
room in utter darkness save where the
moon beams filter through the cracks
in the blinds
What are you doing here?" demands
kittie tercely, while all the time her
heart beats as though 1t would suffo-
cate her. How dare you come here?
Leave this house instantly, or 1 will
call for help" She rises as she speaks
and points majestically toward the
door, but in the darkness the burglar
cannot see her and so fails to be prop
erly impressed. but still stands per
fectly motionless with his back toward
her.
You had better go before / ring for
help" says Kittie, her fingers on the
bell. bur even as she speaks she knows