The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-16

prick of pain, and he'd go from bad to
worse till he was forced to come to me-"
And you did it?''
AYE l did it, and buried the onion
she tell me to do that too and said that
let him strive agi'n' it as he might. he'd
be forced to come afore it pinned away"
! And did he-did he?" cried Kitty.
with dilated eyes.
We'll, honey, what think you? My
name was Mary Mason then, and it very
soon turned to Carter, like his"
Shortly after this Mrs. Carter OBJ
served a scarcity of pins, but no Robert
came. Christmas was drearily duh,
and when New Years Eve came Kitty
foretold that next day and every other
day would be just as dowly.
Happen you'll be wrong, my BARN.
Anyhow, what our days are to be lies
very much in our power. Let's TAX care
to get the luck on our side"
But how?"
Our first foots the main thing"
That's the milk boy, if he doesn't
forget US"
Forget us? You are determined to
see things black, He's not failed US for
two year. but Iii speak to him and
max sure
! At 4 the boy came as usual. and Mrs.
Carter said. You're our first foot, my
lad. Come at 7 MORN your Newry
| gift shall be ready for you" The boy
grinned and promised.
IF he sends his sister after all?"
| ASK who's there and keep the door
| shut till you know. He's fair-haired,
that's right
"AIl the fair-haired lads in the coun-
! try side couldn't bring US luck" said
| Kitty dolefully.
a lass would bring more ill-luck
still"
What else is there to do?"
when you wake up in the morning,
give a good happy laugh for whatever
you do on Newry's Morn you'll do all
the rest of the year"
Kitty sighed.
man.
Aye, III try. I'll manage it some
how
| Then, when you're up, you mum put
| this new money into yer pocket. It's
a prisent from me, honey. and there's
half a crown, a two-shilling bit, a six
pence and a threepenny bit. It's all
new, and I've been holding it up for
months. If you keep it in your pocket
all to-morn, you'll have bits o money o
the same sort there all the year"
Granny" sObed Kitty, you're full O.
thowt for me, and I've none for you"
You're my dear BARN! Now, that's
two things I've got you tellt. Mind
them! Whatever you do. let no lass
cross our doorstep, and gle nought out
till something's ta'en in"
Kitty remembered the laugh. Mrs.
Carter heard it early in the morning.
That's a good lass" she cried. Now
put your money in your pocket"
| That done. Kitty went down. lit the
fire. and put on the kettle, and by that
time Mrs. Carter was dressed
There's the milk" cried Kitty Il
heard the gate clash"
TN tak'it in myself. l am so afeard
of your making some silly mistake!" So
said granny, and hurried off. and from
sheer nervousness was just going to
open the door without asking a ques-
ton, when Kitty sprang forward, drew
her back, and cried through the key
hole, who's there?"
It's me-
who's me?"
Bessie CIarke's young Bessie. Our
Jacks been first foot at so many places,
and they've glen him so many sups of
whisky amang them, that he's just
| staggered home and tumbled down on
the floor. Fathers thrashed him, and
mothers putten him to bed, so 1 coined
here istead.'
| Granny, who felt that Heaven itself
was against her, uttered a terrible cry
and fell noisily on the floor. Kitty
screamed at the sight, and the child
set the milk down and ran off to tell
the first person she met that murder
was going on at Brigg End Cottage.
and nothing but screams were to be
heard coming out of it.
| Kitty meantime took her grand
mother to the fire and put her on the
long settee. ITO think of a lass COM
ing this time of all others!" she la
mented.
Wen keep the door barred till a
man comes by" said Kitty, to comfort
her but there was no doing that.
Ten minutes later quick steps were
heard, and there was a knock at the
door.
who's there?" cried Kitty.
1T is Robert Dunthorne. Little
Bessie Clarke has just telrt me that
something was amss here and mans
help was wanted"
When she heard his voice Kitty bow
ed her head and clasped it tightly in
her hands, but she said, will you come
in, Roberto
Yes, if you will open the door,
| Thank you. Stay outside for mo-
ment when I first open it. Just stand
where you are" She opened it, and in
stantly knelt down on the threshold
and said, I'll not be outdone by you,
Robert You tellt me that you would
never enter this house-no, not even if
l asked you on my Bonded knees, and
1 Knocked at such thought. Now you
are willing to come in without any such
asking, and I am asking you on my
knees to do IT,
| kitty" he exclaimed, taking her by
the hand and raising her to her feet.
MY dearest Kittyl'
| Granny, here's your first FOOT
Here's Robert" cried Kitty joyously,
her hand still buried in her Roberts.
| Il see him! I see him quite plain, but
my poor old eyes mum be failing me,
for l see no foot at all, and just three
hands betwixt the pair O. youi"
| Kitty smiled and blushed. Dunthorne
said, And that's all you will see, I'm
afeared if I'm allowed to have my own
way!"-Margaret Hunt in Longmans
| Magazine.
| TWO POINTS OF VIEW.
| THAT dainty blush on her round check,