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

AiH
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 vas 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 me want to see
them until | can bear it no longer" The
gifts had accordingly been collected in an
embrasure of one of the windows; and the
time had now arrived when Kitty could bear
it 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 q voice that said
two ~words-more precious than ., 900 in the
mouth of a mere living creature. kitty's
arms opened and embraced her gift with a
scream of ecstasy. That fervent pressure
found its way TO the right spring. The doll
sQueakeG: mamma !'-and creaked-and
cried again-and said: Papa" Kitty sat
down Oh the floor; her legs would support
her no longer. I'll 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 kltty'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 a perambu-
lator worthy Of the doll. Her uncle follow.
ed with a parasol, devoted to the preserya-
tion of the dolls complexion when she went
out for an airing. Then there came a pause.
Where was the generous grandm0ther's gift?
Nobody remembered it: Mrs. Prestv herself
discovered the inestimable sixpenny picture
book cast away and forgotten OH a distant
w~indow-seat. II have a great mind to keep
this" she said to Kitty, It'll you are old
enough to value it 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 We're
no longer near each other.
Having by this time recovered herself,
Kitty got OH her legs. Now the spoilt
child declared, addressing the company pres.
ent, Pm going TO play
The doll was put into the perambulator
and was wheeled about the room, while Mrs.
Linley moved the chairs out Of the way and
Randall attended with the open parasOl-un-
der orders to pretend that the sun was shin
ing" Once more the sixpe"ny picture-book
was neglected. Mrs. presty picked IL UP
from the floor, determined by this time TO
hold it in reserve until her ungrateful grand
child reached years of discretion. She put
1t in the bookcase between Byron's don
Juan" and Buffers Lives of the Saints
In the position which she now occupied,
Ilnley was VlSlDle approaching sydney
again. "Your interests are seriously
concerned" he whispered, 'in something
that l have to tell you"
Incapable of hearing what passed between
them, Mrs. Presty could see that a secret un.
derstanding united her son-in-law and the
governess. She looked round cautiously q,
Mrs. Linley.
Kitty's humor had changed; she was now
eager to see the dolls splendid clothes taken
of and put on again. Come and look al
it." she said to Sydney; II want you to en-
Joy my birthday as much as l do" Lett by
himself, Randall got rid Of the parasol by
putting it Oh a table near the door. Mrs.
Presty beckoned TO him to join her at the
farther end OF the room.
~ want you to do me q favor" she began.
0lancing at Linley before She proceeded,