The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-24

behind her with cold chills running
down her spine. "Kittie. what do you
mean?"
Kittie raised herself to a sitting posi-.
ton and pressed her hand to her side
Lock the door and I'll tell you"
The old maid turned the key and
came back with shaking knees.
Look, Mary Anne!" said Kittie, still
sitting on the floor.
Mary Anne again felt her skin turn
ing to gooscnesh, but she followed her
cousins gesture
II see nothing but broken co.
lognc bottle" said the trembling wo-
man. Kittie's mind was gone she was
quite sure.
I'm not mad, Mary Anne. but you
are nearsighted," said Kittie, reading
the old maids face. Between the
broken bottle and the valise don't you
sec somethng?"
Yes, another queer-looking bottle"
well, that-that bottle" said the
second Mrs. Brattleburo. rising to her
feet and pointing tragically to the OBJ
jeCt in question. that queer looking
bottle is the urn that holds Leonora
Bratteboro's ashes. She was not bur-
led. She was cremated!"
"CrCmatod" echoed Mary Anne in
voluntarily in her astonishment. Then
she recovered herself and took Pauls
part, well, cremation is no crime.
Leonora was Paul Brattlehoro's wife,
and when she died he had right to
cremate her if he wanted to-"
II don't dispute the right"
well. that-that bottle" said the
second Mrs. Brattleboro, returning the
urn to the valisc at arms length and
with averted face. II am sure | like
Leonora better cremated than crazy
1t is better for her, better for me; and
Paul prefers her that way or lie
wouldn't have-have bottled her."
But, Kittie," said Mary Anne, going
back. why was Paul telegraphed for?"
The despatch announced the arrival
Of the steamer that brought the urn"
Why was it not brought before?"
That's the only thing haven't found
out. Perhaps Paul wished a united
family on Thanksgiving. 1t may be
that he is going to hold kind of sec
ond funeral tomorrow in the presence
of his relatives. But there's one thing
he shall not do, or if he does it shall
, leave him, for it's the last straw"
What is it,"
1t is this. I'll put up with Leonora's
photograph, but Paul Brattleboro shall
not keep his first wife's ashes in this
room"
stuff and nonsense, Paul has nc
thought Of such a thing"
Hasn't he!' And kittic led Mary
Ann TO a corner and pointed to the wall
where just below LcOnora's photograph
hung little ebony box beautifully
carved and inlaid. There. that came
yesterday. Look at it. Just in keep.
ing in the matter of height and every
thing, Was anything ever more ap.
propriatc? Mary Anne, it was meant
for LeonOra."
Circumstantial evidence was SO
strong that Mary Anne said nothing.
Nov, Mary Anne" resumed the sec,
ond Mrs. Brattleboro solcmnly, 81
don't know if it is Paurs idea to nut
the urn there without my knowledge,
probablynot; though my submissive un.
inquisitive behavior in the past might
lead him to think it quite feasible: oI
if he intends that shall assist in plac.
ing Leonora in this niche. / shall take
the initiative and do as you advise
have II out with him. Somehow, since
l have found out the truth / have lost
my fear of Paul Brattleboro. and
Leonora shall go TO the family vault
where she belongs this very night OF
shall get a divorce"
You can't get a divorce, Kittie
There is no legal cause for one"
"Then-then l shall go straight back
to mammal And the second Mrs
BrattlebOro took the valise back TO the
place where her husband had left it
and returned the bunch of keys to his
travelling suit, while Mary Anne re.
moved the broken cologne bottle which
kittie had upset in her fall, and
smoOthed out the crumpled rug. The
old maid was not accustomed to scenes
and wished to remove all traces of the
recent excitement. The tragic plane or
which she had been moving for the last
ten minutes almost made her giddy. and
her strained nerves craved some com,
monplaCe occurrence TO relieve THEN
tension. II arrived in the most prOsai iC
fashion. Mary Anne shifted.
"Kittic Brattleboro, the pies art
burning and the two women hurried
below Just in time TO rescue the i'm.
pcrilod pastry.
They are done to a turn" said Kit,
tie, taking half a dozen golden pies
from the oven.
They are perfect" agreed Mary
Anne
And ! am glad" sighed the second
Mrs. Brattleboro II would not have
had them spoiled for the world. They
may be the last Thanksgiving pies
shall ever bake for Paul on earth"
I'm an hour supper-timc came, but
the meal was not a brilliant one. How
could it be so? Kittie said almost moth
ing, yet her bright pink checks and
glistening eyes lent her the look of one
who had just spoken or was going tC
speak, and her appearance was very
puz2ing To Paul Brattleboro. He tried
To talk and make the board pleasant
to Mary Anne, the newly arrived guest
but no topic lasted more than n min
ute, for all seemed 10 be of the same
opinion on every subject. At the end OF