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

ten minutes Paul felt like a man who
has been striking wet matches, and
gave up. If Kittie and Mary Anne had
been having a tiff it was best, he
thought, to be silent.
Tea over. Mary Anne Plunkett went
to her room. She said she was tired,
which was quite true, but not in ply
siCal sense for she did not disrobe. She
doubted if she should go to bed all
night What would be the use when
she was sure she should not close her
eyes till morning. In a few moments
Paul and Kitte ascended the stairs in
silence to their room, and when they
had closed the door Mary Anne put on
her wrapper, donned her slippers and
settled herself in a rocking chair pre-
paratory to her vigil.
After she had sat gazing into the fire
for a longtime she gave a sudden start.
She had not said her prayers, and she
ought to pray whether she went to bed
or not. She got out her Bible and read
chapter, and then knelt. But when
she came to Now l lay me-" she
paused abruptly. 1t would be a mockery
to say that prayer when she was not
going to sleep. nor even to lie down.
Yet it would be equally a sin to cut
her prayers short, especially at a time
when there was so much trouble in the
house; so, after few moments reiec-
ton, she took her prayer-book and read
the litany, ending up with the collect
for peace, and felt better.
The house was horribly still, and it
seemed to Mary Anne not the silence
of rest but the hush of watchfulness.
She could actually hear her heart beat,
and when she glanced at the clock and
saw it was only ten she thought how
foolish she had been to bid Paul and
kittie goodnight SO soon, for kittie
had said she did not intend to have it
out with Paul till bedtime. Mary Anne
wondered if it We're over. She opened
her door softly and peered down the
hall and saw a thin line of light gleam-
ing from under Kitties door. Then feel
ing as if she had done something very
wrong, she sat down again shiverng
by the fire.
Mary Anne tried to be just in her
judgment, vet her heart went out to
Kittie and she could not help feeling
| provoked at Paul. She was not sur
prised at his conduct, indeed it was
just what might have been expected of
| him, if it had entered any ones head
to expect such singular thing at all.
Yes, she should take Kittie's part and
leave the house with her if Paul did not
come to his senses, and arrive at them
quickly. too If cremation was not a
crime, as she had told Kittie it was not.
neither was il a Christian custom, and
Paul might we'll feel shy of introducing
it into any Christian community. AS for
| I,.;V, I
house, and keeping them in Kittie's
bedroom, it was worse than burying
ones relatives in the cellar next to
| the potato bin.
Mary Anne!'
She leaped from her chair
Mary Anne, come here
1t was Paul Brattleboros voice. and
with her heart in her mouth she ans
Wered the summons in person. Paul
stood JUST without Kittie's door,
Mary Anne" said Paul nervously,
come in to Kittie, I'm afraid she's
she's losing her mind"
IF she is, it's all your fault Paul
Brattleboro."
Kittie stood leaning on the mantel.
| and shaking with a nervous chill.
Mary Anne, / waited and he would
won't understand me. He pretends to
believe l am ill-talks of sending for
the doctor"
Paul Brattleboro, you ought to be
ashamed of yourself"
Mary Anne was indignant.
Yes, he ought, Mary Anne but he
| isn't. Paul, you can't impose on Mary
Anne. | may be a silly little idiot, hut
she is a woman of brains, and she'll
! stand by me. Won't you Mary Anne?"
Yes, Kittic ! will" and Mary Anne
| faced Paul with blazing cheeks.
The man looked from one Ia the 9TH
en-, then walked quickly toward the
door where Mary Anne intcrceuted
him and dragged him back by the lape,
of his coat.
You shan't leave the room till this
| matter is settled, Paul Brattleboro."
The blood of the Plunketts was up.
1t had fought at Bunker Hill
"Why won't you understand, Paul,
that cOncealment is useless? Why don't
you go get herr" cried Kittie.
Get whom?" asked Paul Brattle-
boro wildly.
"Leonora!"
The man sark in chair
You might as well give up, for Mary
Anne has seen her as well as /. Go un-
pack her-go bring the urn, | say"
Yes, Kittie, that's the only way TO
make him confess, Paul Brattleboro, if
you have an atom of manhood yOull
bring that Valise," said Mary Anne.
u don't know what you are talking
about, either of you" said Paul Brat