The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-24

| terms with himself and the world that
Esther felt again, as she had at their pre-
yious interview, suddenly older, palmer.
more numdrum than usual. Her rigid pose
made the contrast of Hittys manner the
more sharp. AS her uncle entered the
room the young girl jumped up and threw
her arms around his neck.
Dear Uncle Jud! Why haven't you come
| to see me?" she cried.
He retained her hand, or she his and she
! drew him toward the divan where Esther
1 was and made him sit down, placing herself
1T isn't so far on the cars. is it. Aunt
Esther?"
The latter stirred uneasily. and pretty
| Kitty, with loving glance, took her aunt's
! hand with her free one and looked content
| at holding both her relatives captive.
To tell the truth, I've almost forgotten
| the way to your Aunt Esthers house. Her
latch string is not for the likes of me-" said
| Dyett.
The girl looked up doubtfully at the quiet
tone.
Your uncle is very busy man. said
| Miss Wainwright briefly
The situation was not at all comfortable
! for esther Kitty was but slender barrier
! between her and the person who kept send
| ing calm chances at her over their niece's
| head, and, moreover, the girl was doing
| the most foolish and risky things with the
| hands she held, beating them softly up and
| down in her lap and almost striking them
| together. Esther was in poignant momen-
| taFy dread lest hers should be fore ed against
| that large strong one still brown from the
! summers cruising. Yet she would not fore
| IDLY withdraw her hand. She was too
| jealous Of the love that had welcomed her
Kitty. ''' $40 w
Il haven't told you yet what we are here
for, my dear" she added seriously
| Anything but to see Uncle JUDI in
| quired the girl, naively.
Miss Wainwright's lips contracted. You
may tell her II you prefer, she said to
Dyett.
Il fancy you would state the case better"
| he returned. AT least, you would be bet
| ter satisfied. l am willing 10 give you every
| advantage. smile aCCOmDanleQ
| TINS was so boyish and there was such a
! felt that she hated him. Moreover, at this
moment Kitty looking up In her curiosity,
absent -mindedly dropped her uncles hand
Miss Wainwright was startled Il wish to
| lean back, Kitty" she said quickly and
relinquishsing her niece to the enemy she
withdrew herself and sat back in the corner
/ of the diVan
From this retreat she stated the situation
| to her niece, and gave the girl her choice of
Judson Dyett pulling his fair mustache,
looked e.k from one to the other in SILENCE.
| 'But how unkind!" said Kitty, piteously,
when she had finishsed.
1 What is unkind?"
| ITO ask me to choose between you"
Miss Wainwright bit her lips, surprised.
| Dyett regarded her in triumph.
You see. I'm in this, Esther" he re-
| facts
But even if do take turns living with
you half-years about, 1 suppose we should
|
naturally, shouldn't WEI" asked Kitty.
mo, my dear she replied, for this
| reason Your uncle and L have very differ
ent tastes, very different friends. No mat
| ter how much we might determine to be So
ciable"-Mr. Dyett coughed. and Esthers
| New England conscience WINGED; neverthe-
| less she proceeded frmy-"we should not
| really see much of one another; but don't
urge you, Kitty. He can"-the voice broke
| Il little-"he can give you a gayer life tnan
L can. Your-your mother trusted him"
| And that is more than you DO, esther,
oh fact ffv1an "a
it's nonchalance.
sWeIl, but at certain times" persisted
Kitty. There are certain times when ram
lilies must be together. like Thanksgiving
and Christmas and birthdays. you know.
Evidently there was no recognition in her
| mind of the fact that these two who stood in
such close relation to her were unrelated 10
one another, and that she was their only
| now in three weeks. If 1 spend my first half
year with you, Aunt Esther of course Uncle
Judson will be with US on Thanksgiving
'Ahem-no. Ahem-yes," replied Miss
wainwright, taken much by surprise ana N n
sore straghts Kittgsb Large vo Su Epow
Deborah isn't we'll this fall: She
"Pll have the dinner" said Dyett, his lips
h honor my humble G II roof mean ceiing-i
don't suppose fiat can be SAID TO nave
| roof-Ill get the biggest turkey In town.
Her aunt kept silence, but her breast
heaved and her color rose, and Judson Dyett
rs it agreed Esther?'' he asked.
81 will come, she answered rather
breathlessly and at bay unless am Ill IN
Her adversary looked at her and her eyes
| "Don't YOU think" he asked dryly. that
you would be less liable to be i'll on Thanks
| giving if 1 took a room at rs naming
| a famous caterer) land we met on neutral
| ground to celebrate the day? Come, we
want to make this little girl have good
Miss Wainwright blushed painfully "That
might be good arrangement she an
Kitty stared first at one and then at the
| other. How strangely you both act she
Her uncle replied, and for once her aunt
Jealous. Can't you see it, Kitty? You're a
| bone Of contention, little girl. You don't
| look it, he scanned her approvingly
admit that there's nothing bony in your
F 'But You simply mustn't contend over me.
You mustn't she replied. love you
''Then we eat turkey at N-'s?" said
Dgstt nH LICKING At Esther Esther; she answered
| Kitty raised her eyebrows. That's GER
tainly funny she said' doubtfully' but
The girl meditated often on this inter
view before Thanksgiving arrived. There
were some incidents in that talk that started
| her fancy to dreaming dreams.
But it was such a strange idea to think
! of two quite old people-people who had
| looked Just as they did now ever since she
! was borT-being shy of each other, or feel
| ing-oh, that way, you know.
| II Uncle Jud did admire Aunt Esther he
| should see how pretty she could look, tnat
| was ALL Kitty OVERRIDE all Miss VAIN
wIight's objections and fuffed out her halr,
| and insisted on decorating the neck or her
| aunts black gown with her finest lace, and
| ANTICIPATED the novel celebration of the day
! openly.
| Poor child! 1t was so many years since
| her mother had been able to share a 1hanks-
| giving dinner with her, she had not the
/ usual associations to overcome; and her
| curiosity afiame to see her uncle ana
| aunt once more together.
| TO Esther Wainwright that dinner was
| dreaded ordeal Calm, unruffied life could
| only begin again when it was over. For
| Kitty's sake she determined to suspend ali
| memories and all defensive tactics, and try
! not to chill the genial mood of their host to-
| ''Of course, there are things I don't under
| stand about this" said Kitty whom the two
were on their way into town Deborah
| seems very well TO me, and-and don't see
why you should want to snub Uncle Jud-
| SON."
This bluntness brought color to Miss
! Wainwrght's pale cheeks which remained
/ there for her host to see and approve.
! You can't expect to understand every
| thing" she answered, and your uncle and
| l have been strangers for too many years
for me to dream of snubbing him."
A couple of hours later. as the three were
| eating the varied dessert of a regulation
| room at Ms with the waiter dismissed,
| Kitty Dyett leaned back in her chair and
| looked from her uncle to her aunt APPROX
|