The Red Cloud chief., 1899-10-13

pulsed; she put her pretty little hand
beneath my chin. looked at me with
mock reproach, then, laughing again.
bent forward and kissed me.
"une might fancy. Kitty, IL n did
not know the circumstances &C the
case. one might fancy DO you
know what one might fancy?"
NO"
THAT you were in love with John"
And l am" l declared. my eager
tone sounding unconvlncing somehow
as ] caught the amused. i~ncredulous
little wrinkles in Meg's clear blue eyes.
Il am. Meg. You don't believe me-
but It's true
Poor Kitty" said Meg in a tragic
tone. still ~uncUnvinced. when did 1t
happen. dear?"
l turned away. Meg tripped after
me down the dusty garnet stairs; and.
as we reached the floor below. twined
her arm caressingly about my waist
again.
What does It feel like to fall In
love, dear? Is the fall a shock? And
what does 1t feel like when YOU'RE
there?"
"Where?"
I'm the land OF love, the land Of
lime-light. In the lime-light l sup
pose even John would look romantic?
But a romantic figure with a short
beard! Oh. bear with me. Kitty! Inn
agination fails me. l can't picture II!
Now. a long beard-a long, big. yellow.
Teutonic beard. or a long. thin, taper
ing, pathetic beard-I could put up
with under protest. But a short beard.
speckled brown and gray, with a serv-
iceablc suit Of clothes Kitty, I'm
so sorry: I'm afraid l can't fall In love
with John"
Il don't think he will mind" I said.
with a touch Of malice in my tone.
Meg sighed profoundly. her eyes still
dancing with merry laughter.
rs his heart all yours? Poor me.
poor world. poor rest Of u.s."
"Oh. Meg, don't be such n goose!"
I'm trying 10 be serious. like you.
An engagement. Kitty, is a most seri-
Il thing. And the first serious con-
sideration is the ring-diamonds. Of
course-refuse, dear. to have anything
to say to anything but diamonds.
Now, Kitty, let me offer you a piece
OF advice. Be exacting; a lover Is
nothing unless he brings daily gifts
OF flowers and fruit and chocolate
creams. Keep that well before his
mind. Heliotrope and maiden-hair fern
and chocolate creams daily! My spirits
are rising. Now and then you can sug-
gest that chocolate almonds will be
welcome to me for n change"
But he isn't engaged to YOU" I said,
laughing.
mo. Preserve me! But let's be
fair let's divide things equally
you're welcome to John, but let me
have the flowers and sweets. And
Dora-well, Dora shall wear the flow
ers when l have done with them.
Flowers that I wear always live for a
second day. Do you know that that's
u%nlucky? II you're to be lucky in life.
and In love, the flowers you wear
should wither quickly. Did you ever
hear Of that superstition"
Never"
DC hioie Sy HpdtHetlC, hltty. Ion I
say never in that fiat tone. Please
to realize my tragedy. No ono is COM
ing to WOO me-no one is coming to
wed. No John will ever say he loves
me. BY the by, Kitty, did John say
he loved your"
flashed n quick glance at her,
and caught the thought in her mind.
YES" l said in a voice that would
not be steady in spite Of all my efforts;
land l wanted to tell you-you were
all wrong, you and Dora and Aunt
Jane. He does care for me. He cares
for me for my own sake-for his own
sake-not for duty in the least"
Meg looked at me doubtfully for a
moment, a little graver than her wont.
That's very NICE" she said, gently;
but there vas q note of unreality in
her tone; and l knew ! had not con.
WINGED her.
Ito BE- continuedl