The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12

whittier away IN sucn haste, and why so
early?"
| He was a fine, good-looking man, with a
fund of spirits which hardly ever seemed
| to desert him. He had fourishing future
before him. too, which made him a very
desirable object to a great many of his
young lady friends. Besides being editor
of the Herald, he was rapidly making his
| way in the field of literature. He was ambi-
tious and enthusiastic, and this had had
great deal to do with the friendship which
had sprung up between himself and Kitty.
He had been very much taken with her
from his first acquaintance with her, but
no serious thoughts of marriage had pos
sessed him, although once or twice of late
it had flashed through him that If ever
. he did commit the indiscretion Of marrying.
what a nice companionable little wife Kitty
would make. He turned and walked along
the street with her as he asked again where
she going and why she was so I'M
usually early, and was much surprised that
so innocent a question should cause the
| generally self-possessed Kitty SO much I'M
eaSiness.
"I-er-thought would like an early walk
Mr.. Howard" she replied at last, stammer-
ingly. "And-er-I am not going anywhere
But, pray hastily, do not let me detain
you"
He stared at her for a moment and then
burst into hearty laugh. why, Miss Ma
son." he said, what is the matter with you
and why are you not going anywhere. and
what have / done to be dismissed 50 alb
ruptly? And when 1 haven't seen you for
three days. either. Come let us take
stroll in the park this nice, bright morning
and see if we cannot spirit away the cob
webs which are evidently clouding your
mind"
He spoke banteringly and never doubling
that she would do he suggested, but to
his unmitigated amazement Kitty hastily
exclaimed, IT cannot possibly. Mr.. Howard.
1 have an appointment at IL and i must
keep 1t. Here is my bus, good morning, and
before Howard had grasped the situation
she was gone leaving him standing stock
still on the pavement, staring after the re-
treating vehicle
"Jove. that's a choke-off," he muttered
| when he had recovered himself. Whatever
can have come to my pretty little Kitty?
! Wait until 1 see you again, miss" he con-
tinued. addressing an imaginary Kitty be-
: fore him, land I'll have it out with you"
But the weeks went by and his opportun-
: ity never came to have it out with Kitty.
| She took care never to come into his way
and, as he did not know her address-Kitty
> homes she and Myra often held-he was
lot able to find her out or communicate
with her. He was surprised to learn how
much he missed her and how often she was
in his thoughts; and at last he never went
out without scanning each bus and car and
hanson as they passed him in the hope that
he could discover her.
Life went on as usual with the two girls.
Myra discreetly refrained from making any
remark when Kitty announced that she had
given up her work for the Herald and was
going to look for better markets; but she
surmised that her guess had been correct
and that Kitty had lost her heart to Mr.
Howard and often speculated to herself
as to how the matter would end.
III.
| Kitty and Myra had just settled down
: again to their work after a months holiday
at Kittys northern home Myra had been
persuaded by her friend to spend the month
of August at Skipton, and to Myra at least
the time had sped only too quickly.
Kitty's mother had become reconciled to
her daughters absence from nome, nay,
more had even been heard to boast of her
, achievements in London to admiring and
envious friends. She had found treasure
, in the shape of a bright young girl whom
she had engaged as companion to herself
and who was in almost every way much
more congenial to her than her own daugh-
ter. She possessed no tiresome cravings
after fame; she took sympathetic inter-
| est in the latest piece of scandal or gossip,
, and, best Of all, could listen for any length
of time to Mrs. Mason's decidedly garrulous
, conversation without appearing In the least
bored The acquisition of this treasure con-
, duced greatly to the enjoyment of Kitty
| tIoir Sto wit
, Mrs. Mason, although it must be confessed
/ that Kitty was yearning to return to Lon
, don long before their time was up.
. She had never once seen Charles Howard
since that memorable morning in December
when as she expressed it herself, she had
made such fool of herself" And she was
intensely mortified to find that she could not
, forget him. 1T is a mercy" she more than
; once soliloquized, that 1 had the courage
to break with him before he could have any
idea of how 1 felt about him." But she still
smarted under the humiliating knowledge
, that she cared for a man who only thought
of her as a pleasant and congenial COM
panion who had passed out Of his life and
who was easily replaced
She had not felt any i'll effects by giving
up her Herald work Very soon after she
; had become known to the proprietors Of the
Star puDllCdllOHS, anu 50 uuluefOuS "elo
they and so well did she please the owners
, that she was kept quite busy by them alone.
. "Myra," she said one morning, two days
after their return from Skipton, Il really
must go and see Mr.. Morton about these
new sketches he wants. His letter is so de-
, lightfully vague that 1 cannot exactly un-
, derstand what he wants..
Mr. Morton was the editor of the Star,
and it was with him that Kitty transacted
all the business connected with her sketches
, for the numerous periodicals which were is
sued from the Star Office.
, "Well, DEAR" answered Myra, why not
go now? 1t is lovely morning. and it will
J do you good to go out. Besides You seem
, so restless that shall be quite glad to get
rid of you for while SO that can get on
, with my OWL work without 50 many inter-
ruptions.''
| "Oh, indeed" laughed Kitty, so you want
to get rid of me? I've a good mind to stay
in all the morning and annoy you. But on
second thoughts 1 will go out. simply must
see Mr.. Morton, and may as we'll go now
as any other time
, Accordingly half an hour later Kitty we'll
| dressed little figure passed into the street.
) She always dressed well, but this morning
, | sha looked narticularly dainty and many