The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-23

you have a secret, Kitty. Say no
more"
She turned a proud profile TO Miss
Leven and put her hand on her heart
Dearest Alice, don't please take II
so seriously. IL is nOthing-no secret
merely the key OF little old desk of
my mothers where / keep a few pa
pers."
Naturally. Papers ghat YOU do not
care TO have me seei' Miss Varnev re-
piled. haughtily. There is no more Ia
be said. / should like the subject drop-
ped. II you do not mind" She was
quivering all over.
But can we go on living together?"
asked the other. giving voice 70 her Sc
cret preoccupation.
mo. I don't see how We can" Miss
Varney. driven TO bay, answered her.
FL am a fool, know, but IL was not i'm
che bond
"I'll show you the papers" said Miss
Leven, desperately.
"Oh. no, no; please do not sneak NJ
such thing. Yes, you have perfect
right TO have secrets from me but I
confess I-don't like IT, IL is no good
Kitty. Look here. dear don't lei ms
speak OF IL any more. but go 10 bed
and we will see how we feel I'm the
morning. Heavens, never knew what
a Ddu temper Il ndu llll lDlS moment
She put her hand To her head
NO" said Kitty Leven. determined
ly. II could not rest thinking that we
had quarrelled. You must
1--WE have not quarrelled II is only
my temper. Good God Kitty! VIII
you go?"
"No. Alice. would rather YOU would
look at the contents Of the desk. II you
don't mind. I have right to demand
IL. after all you have said. What !
wished so much to avoid can not be
worse than this. And now | insist on
your looking at the contents OF nhe
desk. | will so and fetch IT,"
I have tod you had so much rath-
er not"
'Ah. but you spoke Of our parting.
That was enough for me"
She rose as she spoke Her complex
ion was now quite pale and ashen.
while the sallow Miss Varney's cheeks
wore the handsome flush OF a gypsy.
Miss Varney clutched at her lost self
control. put her handkerchief To her
face. and was able 10 resume. almost
an her own natural voice:
u am an old fool Yes. bring the
desk. Kitty. and Wen have an end To
this She sat down, laughing hys-
terically
Miss Leven soon returned. bearing
with her an old rosewood desk that
looked indeed as II IL might have be-
longed 10 her mother.
SLOWLY and deliberately. with the SOL
emn aid or one accomplishing a long
forgotten religious rite, she inserted the
little silver key i'm the worn keyhole.
III was so jagged that The key did not
go in easily. and her face flushed and
her eyes filled so that a tear BETRAYED
ner and dropped on the polished surface
OF the lid. She raised IL slowly muir
muring:
could have wished this had not
happened; but what must be must be"
she drew out packet OF old letters.
tied up with string: the outside en-
Velope was addressed 10 Miss RATHER
Inc Leven" in the bold nOt easily mis-
taxable handwriting that they both
knew.
wish YOU to read the first letter
me very first letter that comes. and no
more Miss Leven begged.
won read any" said Miss Varnev
uoggedly; yet her eyes We're wild with
eaSerness and her RESTLESS hand drew
toward and again withdrew from the
packet she coveted
you must, Alice, Only the first I
don't know which ~ happens To be
= nance IT. She trembled. but valiant
~ neid out the packet 10 her fr1cnd
ihus adtured. Alice Varney broke
tne string that tied the letters OF Rob-
ert Musgrave 10 Katherine Leven She
EIahced up at the mans photograph as
sue u!u 80. Miss LeYens eyes were al
ISt1y nXed there and she never remov-
edthem. She was saving something un-
der her breath.
ne nrst letter lay open on Miss Var
neys knee. and IL began: MY own
darling Kitty"
that was all Miss Varrey saw. for
she iainted.-Cornhin Magazine