The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-08-22

| And just when had got so used 20 Mr..
/ Morton. and he 60 me. However. I shan't
! put up with any nonsense from this new
man." she added 70 herself. as she fol-
| lowed the clerk upstairs.
Miss Mason" announced he. throwing
| open q door. and Kitty. her head held
well Up IN the air. ard in her most dig
nified manner. marched into the room.
A weli-groOmed head looked up from a
desk. and Kitty. allowing her gaze 70
] descend on II. dropred both FER sun
shade and her dignity. and gasped. mir
Howard He spraug from his chair with
hand outstreiched. and taking hers ex-
claimed, why, its Kitty, What have
you been doing all these months? I've
looked for you everywhere
Kitty sank into the chair he placed COR
her. and so ast0unded did she feel II
her suddes and unexpected meeting KIN
the man she had evaded so long thai Sie
entirely forgot 20 rebuke him for his
unnecessary familiarity in addressing her
by her Christian name. and even found
herself making some labOrsd explana sfSr
as TO her whereabouts for the las. eli:
months with a meekness which would
have caused Myra a shock had she been
there to see.
naturally reliant and self-possesSed Kitty
was replaced by shy and self-conscious
girl, who looked as II she would have
given ten pounds % be outside the door:
while Charlie Howard sat opposite her.
his languid manner entirely disappeared
and smile Of intense satisfaction on HIS
face as he reflected that he had found his
fascinating little Kitty again and that he
would know the reason why II he allowed
her to leave this time without him as an
escort.
Kitty found his joyful scrutiny rather
embarrassing, and made a noble effort 20
pull herself together and regain her lost
dignity.
Il had no idea" she said at last, that
you had replaced Mr. Morton"
''No," said Charlie laughing. I'm sure
you hadn't or you wouldn't have come
would your
Kitty felt herself turning brilliant rel
at this thrust. and Charlie went on:
"Why did you give up the Herald and
why did you give me my congo in such L
hurry the last time met you? | wonder
IL you have any idea how much I have
missed you and Of how 1 have tramped
the streets with the hope OF, seeing you."
Kitty looked so disturbed at these lead
ing questions that he graciously allowed
her to recover, and confined himself for n
time to discussing the sketches she had IN
hand and which had been the means OF
throwing her once more into his way
When this matter had been settled and
Kitty resolutely rose from her chair to
depart Charlie rose. too, and taking .up
his hat and gloves, accompanied her into
the street.
For the sake Of old times and IN cele-
bration of our meeting to-day" he said.
when they were outside, come with me
and have some lunch. I'm sure you're
not in q hurry this morning." he addes,
persussively
Kitty, inwardly despising herself for
letting him get her into his clutches again.
assented, and together they went TO a
restaurant where months before they had
often gone for tea.
Charlie made good use of his emporium
ity. and the subdued Kitty beside him
promised all sorts of unutterable things
before he would let her leave him.
To Myra there appeared late that after
noon guilty and conscious-looking girl,
who told her story with much confusion
and hesitation, which was not greatly al
layed when at the end Myra triumphantly
exclaimed. There! | told you sor'
Mrs. Mason also had the satisfaction of
triumphing over Kitty at the downfall of
her career, for Charlie most emphatIcalIy
insisted that his wife should not work for
money; that he hoped he was able 10 keen
her, and so on. Therefore. after Kitty
became Mrs. Howard she only. got out her
board Tor her own amusement.
THE END