Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-08-31
A LOVER At LARGE.
By BESSIE CHANDLER.

Win NY own - Is
We'll what did You see, Them
You sat by her all through a waltz.
you talked To her and-and-looked at
her. and then you got up and danced
with her, the horrid lancers. too. that
nobody thinks of dancing nowadays :
And then you went out and put her in
her carriage and tucked her in. l saw
it all.
But Kittie''-
You needn't say 'Kittie' TO me!
The idea of that little widow being
attractivel She's old enough to be your
mother
.No. she's not. We were born the
same year. and m six months the old
er :"
"Oh, you found that out die you
Well, l wouldn believe her. She's a
sly, deceitful thing She's had one low
er-at least l suppose her husband low
ed her l don't see why, though
should think she'd be contented now to
stay at home and behave herself. in
stead Of trying TO rob other womenl"
He looked at her helplessly-the big,
handsome, simple minded fellow. He
was no match for Kittie. She buzzed
all around him, like tormenting in
sect too small to catch, too aggravat-
ing to be ignored.
'Kittie. you shall hear mel" he ex-
claimed. "What were you doing when
I sat beside Mrs Millicent? Waiting
with Captain Graham Now, can {
waltz till that confounded knee gets
right again, and do you think it's such
a pleasure to watch you circling round
me-with other menG Mrs. Millicent
talked with me, which is more than
half the girls do with a man who
doesn't dance. Then came the lancers.
/ can get through those. | looked for
you; but, as usual, you were off with
somebody else, so l danced with Mrs.
Millicent Surely it's no crime for me
to dance one square dance with another
woman when you dance a dozen round
dances with other men"
Miss Kittie Nicholson was unap-
peased.
at isn't so much that you did it, ="
she said haughtily, "as that You enjoy
ed it so.
He looked at her in amazement.
Would ycu prefer to see me weer
as / dance? I'll remember that next
time and drop few tears as go.
"Oh, it ism thatl / can't make you
understand. I'm not jealous, not at all
Still, every one says you are great
fiirt, and it seems so queer that you
should be loving me, as you say you do,
and yet so perfectly contented with an
other woman, at the same time.
"But don't see anything of you,
Kittie. You won't let our engagement
be announced | have to stand with the
rest of the mob and take my chance.
can hardly ever see you alone. I'm per
fectly happy when I'm with you-you
know / am-but you won't let me be
with you You turn me off and laugh
at me and starve me. Then | pick up
what crumbs l can from other people q
tables. l presume now you re going out
tonight.
Miss Nicholson colored and looked
confused. "Well, yes. to tell You the
truth. l am. But not right away. Maud
has little supper tonight.
He looked at her savagely. THAT s
always the way. I shall 90 and see
Mrs. Millicent
''If you do, Gerald Hayes, I'll never
speak to you again. The idea Why,
Gerald, 1 believe yen really like her."
Her tone had changed entirely, and a
strain of real anxiety showed itself
above the assumed petulancy with
which she had been teasing her lover.
81 do like her. What do-you want
me to dor Mrs Miller hasn't invited
me- It's too early to go to bed yet.
Shall / go up and sit on the steps until
you come out2 I'm rather big to play
lamb to your Mary, but will if you
wish it. -
Dear Gerald" said the girl, slip
ping her hand in his, "just wait lit
tie longer. You've been so good and
patient. will tell everybody in a few
days 1t frightens me little; that's
all But you know love you, Gerald. y
The last words were very low, but
he heard them, and his arm was around
her in a second, and he felt that he was
being more than paid for all that he
had suffered.
He left her half an hour later with
a much lighter heart. She was an un-
reasonable, spoiled beauty, he said to
himself but the dearest darling in the
world.
He went up the street, whistling
softly as he went.
Where should he goI 1t was, as he
had said. too early to go to bed, and Of
course he would not go to Mrs. Milli
cents now. In fact, he no longer want
ed to. He was full Of the afterglow of
his last moments with Kittie
Suddenly he bethought him of a
friend of his mother, a charming,
middle aged woman, who lived right
on the way. He owed her dinner par
ty call, too. and this was just the night
to make it. So he walked along until
he came TO her door. keeping up his
low, happy whistle.
But "who can contend with his
lords?" Gerald Hayes, trying his best
to do his duty, walked straight into the
trap which fate had set for his unwary
feet, for as he stood in Mrs Nor
woods hall he heard music-a wom-
ans voice singing. He stopped mo-
ment, listening, but the servant pulled
the portiere and announced him, and
there was nothing for him to do but
enter the drawing room. The lights
We're dim, but he saw Mrs Norwood
sitting in her accustomed corner and
went at once to speak to her. The mu-
sic stopped and the figure at the piano
rose hastily. He looked across. to find
that it was Mrs. Milliccnt.
Don't set up, Annie, " said Mrs.
Norwood. "Im sure Gerald will enjoy
hearing you as much rs do. Gerald,
have you ever heard Mrs. Millicent
singr"
Never l am 70 glad to have that
pleasure.
"Well, sit right down and begin
again, Annie That was n lovely thing.
that last. -
Gerald Hayes moved nearer the pi-
ano. Mrs. Millicent looked at him and
smiled.
"You are quite sure this ism t going
to be u nuisance p
"What an ideal / shall love it,
know"
OIL. lo,..,, ., lonly ~ bar ,nuo;c turp.