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

Il
Where is your gratitude for the comfortable
home provided for you by your father and
myself? Have we not done everything in
our power to please you and make you
happy? No girl could have had more done
for her than you, and yet you are not sat
isfied. and for the last year you have made
nv life misery by your continual en-
treaties to be allowed to live in London TO
study art, so that you may earn your living
out Of itr-as IL you could ever do such a
thing"
Mother, dear. / know that no one could
have been kinder than you and father.
Kitty said contritely, sorry to hurt her
mother, but In no whit moved to give up her
project, which had long been the desire OF
her heart. But 1 must go; 1 wasting
my life in this dull place and 1 feel it in
me that I can do something If 1 only get
the chance"
Mrs Mason and her daughter were seat
ed in the large comfortable drawing room
of their house in Skipton. The mother in
her normal state was stout. amiable lady,
quite content with herself. her husband and
daughter and her surroundings And she
could not understand how 1t was that her
only child should have these unnatural-for
unnatural they appeared to her-cravings
for London and making a career for herself
She Mrs. Mason and her worthy husband
had never had the slightest desire to move
away from the place where they had been
born and brought up; and where Kitty had
acquired her rowing propensities was mys-
terry to both of them. AS for the talent for
art which Kitty declared she possessed,
they looked upon it entirely a freak OF
her imagination, and were disposed to think
that II it actually existed, it ought to be
looked upon as a disease, and cured at once.
For themselves they thought nothing OF
her little figure sketches and letters and
headings entwined around with flowers in
Kittys own quaint and original style, upon
which she spent 30 much time. In fact"
said Mrs Mason to her husband, 81 prefer
letters myself printed plain, so that 1 can
see what they are without having to put
my glasses on to make them out"
She was exceedingly fond of her daughter,
and was very much worried by Kitty's de-
termination to leave her home and risk the
unknown perils Of a wicked city like
London.
Mrs. Mason had never been to town, but
she always vowed that 1t was a terrible
place, and that all respectable people fought
shy OF it; but she did not know how to
prevent Kitty from going If her mind was
mined girl, she was twenty-one, and worst
OF all. she had a small income of her own
only eco year, II true; but 1t enabled
her to please herself IN the matter, seeing
! that she was Of age.
- Why" asked Mrs Mason, after long
pause. won't you make up your mind to
marry John Forrest? He has run after you
ever since you came home from school, and,
although you have never said anything to
me about 1t, know he has proposed to you
more than once
A slight color rose to Kitty's face at her
mothers words. She could not deny the
truth OF them. John Forrest had proposed
to her several times-she devoutiy hoped
her mother did not know how many-but
although she esteemed him very highly, she
had not any wish to marry him and had
told him
But. mother" answered Kitty. 81 do not
care for John in that way. And am sure
/ could never settle down with any one,
however much 1 liked him, in this dull,
dead-alive place, where nothing ever hap
pens and where the talk never gets beyond
ones neighbors and the latest in curates.
BAH loathe it."
Kitty" exclaimed her mother, Mortified,
show can you talk so? Loathe the place
where you were born and brought up and
where the friends of a lifetime live. If this
IS the result of a boarding school educa-
ton, for my part I think 1t should be put a
stop to-
Kitty sighed. 1t was hopeless to talk with
her mother on the subject, for she could
not be brought to see that what had sufficed
for her during her married life-a good hus-
band and a comfortable income-could not
be all sufficient for girl of Kittys nature
and disposition.
The height of Mrs. Mason's ambition for
her. daughter was that she should marry
John Forrest. He was the son of a gentle
man farmer living a few miles out of the
little town, good looking and with excellent
prospects and abjectly in love with Kitty.
He. like Mrs. Mason, could not under
stand Kitty's yearnings and ambition; but
he had misgivings to the result of
his love making. He felt certain that in
time such persistence as his must win the
day.
While Mrs. Mason and Kitty were sitting
IN their coy drawing room before blaz-
ing fire, with a large gray cat blinking
happily on the hearth rug and wicked
looking parrot swinging In his brass
cage in the window, talking to him.
self in a low voice, John Forrest and his
sister Mary were walking briskly along the
read which led TO Mr. Mason's house. John
had driven his sister over TO the town TO
make a few purchases and before returning
they. as usual. stopped to call on Mrs. Ma
son.
Upon entering the drawing room John
quickly drew up a chair 10 Kitty's side
and fixed on her the adoring gaze with
which she had become SO familiar and OF
which she was 50 tired. We'll. Kitty" he
said, how are you getting on?'
shes not getting on at all WELL" ex-
claimed Mrs Mason before Kitty had time
20 reply. addressing Miss Forrest, who had
Joined the circle around the fire. She's
very tiresome girl, Mary. What do you
think she's done now?"
.Oh. nothing very dreadful. 1 am sure, .
answered Miss Forrest, looking affection
ately across at the charming little figure
IN the great armchair. Mary was very fond
of Kitty and the only one of her friends
who sympathized with her in her longing 10
get away from the monOtony and narrow
mindedness OF the little country town.
What is II that has vexed Mrs. Mason,
Kitty" she asked.
Once more the mother interrupted before
Kitty had time 20 reply. why. Mary" she
said "she has arranged with that school
girl friend Of hers in London TO share a
studio with her and she says she is going
next week, and / am sure I don't know
what will become of her"