The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-15

ed them closely; she had decided to take
the little one herself, but now she would
wait to see what Adam would do. Poor
Adam! He had no family Of his own. The
Widow Wells was his housekeeper. and
she did not care for children and disliked
cats. He really wanted to take the child.
1t was such a short time, perhaps she
might be willing "Tum," said the little
one. impatient of his thinking. Let's do
home. Kits hungry" THIS decided him.
and exclaiming "all right, baby; we'll try
it, he lifted her in his arms and turned
10 go. AS he did SO grateful Kit threw her
arms around his neck. and with deep,
satisfied flank you." kissed him fervently,
to the delight of his ne!ghbors. who cheer
ed them Justify as they disappeared down
the road.
This was too much for Millicent. What
hero he was to her Just then, TO bear the
laughing remarks Of the crowd as he did,
He never could care for that baby: she
must get him to let her have it. Hadn't
you better get In and ride, Adam?" she
asked as she overlook him on the road,
and Adam. who was already beginning to
wonder what he should say when he met
the widow, accepted gladly. realizing that
here was a real help in trouble. Kit looked
at her for q few moments and then de-
Gliding that she was all right, asked: Are
you his mudder?' and receiving mega
tive answer: Don't he want you to be
his mudder?" Poor Adam! He would
gladly have answered yes If he could not
have her otherwise: but Kit followed up
this question with one to him: Does
you get junk sometimes?" And amid the
merriment caused by this unexpected query
they arrived at the farm. and all went
in to meet the widow. She objected seri-
ously; she did not so much mind the child,
but she had a natural horror of cats, and
could not stand the kitten. but Kit and
Jenny could not be parted. Millicent
begged for both. and at least coaxed for
the cat. but in response to all her efforts
Kits only answer was to sidle up to
Adam and say decidedly: Yves goin' to
stay wifi you" And they did stay.
During the weeks that followed the foot
path between the farms became again well
worn Milly and Kit were firm friends.
1t was Milly who made her new clothes.
Milly with whom she spent a good portion
Of each day. Milly who curled her hair
and petted her cat, and she grew very
fond Of her. But it was Adam who had
her warmest regards Grader ADAM" as
Milly had taught her to say), and she
went back to him every night IL by any
chance he did not come for her.
was no love. and the cat had been con-
tinual grief At last there came a day
when it distinguished itself and brought
about an end Of the trouble. Since the
day when Adam, coming suddenly into the
kitchen, had found the housekeeper, with
nervous horror on her countenance.
mounted on chair. while the kitten
rubbed, purring. against It's legs. he had
tried to keep it out OF the house; but the
cat, like its mistress. knew its own mind,
and its special delight was the kitchen
hearth
On the day in question 1t lay there,
stretched at full length in comfort while
Kit was playing near by. Mrs. Wells came
in and stopped down to look at some lies
that we're baking in the open. The kitten,
with playful purr. sprang to her shoul-
der and began rubbing its head against
her In a frenzy Of fear she flung it from
her and 1t struck in its descent the handle
of a saucepan which was full of boiling
water. upsetting it over itself. the widow.
and Kit. The cutcries of the three brought
Adam in haste from nearby field, to find
Mrs. Wells with badly scalded foot while
Kit. with one hand wrapped in her apron.
carrying the yowiing kitten in the other.
had started across the field to MilIicent
the tears streaming down her cheeks as
she went
First helping Mrs. Wells, whose injury
was severe, and calling some one to wait
upon her. he started after Kit and arrived
just in time to see her throw herself into
Millicent's lap and her her exclaim be-
tween her sobs: "Oh. Milly, Do tum and
be our mudder, We wants you so! Adam
and does-please tum and take care OF
usl" And dropping on the settee beside
them he found voice to say: Yes. do
come and take care of u.s. Milly. We want
you scat least Adam does. Viii you,
Milly?''
Later in the evening when the burns OF
Kit and the cat had been dressed and
they were both sleeping. and Adam had
explained that he had rather have her as
a wife than as a mother. happy MiIIy said
to him: You stupid old Adam, / believe
you never would have told be IL 1t hadn't
been for Kit" Then seriously: Lets keep
her always. Adam. I could not bear to
think of her going back to that awful life"
Adam agreed heartily. And so it came that
when shortly after this Adam brought
Milly home to take care Of him and his,
Kit dressed in white and looking very diff
ferent from the little New York waif. di-
vided hcnors with the bride. And the kit
ten. decorated with an elaborate pink bow.
stretched itself in undisputed possession on
the kitchen hearth.-New York Tribune.