The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-03-17
A MASQUERADE.

UAst10S VI tuC tOP RAN "a 6tllo,
placed where a gap in the hedge
opened on to marrow, struggling
footway which meande. ed between
the hedge and what was then Held
of waving golden wheat.
She wore plain blue print dress.
and her sweet, girlish face and
brown hair, glorious wealth of
which, when loosened from it's bond
age, enveloped her shoulders, fall
ing to her waist. were surmounted
by broad brimmed straw hat, from
the friendly shelter of which deep,
limpid gray eyes cleaned, and the
pertest little nose possible was visit
BILE.
His name was Jack-that Is to say,
he was christened John. He was
handsome and bronzed, and the suit
Of flannels he wore set OF his we'll
knit. 1.-THE figure to advantage He
leaned against the stile at her side
and, to guard her against falling,
had placed one arm around her
waist.
"How lovely 1t Is here now, Kitty
And TO think tomorrow must leave
It all and-you" he said regretfully.
Eyes, It is horrid, isn't 1T" she
said, with pout. "but you will
come back again. Jack, won't youi"
placing a dainty little ungloved
hand upon his shoulder and glancing
down at his handsome face into the
earnest brown eyes which looked in
to hers
"Come backi Why, Of course
will, darlingi" Then, with a trace
Of annoyance: "Confound my ia
theri Whatever he wanted to die
for just now, can't imagined Good
heavens, fancy wearing suit of
solemn black and sitting glum and
proper in a mourning coach on a
day like thisi But he has left me
his money, ! suppose. and we shall
be able to get married now, ehan't
we, Kitty" he said softly, drawing
her to him and imprisoning the 9th
or little hand within his own strong,
supple fingers.
She made no reply, only blushing
a bright rosy red and hiding her
face in his neck.
When Robert Holt married, 1t was
with the distinct disapprobation Of
bis only sister. Matilda. She did not
consider the lady he had chosen to
be his wife worthy of the head of
one of the Oldest families in Eng
land and did not hesitate to tell him
10, with the result that bitter quar-
rel was engendered which was never
made up and which only ceased with
deuth.
Matilda Holt therefore took u
house In the quiet little west of Eng
land village Of Monkwood, where,
under the assumed name Of Give,
she and her little girl, Kathleen,
lived in seclusion. unknown to her
brother, while she never told the
child she was In any way connected
with the old family, the Hollis Of
Holt Manor, In the county Ut Sus-
sex.
One morning, three days after the
departure Of her lover, Kitty came
into the little breakfast room, where
her mother sat at the head Of a
snowy draped table before gilt
tering array Of silver and china, with
a whirl of her cool cotton skirts, her
face aglow with health and happi-
ness. Putting her arms around her
mothers neck, she said:
Good morning, mammal Am
lates Forgive mel" Then, releas-
ing the old lady and turning to "a
small pile of letters lying on salver
placed at one side of the table, said:
Whom are the letters for, dear
Why, thy are all for you. believe
No" with a pretty uprising of her
eyebrows, except one, and that is
for mel" with a charming emphasis
on the last word.
The letter was from her lover.
With a tender light in her gray eyes,
she placed the missive carefully
away in her pocket, intending to
read 1t at her leisure, alone and un-
disturbed.
Then she began her breakfast,
watching the while her mother open
and read the three or four letters
which had fallen to her share.
Presently the old lady uttered q
cry of surprise and looked across al
her daughter, with wonderment in
her eyes.
well, maman. what's the mat.
teri" with laugh. You look as il
you had seen a ehosti"
well, ! am certainly surprised,
my dear. for l find you are an heir
ess, answered her mother.
"Indeedl" said Kitty, with q
laugh. "That Is indeed sufficient to
surprise any one who knows any.