Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-04-02
A FALSE LOVER
. AM sure we do love each other,

% AM sure we do love each other,
and will be very happy togeth-
y err" she said, laying her hand on
his arm and looking straight into his
eyes.
"Of course we will, little rembler,"
he exclaimed in reply, playfully drop
ping his hand over those guileless blue
orbs, for their searching gaze made him
uneasy. Miss Hargrave need not fret
or fume, for we will show her yet what
a cosy couple we will make" And
Kitty felt perfectly satisfied with her
handsome lover, and " ordered how
she had ever been SO foolish as to
doubt the genuineness of her attach
ment for him.
When she saw Edward Wyndham, a
little later, and he had asked in his
earnest, sincere way If the matter
was all settled and she was to marry
Hal Burton" she had replied with con-
siderable warmth that she was, and
that ended it between the former low
ers.
And so the days sped on, much faster
than Kitty liked, though they were
even fastening on her wedding day.
One night: Hal had been to visit Kitty,
and had remained later than usual
When the girl saw how late it was get
ting she told him he must go, but they
stood In the passageway some mo-
ments afterward, Kitty swinging the
night key carelessly in her hand. Hal
suddenly caught it away from her,
darting through the back door and care
fully locking it behind him; he then
called out playfully:
Goodnight pretty Miss Kitty!
am locked out, but you are locked in.
Nobody will run away with you before
morning, I'll be bound"
For reply Kitty had only laughing
ly entreated him to restore the key and
go home, at which he had thrown a
mocking defiance at her and darted
down the street.
On his next visit Kitty asked once
more for the key, but he now declared
that he had lost it, probably on return
Ing home that night, and had not the
remotest idea where to look for it. And
30 the unsuspecting girl was compelled
to report to her mistress-though she
was very careful to conceal who the
loser had been-and another key was
purchased.
And so the time sped on until it was
within one week of the time appointed
for the wedding.
Kitty was sewing on some of the we'd
ding finery and Miss Hargrave relaxed
gradually from the usual severity of
her manner to such degree that she
had finally taken up needle to assist
her maid in the work.
They sat rather late over their work.
and Kitty finally retired, feeling very
much flattered and pleased over Miss
Hargrave's graciousness. And SO she
gradually sank into an uneasy slum-
Der.
She could not tell how long she had
slept, but she finally woke with a sud
den start and suppressed cry. She
had been troubled with an unpleasant
dream and awoke restless and ill at
ease. A presentiment of coming evil
seemed to weigh upon her mind, so
that sleep was entirely banished, and
she could not close her eyes again.
The rain was over and the moon Just
struggling feebly through the breaking
clouds. She did not light the lamp, for
it was not dark enough to require it,
but crept out upon the landing and
down the stairs with only the moon to
guide her way. The back door opened
into passage-way leading to the kftch-
en-, and into this she glided, pausing
for moment her heart beating fast,
for she suddenly thought she heard
step just outside. In another moment
key was pushed into the lock, and the
bolt snapped cautiously and almost
noiselessly back. Suppressing scream
of surprise and alarm at this confirma-
ton Of her worst fears, Kitty turned to
arouse the house when a voice from
the outside fell upon her ear, whisper
ing the words: "All right
In another moment the back door
was carefully opened. Two men en-
tered the passage, as Kitty knew at
once, for her hearing seemed awfully
acute just then.
"a woman, by all that's Iove1yr' ex-
claimed one, springing forward.