, 1902-05-27
ImpudenCe.

Copyright, 1902, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
\ group OF three-two girls and a
cat. The halo OF womanly daintiness
surrounds them; a lace-trimmed hand
there: a high plumed tiara on the
table and the last worn dress across
the chair.
One pair of black eyes looking out
upon the world with a deep, winsome
wonder-seeing visions and trying to
blink away the %shaGows; one pair Of
blue eyes, practical, everyday, sympa-
thetic; with a great ~ietty-black cat
lying in the lap of the first. its golden
green orbs fixed restlessly on her face
and her two hands clasped across its
silky coat. The black ayes twinkle
as they meet the blue.
What do | see in your face" ques-
toned the blue-eyed girl, something
has happened, tell me?'
Fol- answer the other placed taper
ing fingers at the parting of the lips
M whispered.
oh. you mean Cousin Jimmie?
Delightful! Charming"
Sparks of fun and li%ghthearted hap
piness scintilate from the dark orbs
while she tells such particulars as
maidens delight to recount and to
hear.
There is only one possible objec-
ton" quoth Bluette. deprecatingly-
am afraid"
Now. Imp" spoke the other quick
ly. what are you archinS your back
about? Do you also think him too
fine for your mistress? 1t is not kind
to tell me sol"
Bluette recognized the limitation.
Imp is the most appropriate name
l eve heard for a black cat" she
skirmished.
~'Impudence' we used t. call him
when he was small and mischievous-
now he has grown wise and dignlfied
we shorten it."
At intervals Blue-eyes tried to re-
sumo the discussion of cousin Jim
ME- and uncoEsciously to state the
one objection to him-she was a good
little soul-but Buckeyes had put up
the bars and It was utterly impossi-
BILE.
Imp, she thinks l do not KNOW
This in confidence to the cat. the
dimpling cheek buried in his soft
black fur and happy little gurgling
smiles bubbling up to the surface. 81
am perfectly well aware that mamma
and papa will never permit me to
marry him. simply because he is poor,
as Bluette wanted so much to tell me
But what does it matter? He is in
finitely superior to all others and oil
-Imp-u-dence!"
True love took its usual course
over the rapids. The black eyes nc
longer scintilate fun, but sharp cleo.
trio ray Of discomfort and defiance
The father looks morose whenever her
lovers name is mentioned. and nc
mother imperiously scornful. What is
a girl to do! The crisis became i'm
minent when another lover appeared
on the scene. Everything heart could
wish" pronounced the mother, while
the father looked as jolly over it as
II he had sown a few dollars in specu-
lation and reaped a gold mine. But
the daughter
The man vas little-not much above
her own shoulder-and fussy; agree
able, rather, or would be If sne could
refrain from comparing him with
somebody else. Imp arched his back
and looked suspicious and disdainful
whenever he came into the room as
il he were one Of those %tormenting lit.
tie dogs which cats detest. Alas.
who cares for the opinion Of a cat
unless, perchance. it agree with his
own! And what vas the girl to do?
One would hardly have deemed Let.
tice Duvall a person easily dominat.
ed, noting the full. firm mouth and thu
head poised as II it already wore 9
crown. Nevertheless, the queen-moth,
er still reigned. Whatever dress she
suggested was worn; whatever engage.
ment she wished. was made. Hitherto
1t had been a matter Of. no conse.