The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-20
FOR THE ORPHANS.
By Martha MecuIIoeh Williams.

ike tNdt FELLOW AdANei there AliiSHl
be some chance of your changing your
MIND" Girton said sarcastically,
glowering at Kitty Mayne, who laugh
ed sweetly.
Kitty was something of an heiress,
also something spoiled. When she
laughed delicious dimples played in
her cheeks Girton had a wild i'm
pulse to seize on her and kiss the dim
pies. She saved him from it by
snatching up a banjo and beginning
TO sing and strum:
Mister Johnson, tuhn me loose;
Got no money. but er good excuse"
She laughed happily between bars.
That made Girton furious. He hated
rag-time and all its works, chiefest
among them handsome Harry Max
well. who had come home from col
lege to infect the whole village with
his glee-club enthusiasm for it.
Il bungle so when l try to sing
my fingers all taugle together" Kitty
said in mild apology, as she Whistled
a bar or two Girton, more than ever
scandalized, laid hold upon the instru-
ment, saying as he wrenched it away:
kitty, this is beyond endurance.
Next think. you'll have your face
blackened, and be playing on street
corners. You need not scowl so. You
may easily be forced to it, if you per-
sist in your folly. If you marry
against your Aunt Maria's wish, she
can keep every penny of your fortune
as long as she lives. And she is only
40 and certain to live a great many
years.
Thank you for nothing Mr.. Gran
willie Girton" Kitty flung back in SUI
perb scorn. Rest assured that my
husband-when l have One-will be
able and willing to take care OF me
even though l bring him nothing ex-
cept the clothes ! stand up in
Then his name won't be Harry
Maxwell" GirtOn retorted, more an
grily than ever. Listen to reason,
Kitty. You know that he has spent his
small patrimony going through college
now he has nothing but himself and
his large ambitions. He loves you,
perhaps, but nothing to compare with
the way he loves himself. II you were
not rich"
"Oh, is that why you won't take no
for an answer" Kitty interrupted, her
head very high.
Girton bit his lip.
No" he said, IF I can only have
you. Aunt Maria may keep the for
tune-always.
Il know what shed do with it-give
it to her orphans. She nearly lives for
that asylum" Kitty said refiectively.
1T would be a great thing, too, to have
her have it. ! must ask Harry"
WHAT" d rich. merry voice called
through the open door. What is up,
kitten?"
Harry Maxwell came in with a great
bunch of roses. He started a little at
sight of Girton. but nodded to him,
saying brightly:
Hello, Gran. Has Miss Kitten here
brought you in as her legal adviser. to
tie up her money so fast and tight that
] cannot squander it,
II am toying to accomplish that al
though / did not know matters had
gone so far" Girton said. through set
teeth.
Kitty looked at him plaintively. then
spoke:
Harry is taking things for granted
he has that way. / only told him last
night that we'd be engaged this morn
ing if. in the meantime. l had not
changed my mind"
Dear me, what a bungler I am"
Maxwell laughed heartily. Il thought
it was all settled, but since it is still
up in the air. be kind enough, Miss
Catherine Taylor, to say here, before
a witness, whether or no you will have
ire >"
Il don't know-yet." Kitty said. pal
ing little. Il must find out how bad
~ you want me. Granville" nodding
toward Girton, lis willing that Aunt
Maria shall have the money for her or
phans. Do you think" obviously. that
we could rub along without ito"
why, bless the child! What's this
nonsense she's talking?" Aunt Maria
INTERCEPTED. coming out of the bay-win-
dow recess and shaking Maxwelrs hand
heartily. She was plump and fresh
colored, with twinkling, deep-seeing
ewes. Since l seem to be what the
lawyers call a party in interest. shall
stay and hear the rest" she said, go
ing close and LAYING her hand on Kit
tvs shoulder. She felt the girl trem-
BILE
Maxwell was still silent, his head
bent as though in deep thought. He
flung ii up n breath later, strobe ever
tc fling both his arms around Kitty.
and said gaily:
Why. of course, we can. The first
and kisses. After that l think we
shall be able to afford meat-say. on
Sunday. high days. and HOLIDAYS
and maybe even tea for breakfast"
81 am not joking. l insist. before
Kitty accepts you irrevocably that the
transfer to Miss Maria shall be made"
Girton said. his face lowering. Miss
Catherine Taylor" he went on, cere-
moniously, was twenty-one last
week"
Kindly draw it up at once" Kitty
said. her tone matching his own. 'I
shall be glad to help in starting you
on the professional career that you
have talked about for so long. Ind I
want you Ia stipulate that the mcncy
is to go finally to Aunt Maria S or
rhanS.-"
or whoever among them J may
se!e =, Aunt Maria interrupted, with
soft r'acid smile.
Maxwell gave her hand an ecstatic
squeeze, saying under his t.eath.
You've helped me more than I can
toll! feared you might object. Then
well, | should somehow have got
Kitty hut the poison of Girton's sus-
picior n Ieht always have fingered in
her mind"
You're a very bad match for nv
girl Miss Maria said with a placid
smile, still 7 have no fear that YOU
will let her starve after the first year
and for that length of time I insist
upon keeping the two of you with
me-"
Call in Witness" Girton said. his
face white. his eyes glowing. He knew
that he had played d desperate game