The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-10-02

a pair Of honest brown eyes and a
we'll formed head. set upon square,
broad shoulders, but his face-that
was certainly far from handsome. lie
sighed.
whit a fool was to think such a
pretty. dainty maiden could ever care
for me! only hope Claiming will
try to make her as happy as / would
have done"
On the following day Kitty's letter
was answered:
Marry the man you love at all haz-
ards" the editor Of the Woman's Mes
senger advised and there and then
Stephen Dighton wrote a letter break
ing his engagement with Kitty He
was aware that his letter to her was
somewhat mysterious. He spoke of
other influences, and recorded his be-
lief that when they plighted their troth
they did not know their own minds.
Without committing himself to the
statement he wanted her to think that
he had met some one he loved better,
and he smiled bitterly as he penned
the lines
The short letter he wrote TO his
father brought back sharp reply:
Il did not think" the irate old fell
low wrote, that | had a son who was
not a gentleman. A bad attack Of
govt prevents me from being in the
city at the moment you read this. AS
it is, l command you, sir, to como here
at once and explain your conduct"
There was also a letter from bis
mother, full of mingled entreaties and
regrets, but not line from Kitty. A
huge parcel, containing various little
knickknacks he had given her from
time to time, bundle of letters and a
tiny case with her engagement ring
inside, arrived-only that, and nothing
more.
"She must have had them ready for
sending" he concluded, illogically;
still. she might have written line,
seeing that am leaving her free to be
happy III uCl OWu way
There was also a letter from Lis
combe, announcing his return after a
trip that had proved highly beneficial
to his wife and himself Stephen be-
gan to make preparatio for a length
ened tour.
Il couldn't endure a day at the Hall
now. I'll take a run up to the Cats
kills and finish off with a trip to Eu-
rope. BY the time l return Kitty will
be married, and l shall be able to ex-
plain all to the pater."
When Stephen had been abroad five
months beyond the proverbial year and
a day, he made up his mind to return
home. He had received few letters
from his parents, but after the first
two or three Kittys name was not
mentioned, from which he inferred that
she was on with the new love. In one
of her earlier letters his mother had
written, with little Intentional NAL
ice, that Kitty was in the best possible
spirits, and, though Stephen told him
self that he was rejoiced at the news,
he scarcely felt so.
1t was in Paris that Stephen began
| to pine for home. Here he made the
acquaintance of a couple of young ply
sicians, graduates Of New York City
college. In one of their excursions
through the country near Paris he
managed to twist his foot, and it was
in consequence of this accident that
he was reclining alone one day in one
of the deserted drawing rooms in his
hotel. The windows OF the room were
wide open, and he was aroused from a
dOze by the murmur of voices from
outside, one of which sounded strange
ly familiar. He contrived to draw near
enough to the window to catch a
glimpse Of the speakers, and with a
sudden thrill he saw that one of them
was Kitty Stanfeld, but so changed
that his heart ached. Her companion
was Mrs. Avery, married sister OF
young Charming.
What can have happened to her,?
he thought. Perhaps they are mar
ried, and are travelling here with Mrs
Avory. l believe l had better avoid
meeting them-still, l should like tc
know the meaning of her altered ap.
pearance."
Both ladies were seated. Kitty in 6
rocking chair, was swaying slowly tt
and fro, while Mrs. Avory, with ar
open journal on her knee and knitting
pins in her hands, was trying to fol
low some directions for the manufac
ture of a summer shawl.
Aren't you tired of porting over tina
Daper Mrs AVorv9" Kitty asked