Daily Kennebec journal., 1903-01-13
ORANGE BLOSSOM.
Continued from page 81.

We will see a lawyer, and perhaps the
hateful old thing will compromise"
I'll never hold up my head again"
sobbed her aunt. 1T will be all in the
papers. He will just revel in telling all
about me in the window. I've no doubt
they Will want my torn skirt as evi-
dence but they shan't have it. III
mend it this minute
Yes, do, and this afternoon we will
see a lawyer"
Miss Kirkwood was sure she would
never dare tell the story to a lawyer.
What! Admit that she had climbed
fourteen rung ladder and stuck in
window. She remembered Mr.. Lind
saws words, IAN ambiguous position"
and groaned aloud.
Meanwhile a somewhat parallel scene
was being enacted next door. Mr..
LINDSAY opened his document and
broke into language such as makes the
Mother. of Parliaments stop her rever-
end ears.
.Iook out, uncle! The other day
you churned the cream and now you'll
sour it, demonstrated Tom. "A fellow
likes to begin the day in peace"
LOOK at lilal. 1LOOh clI II, L say,
roared his uncle 1.-THE she cat! The
| Jazebel Hauling me up because she
| thinks I've got that yellow brute of
hers! Don't 1 wish had got it,"
Tom studied the paper with great
| deliberation.
''Unl-yes," he said. Seems all in
form. You'll have to make an appear
ance of course. 1t will be just your
oath against hers. You never had the
cat-she saw it in your locked loft"
She's mad, subject to delusions! She
would say anything to plague me. By
| George, if l We're half as vindictive as
| she is [ could have a far better plea
against her, and 1 will, too
! Don't hurry. uncle,' said Tom,
thoughtfulIy restoring the paper to its
envelope. Il wouldn't make two cases
one viii be more than enough. Prob
ably you don't mind, but the fellows at
! The club viii be immensely amused.
! Illegal detention OF 81 cat-Why, Will
cox viii say you baited your loft with
| the cat to catch the lady,
| During this speech Mr.. Lindsay's face
! had gradually grown banker.
( Hang it all" he growled savagely
! and began to walk up and down with
| his hands in his pockets. At his
| Princes-st. club he had been the mer
| ciless tor1nentor of any co-members
who had got into scrapes, and he felt
| the truth OF the suggestion that if they
got the chance they would roast him
unsparingly Now. like many teasing
spirits he could not stand a joke
| against himself He would simply have
| O.. Il
| his life of half It's interest.
| Tom allowed the idea to soak in, and
! then put forward a suggestion. Prob
ably the LADY had applied for the sum-
mons in moment of piQue, and would
| agree to withdraw it. His legal knowI-
! edge was entirely at his uncles service.
| MI. Lindsay jumped at the idea, so
| Tom, with the caution of one who holds
| in his hands the threads of delicate
intrigue. indited a note as follows:
| Dear Miss Kirl1wood: 1 have just
| learned to my regret that legal I'M
| pleasantness is threatened over the
| recent unfortunate episode. l hope and
| believe that everything may yet be
| satisfactorily arranged in private. AL
| low me to point out that my legal quail
| ifcatons may contribute to this desir-
able end. May [ have an interview
with some private friend of yours-say
your niece-this morning? Your obe-
dent servant.
THOMAS KIRKWOOD."
| You owe me six and eight for that"
| he remarked to his uncle as he dis
lpatehed it by the cook. In a quarter of
an hour Selma appeared with a reply
on dainty cream -colOred paper.
| Dear Mr.. Lindsay: My aunt is too
agitated to write but we think your
suggestion a good one, and shall be
pleased if you will call Immediately.
Everything must be done to avoid pub
iicity. Your truly, Polly Kirkwood."
Tom put this note in his pocketbook
land hastened to select his most becom-
ling tie. He could not help whispering
"A goalt" to himself, as he sat down
in the prim cool drawing room of
MaTengo Villa to discuss matters with
Polly.
1T is most unfortunate" he said,
after reading the summons. Had my
uncle consulted me. L would have
| strongly dissuaded him, but he has ap-
| parently done this in a moment Of
Ianger. and now he regrets it bitterly.
l an sure he will withdraw it,