The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-10-15
. Hall ana he ia a handsome fellow,

TIC went w INV hlAApA WV Wv 49,
place and regarded himself with pitt
able disfavor. He was not In the least
good looking. Nature had given him
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. He
sighed.
what fool was to think such a
pretty, dainty maiden could ever care
for mel 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
hey did not know their own minds.
without committing himself to tho
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;
81 did not think" the irate old fel-
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, command you, sir, to como here
at once and explain your conduct"
There was also a letter from biz
mother, full of mingled entreaties and
regrets, but not a line from Kitty.
huge parcel, containing various little
knickknacks he had given her from
time to time, bundle of letters and
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 a line,
seeing that am leaving her free to DO
happy in her own way"
There was also q 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 prepare tons for length
ened tour. -...... .-.....
81 couldn't endure 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 return Kitty will
be married, and | 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 a few letters
from his parents, but after the first
two or three Kitty's name was not
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 mall
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 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 a Mrs Avery, married sister of
young Claiming.
What can have happened to herr"
he thought. Perhaps they are mar
ried, and are travelling here with Mrs.
Avory. believe l had better avoid
meeting them-still, l should like to
know the meaning of her altered APP
pearance."
Both ladies' were seated. Kitty in a
rocking chair, was swaying slowly to
and fro. while Mrs Avory, with an
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 that
paper, Mrs. Avory?" Kitty asked,
Uaafsilu Aha eAttad - H.