Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-11-07
|O-O-O-O-O-O-OO
s Letitio: a
? Dreamer

( Dreamer 4
o-o-O-O-cO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O
Il beati'' cried the girl exultantly-
81 got here firsti But look, Aunt Har-
riet-that cloud-did you ever see any
thing SO black? It's going to
She stopped, suddenly conscious of
a tension in the atmosphere Both
her aunts were regarding her 81
lently, with an aspect SO grave. so
reproachful, that she looked from one
to the other in establishment and quick
conjunction.
What is it?" she cried. Were you
worried about me? / came as quick
as could, and indeed I am not wet"
eyes, Lefty, we were worried about
you" said Harriet, austerely. But
not on account of the rain. That would
MT have mattered. It is something
very different from that"
WELL" said Lefty. grown suddenly
quiet, what is it, then? Something
has vexed you-something that have
done? Why don't you tell me what it
is?"
ITO think" Josephine burst out al
most tearfully, that you should have
should have done it without ever ask
ing. or even mentioning it! 1t isn't as
If we hadn't INDUCED you, either, and
always let you do what seemed right
and proper. 1t does seem as if you
might have given us your confidence,
at least!"
ITO take the responsibility of doing
a thing like that" Harriet went on. "a
ri MIGHT
have known how it would be talked
about by everybody. Indeed, it is al
ready, I don't doubt; for if Mrs. Fos-
dick knows it"
And she saw you, so you can't deny
it. The back window, too! And you
know what sort of a man he is-how
he would hate anything like that. Why
he's been around thanking half the
parish" said Josephine, with fine in
consequence. $50 Mrs. Fosdick says,
though someway it hadn't got to our
ears-and whether he suspects or
not"
A deeper flush than that which the
wind had set there famed up sudden
ly in Letty's cheeks.
do you mean" she cried, crimson
to the tips of her little ears, that 1
have been doing anything out of the
way about-about-Mr. Hollister?"
''Out of the wayi" Harriet repeated,
in high displeasure. Il don't know
what you call it. 1t may seeA to you
entirely proper and praiseworthy to
be taking him things-pies and ginger
bread and what not-and stealing
round to his kitchen window with
them at all hours, and never saying a
word about it to your own family
''I didn't" cried Lefty. 81 never did
such a thing in all my life! What
can you mean? Why, Aunt Harriet,
pies-and-it's too funnyi-the kitch-
en- window"
She began to laugh Historically.
Lefty, Lettyl" said Josephine, shak-
ing her head with sad and warning
significance.
Then the girls anger took fire and
b1azed quick and hot.
You don't believe mel" she cried.
you think am telling you a lie about
it-when l have never deceived you
in my life! 1t is you who haven't any
confidence in me. You accuse me of
something l never dreamed of doing,
and when 1 tell you it isn't true you
don't believe me! You take Mrs. Eos
dicks word instead of minet l will
not tell you any more. l will not stay
and listen-I will"
She turned with a little wild sob,
and ran-out of the room-out of the
house. They heard the door slam after
her, and the roar of the rain as it
caught her in its fierce embrace. The
next moment Letiti1 had sprung into
the room. She, too, had heard the
bang of the door and Letty's voice
raised in her last passionate words.
What have you done? Where is
Letty?" she cried.
Her sisters were on their feet, white
and frightened.
'.She's gonei" gasped Josephine
ished eyes.
Gone! In this storm! And you
sent her! You blamed her for some
thing that she didn't dol"
Letitia's terror had fed. Her cour
age and confidence had come back liz
a reassuring wave. She could have
smiled at the misery of a moment be
fore.
1T il all my fault" she cried.
told you to wait-and 1 never dreamed
that she would come so soon. 1t was
MT Letty-it was 1. l was afraid tt
tell you, but it was-L. And now
Letty." she cried, as il the girl could
hear. And then, before her Devil
dered sisters could stop her. she, too
had thrown open the door and plunged
out into the rain. catching a cloal
from the rack as she ran.