The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1905-09-29


~ left the store that afternoon at q
o'clock she met Allen on the nearest
corner. IIo said that he happened to
be passing, and II she didn't mind
walking little way Why, OF course.
It all looked perfectly natural TO the
grass widow. who was a witness Of the
occurrence.
I'm afraid your father hurt you
pretty badly" said Alien. And Kitty
stopped suddenly, with her face fam
ing. Does he often do itT'
The tears began to force their way
out OF Kitty's eyes. She was ashamed
Of them, ashamed OF the wound, asham.
ed OF everything In the world.
Sometimes those little injuries leave
scar" continued Allen, land that's
bad for u pretty girl who wants to find
n rich husband some day and be an or
nament Of society. But a good doctor
can prevent II, you know, and happen
TO be going right now TO see the best
man In the business. II you'll come
along he'll look at your head, and he
won't charge you a cent because you're
a friend Of mine"
For some strange reason this propo-
sition seemed TO Kitty 10 have an ad-
verse moral aspect, but Allen persuad-
ed her.
Kitty went to see the doctor, and he
told her that she would have to come
every day for a week at least IL she
wished 20 avoid bad scar. He was
clever man, and he saved her from dis
fgurement, but he did not treat her for
an affection OF the heart that was get
ting worse and worse all the time. She
was seeing Allen every afternoon-see-
Ing him In her dreams, both sleeping
and waking, too, poor chlld-and she
knew that she was in love with him,
but she would never have believed that
he could care for her IL 1t had not been
| for the wise woman IN the shop.
Hes dead stuck on you" said this
sapient person. Anybody could see
that"
But he hasn't said word about IT,"
protested Kitty. "He doesn't even look
| at me. or when he does he looks right
through me. And he talks right
through me too. ! don't know half
what he says. might just as well be
a telephone for all he cares about me-"
| The wise woman laughed.
You'll ind out" she said. "Ill bet
| you could make him marry you II You
had any sense"
At this suggestion Kitty nearly fell
/ in a faint. but she fancled that Mrs
| O'Nell did not notice It,
When Kittys wound was almost
mended. Maginley, who had noticed
that his daughter was not coming home
quite so early In the afternoons, got
into a quarrel with her about II and
struck her again. Allen told me of
this occurrence, and he seemed to be
Interested in the coincidence that the
injury was precisely similar to the
former one, except that 1t was upon
the other side OF the girls head.
"Queer, isn't it?" he said.
ALLEN" said l, what are you going
TO do with this girlf"
Nothing" he said indlfferently. "I'm
going to Europe In July"
Later he told me that he had advised
Kitty to run away from home.
1--WE seen her father" he said.
There's no doing anything with him.
He's not responsible He ought to be
in an asylum"
Then why don't you send him
dhereT' | inquired.
"Too much trouble" replied Allen.
When the experienced Mrs. 0'Nell
heard that Allen was suggesting flight
she asked Kitty what she was going
to do.
81 haven't got any place to CO." said
Kitty.
He'll find you a place" said Mrs.
O'Nell.
"Goodness!" cried Kitty. 81 couldn't
let him do that He's done enough for
me as 1t is. He asked me once where l
could go, and was ashamed to tell
him that l didn't have a friend in the
world, so / said had an aunt in Buff
falo used to have. but she's dead"
Don't you worry" was the response.
when he says go, go. / tell you he's
in love with you. He really means It.
He'll marry you"
One day Kitty came to the store as
white as ghost. She was almost half
an hour late and was breathless with
running.
"I'ye been over to the Children's So
clety," she said. They're going to
take Lottie and Jane Fathers 30
rough with them now that had to do
something. Mr.. Allen told me what
to do. And I'm going away. II seems
awful to leave father. but Mr.. Allen
says there isn't anything else to d..
I've got TO. That's ali there Is about
t."
Elm glad you're getting little
SENSE" responded Mrs. O'Nei.
There was a pause, and then poor.
distracted Kitty seized the woman's
hand.
Are you sure be cares about met"
she demanded in choking, agonized
whisper. at doesn't look like It TO
me. He never said a word Of love to
me or tried TO kiss me. He never even
took hold OF my hand"
CHATS An right replied the wige
woman. Tie doesn't want TO ffighten
~ -.