Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-06-29
A MAJORS ROMANCE
By ELSA

eOtAs Jul OAu DdRhCA0Ao WHICH, NAN AAN N
heen in India and have a liver are
: thousand times worse. Maj. Muckle-
bury a the terror and the squire OF
the village. He was a magistrate, as
~t'espassers on his estate knew to their
7ost. for his preserves were most jeal-
ously guarded, and the villagers used
to say they believed Maj. Mucklebury
could have detected the feathers off
his W estate in the refuse of q poul-
terer's shop.
1t was a lovely morning and Maj.
Mucklebury was strolling through the
his pheasant covers with a gun over
his shoulder. OF course the time for
%pheasants was not yet, but the major
kept a keen Y on the prospects, and
sometimes a stray cat. Ha! What
was that?
\ inv. fluffy, clinging thing looked
DOWN at him from a beech tree close
Two blue. innocent eyes, a ball
ot FUR, a p~laintive NEW, and then
Dang!
Had him that time, by Jovel
Caught in the act!" muttercd the ma
ior, as the little cat fell with a thud
IN the soft greensward. And. strid-
ng forward, he prepared to bag his
game. Imagine his surprise when q
solden-haired, pinafored little fury
larted before him, and, STOPPING,
clasped the dying kitten in her arms,
looking meanwhile at its destroyer
with flashing, angry eyes!
Now, somehow experiences never
come singly, and the major was going
through a whole gamut of experiences
at that moment, and this last was the
most startling of them all. There is
no one in the whole word who loves
you as much as | loved that dear, dear
kitten!" No, certainly, as far as the
major knew, there was not. No one,
at least, who would disfigure her pretty
face with a single tear Tor him were
he to be shot dead at this moment.
With an overwhelming flash this all
at ono came home to him, and this
selfish, wealthy man of the world stood
before the golden-haired, crying child,
confounded-dumb!
And what is your name, my dear?"
asked the oIu soldier, as, ten minutes
later. they trudged along, the little
girl still sobbing as she chung to his
big finger, and the major carrying the
murdered cat. eth never do to let
her go home alone with all that blood
On her pinafore," he thought; "her
mother would have a fit at the sight
Of her!"
my name is Letty-Letty Fame
said the child.
'Lnttice Fane!" The major dropped
her fingers, and nearly dropped the
too. BLESS my soul!"
Little Lettice looked at him in sur
prise. She didn't like his voice when
he growled like that. She had heard
old Maggie say: when the major
was angry there was no need for folks
to go to the menagerie to see the wild
beasts; they could see one for nothing
at the hall" But they were nearly
home; she could see the green gate;
yes, and the major could see the green
gate. too! The sight of that gate and
the sound OF that name, 'Lettice Fame"
conjured UP such q rush of memories
that no wonder he, was silent!
Lettuce rane! Could lis be her
child of the only woman
he had ever loved? But no! Her name
was Lettuce Fame, SO that couldn't be.
What was he dreaming of?
In fancy he was back again Just ten
years ago. He was a young man
then--at least, he liked his friends to
think so, though he himself knew bet
ter, but ten years hard WORK in a bad
climate had knocked all that out Of
him. He was an old man old.
rich, gloomy and alone.
AS they reached the gate little Let
tice took her precious bundle from the
major and ran to the woman coming
swiftly down the path.
"Auntie, auntie!" she sobbed. my
kitty, my dear kitty" And she flung
herself upon the white gowned figure.
which stood as If turned to stone. And
over the childish golden head The
mans and the woman's eyes met. In
were memory, wonder, longing, and
vain regret; in hers we're memory,
wounded pride, cold disdain and the
ghost Of a murdered love.
For had she not trusted him and
waited for him to return? And he had
come home. taken mp his abode on his
wealthy estate, had daily passed and,
repassed her gate, and made no sign.
"Lettice!"D
The major spoke the one word in
hopeless. despairing tones, and held
out two trembling hands-hands full
all save love.
But Lettice only bent slightly. like a
lily before the gale; then, turning with
her little charge, went slowly back to
tie house. The major stood there in
the brilliant sunshine till the soor
changed. Then the words rang in his
"There is nobody in the whole wide
world who loves you as much as /
lo,,od NV daar dear kittvf"