, 1905-01-04
n :. Z: Z: e Il 4. Z. :: Is i: !: !: !.

That Kitty and Gustave, both young
and of goodly appearance, should fall
in love with each other was a POSSIBLE
ity that could e have presented it
self to Faversham's brain. His wife
and sister, who watched the affair
from the inception with fear and trem-
bling, had never dared to mention the
matter in his hearing. 1t had remained
for Gustave himself to spring the mine
by asking John Faversham for his
niece's hand in marriage. The young
Frenchman, not unaware of Faver-
sham's dislike for his Uncle Emile and
all things Gallo, had sought the mo-
mentous interview with considerable
mental t%repidation.
MIMI. Fa-Faversnam, | think you
may gu-guess why l come to see you,"
stsmmered Gustave, kneading his hat
with embarrassed fingers.
well, l can't" replied the address,
ed, regarding the young man over his
spectacles suspiciously.
Il am ye-very sorry that you can
not. 1t would have assisted me in
breaking the ice in regard to the re
quest l wish to make relating to the
future of your niece, Miss Kitty Fayer-
sham-a request whose granting would
add greatly to our mu-mutual happi-
ness"
With these words of the trembling
Gustave an inkling of his meaning
reached John Fayersham's brain, kin
ding ii flame of wrath which illumi-
mated his ample countenance.
Il have come" continued Gustaye,
taking the plunge, Ito ask your niece's
hand i'll marriage"
"Sir!" exclaimed John Faversham,
and he rose 10 his feet, expressing such
fear compelling negation in that one
monosyllable that the trembling suitor,
without waiting for its amplification,
turned in terror and fed.
1t was the recollection of this inter-
view and the attendant circumstances
that had caused Aunt Martha and Aunt
Mehitabel to cry out in establishment
and Kitty's heart to bound when John
Fayersham declared that the old clock
must &c to Doricourt's for repairs.
Faversham was a man of action, and
before midafternoon the clock had TAX
en- its departure. 1t required two men
to fetch it down the stairs and lift it
into the wagon, for it was six feet tall
and nearly three feet broad. The
neighbors all gazed from the windows,
and Aunt Martha and Aunt Mehitabel
watched it go with understandable emo
tionS.
If her auntS viewed the clocks de-
parture with awe, III kitty's mind a
touch of sentiment was s~uperadded to
the feeling of wonder. The clock was
going to Gustave's house, and Gustave
would have most to do in the mending
of it, for all the village knew that the
young MAJ was much more skillful
than his uncle and that the latter, in
consequence of advancing age and
feebleness, now left the business of the
shop largely in Gustaye's care.
Kitty longed to send a love note hid
den in the old clock to Gustaye, but
she resisted the temptation for fear of
detection and bided the long afternoon
till sunset brought the sweetest hour
of all the day, the hour of ler tryst
with her lover.
The dew was beginning to fall, and
the breeZes of dusk were blowing the
scent of the white musk roses across
the garden walks, when Kitty glided
from the house and stole through the
twilight to the trysting nook.
Are you there, Gustave?' whispered
Kitty. pressing her red lips to the
crack in the iyied wall.
The crack was two inches wide, but
the wall. alas, was over a foot thick
and capped with broken glass.
YES. ~mignOnette," said Gustave,
calling Kitty the French name for lit
tie darling and deploring for the hun
dredth time the depth of the crack as
he saw kitty's blooming lips. "Oh.
Kitty. how ! want to kiss YOU
"GustaYe. Think how shocked Aunt
Mehitabel would be to hear you said
Kitty. with pretended displeasure.
Aunt MeAitabel be hanged! It's you
that | want to kiss"
"Gustaye, weren't you surprised to
see tie big clock arrive at your uncle's
door, asked Kitty, changing the sub
ject.
surprised? l should think so. But,
Kitty, mignon, do you know | have 2
feeling that the old clock is going to
bring us luck?'
"Really, Gustaye?'
"Truly, Kitty. But can you guess
the first thought that came into my