Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-12-01
.T am glad he is away" said Kite,

sex. roy Is not amusing IKE Mr.. Des-
mond; he cannot talk and understand
things one is thinking about he only
looks foolish and says silly things, and
he would be horribly in the way, poor
boyw
Two-three days passed away with
/ lightning quickness; on the fourth Brian
was to 60. Kitten counted the lessen
ing hours as they speeded by, with ever
increasing sadness.
only one day more she said to her
self when it came to the last. Zone
lunch with Daddy sitting by, talking to
him of things l don't understand. Then
one more afternoon together in the woods
and the fields, then the evening and the
dinner hour, and the stroll in the moon
light for the last time. Then night, and
in the early morning he will 60" She
reckoned up the precious moments as a
miser counts his gold, and after all the
day was a failure, as so many last
days" are apt to be to which we have
looked forward with a trembling eager
ness.
1t rained all the morning. Mr.. Des-
sor's study for all the long hours between
breakfast and lunch. Kitten was told by
her father that she might run away"
She pouted a little bit, and resented for
the first time being treated like a child.
After long time she heard the study
door open and a step across the tagged
hall outside.
Kitten. Kitten. Where are your
called a voice outside. A curious sense
of happy shyness kept her silent. She
crouched closer under the shelter of the
old faded morone curtains mad was still,
though her heart was beating strangely.
She heard him go out into the porch,
then come in again and go to the kitchen
door. Keziah would surely tell him where
she was. The step came back quickly,
the handle of the door turned.
Kitten, are you here"
| She stopped her yellow head low over
her book, there was a reason why she
did not want to look up or to answer.
But he saw her in her corner, a little
mite all in white, with a bent, sunny
head against a framework of faded red.
Little witch! where have you hidden
yourself? Why did you not answer
Why, Kitten, Kitten, what is the mat
ter? Why, you are crying"
She tried to turn away her tear-laden
eyes and to force her lips into smile,
but the heavy drops tumbled over on to
her small hands, and the rosy lips could
only tremble.
at is your last day." she said pite-
ously; "and-and-it is half gone al
ready"
He sat down beside her on the ground
and took the small frail hands in his
own. 1t went through his mind to ask
himself who, for many long year, had
shed tears for him, because he was go.
ing away. A great tenderness filled his
heart; it was not love, it was nothing
like love even, it was only such a pity
as might fill the heart of a strong man
toward a child who is hurt. He wanted
to be kind to her, to- console her, to dc
her good, to wipe away those tears which
sorrow for him had conjured up, to coax
those trembling rosebud lips into smile
Poor little child" he said to himself
"what can l say or do to comfort her
Kitten, would you like to live with me
alwaysT he asked of her suddenly, "to
be never parted from me?"
She looked up at him swiftly, a great
gush of joy flashed over her face, a
smile of heaven-born happiness parted
her lips.
ITO live with your she repeated won.
deringly. Then her face dropped into
her hands, crimson flush rushed sud
denly over her whole face and throat and
the small white fingers flew up to hide
the child eyes where the woman's love
had been quickened into sudden life.
He saw then what he had done and
what she fancied he had meant. He
rose quickly and looked out of the win.
dow.
''It would be nice, wouldn't it, little
woman? You and would become great
friends, but, of course, it is nonsense
for you have your father" he could not
tell her how that father was likely tC
die and leave her to his care, which was
what had been in his mind when he had
talked of her living with him.
A silence-then as he still turned
away his face, she said gently: mon.
sense, of course! as you say, l have my
Daddy"
He was relieved; her voice was so still
and quiet, there was no harm done then
he turned round and looked at her. She
had risen to her feet and stood facing
him with her fingers slipped into the
page of her book. There were no tears
now in her grave, sweet eyes, nor any
burning bushes on her cheeks, she was
much as usual, only, perhaps, little
paler Already the child was learning
the woman's lesson, to hide the wounds
of her hsart from the eyes Of the man
who makes her suffer.
"But l am coming back again to see
you very soon, Kitten; we shall have
many more good hours together in the
garden and the fields
Eyes, that will be nice"
"Now run and get your hat; see, the
rain is nearly over and the sun is COM
ing out behind that bank Of cloud; by the
time you have wrapped yourself up well
we shall be able to get out and have a
| walk vet hefOra lunch "