Oxford Democrat., 1906-02-20


breathiessness not entirely attributable
to his exertions.
For q moment, as she came running
toward him end lie met her flashing
look, bright with laughter AID recogni-
ton and hnste, he stammered. A thrill
nothing less than delirious sent the
blood up behind his brown cheeks, for
he saw that she, too, knew that this
was the second time their eyes had
met.
He could not speak ut once, but
when he could, Permit me, madam"
he said solemnly, Offering the captive,
ito restore your kitten"
An agitated kitten should not be de-
tained by clasping its waist, and al
ready the conqueror was paying for
his victory. There ensucd final out
rageous squirm of despair. Two fran
tic claws, extended, drew one long red
mark across the strangers wrist and
another down the back Of his hand to
the knucklcs. They were good, hearty
scratches, aud the blood followed the
artists lines rapidly, but Of this the
young man took no note. for he knew
that he was about to hear Miss Ca
rewe's voice for the first time.
"They say the best way to hold
them," he observed, "is by the scruff
Of the neck"
Beholding his wounds. suffered In
her cause, she gave plying cry that
made his heart leap with the richness
and sweetness of 1t. Catching the
kitten from him, she dropped 1t to the
ground in such wise as to prove ma
lures foresight most kind In cushion,
ing the feet Of cats.
"Ah, l didn't want 1t that much!"
"a cat in the hand is worth two
nightingales III the bush," he said bold
ly and laughed. 81 would shed more
blood than that"
Miss Betty blushed like southern
dawn and started back from him.
From the convent but yesterday-and
she had taken a mans hand in both Of
hers!
It Was to this tableau that the lady
in blue entered, following the hunt
through the gates, where She stopped
with n Giscomposed countcnance. At
once. however, she advanced and. with
cry of greeting, envelopcd Miss Bet
ty in brief embrace, to the relief OF
the latter's confusion. 1t was Fanchon
Bareaud, now two years emancipated
from st. Mary's and far gone in taf-
feta. With her lusterful light hair,
absent blue eyes and her gentle voice,
as small and pretty as her face ana
figure, it was not too difficult to justify
Crailey Gray's characterization of her
as one of those winsome baggages who
had made an air Of feminine helpless
ness the fashion Of the day.
I'm SO glad-glad" exclaimed Bet
ty. "You were just coming to see me,
weren't you? Ny father Is in the IL
brary Let me-
Miss Bareaud drew back. mo, no."
she interrupted hastily and with evil
dent perturbation; Give must be on
our way Immediately" She threw
glance at the gentleman, which let him
know that she now comprehended his
gloves and why their stroll had trend
ed toward Carewe street. "Come at
once" she commanded him quickly IN
an undertone.
"But now that you're here" said
Miss Betty. wondering very much why
he was not presented to her, won't
you wait and let me gather a nosegay
for you? Our pansles and violets"-
II could help" the gentleman sug-
gested, with the look Of a lame dog Mt
Miss Bareaud. II have been consid-
cred useful about garden"
"Foolw Betty did not hear the word
that came from Miss Bareaud's closed
teeth, though she was nightly sur
prised at the visible agitation Of her
schoolmate, for the latter's face was
pale and excited. And Miss Carewe's
amazement was complete when Fan
chon. without more words. cavalierly
seized the gentleman's arm and moved
toward the street with him as rapidly
as his perceptible reluctance to leave
permitted. But at the gate Miss Ba-
reaud turned and called back over her
shoulder, as If remembering the neces-
sity Of Offering an excuse for 80 re-
markable proceeding: II shall come
again very soon. Just now we are
upon an errand of great Importance.
Good day"
Miss Betty waved her hand, staring
utter them, her eyes large with Won
Ser. She compressed her lips tightly.
"Errand! This was the friend OF
childhood's happy hour, and they had
not met in two years!
"Errandr' She ran to the hedge,
along the top Of which high white
hat was no~ seen perambulating. She