The Red Cloud chief., 1906-02-09

der ebony cane from his wrist. The
flying kitten headed toward the couple
when, with n celebrity only to be ac-
counted for on the theory that his eye
had been fixed on the Carewe gateway
for some time previous to this sudden
apparition. the gentleman leaped in
front of the fugitive.
The kitten attempted a dodge to pass:
the gentleman was there before 1t. The
kitten fcinted; the gentleman was al
together too much IN the spot. Imme-
diately, and just as Miss Carewe, flush
ed and glowing, ran into the street, the
small animal doubled. evaded Miss Bet
tvs frantic clutch, re-entered the gate
way and attempted n disappearance
into the lilac bushes instead Of going
nround them, only to find itself, for n
fatal two seconds, In difficulties with
the close set thicket OF stems.
In regard to the extraordinary agility
OF which the pursuing gentleman was
capable, 1t Is enough to say that he
caught the cat. lie emerged from the
ulacs holding 1t In M hand, his gloves
nnd white hat In the other, and present
ed himself before Miss Betty with n
breathlessness not entirely attributable
to his eXertions.
For Il moment, as she came running
toward him and he met her flashing
look, bright with laughter and recogni-
ton and haste, he stammered. A thrill
nothing less than delirious sent the
blood up behind his brown checks, 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 do.
tanned by clasping its waist, and al
ready the conqueror was paying for
his victory. There ensued a final out
ragcous squirm Of despair. Two fran
tic claws, extended, drew II long red
mark across the strangers wrist and
another down the back Of his hand to
the knuckles. They were good, hearty
scratches, and the blood followed the
artists lines rapidly, but Of this the
young man took no note, for h knew
that he was about to hear Miss Ca
reeves voice for the first time.
"They say the best way to hold
them" he observed, sis by the scruff
Of the neck"
Beholding his wounds, suffered In
her cause, she gave a plying cry that
made his heart leap with the richness
and sweetness OF II. Catching the
kitten from him, she dropped it 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 In the bush," he said bold
ly and laughed. II would shed more
blood than that
dawn and started back from him.
From the convent but yesterday-and
she had taken a mans hand in both Of
hers!
1t was to this tableau that the lady
In blue entered, following the hunt
through the gates, where she stopped
with a discomposed countenance. At
once, however. she advanced and, with
a cry of greeting, enveloped Miss Bet
ty in a 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 taft
feta. With her lusterful light hair,
absent blue eyes and her gentle voice,
as small and pretty as her face and
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? My father is in the II
brary. Let me-
Miss Bareaud drew back. "No, no."
she interrupted hastily and with evil
dent perturbation; 1--we must be on
our way Immediately" She threw a
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 pansies and violets"-
II could help" the gentleman sug-
gested, with the look of a lame dog at
Miss Bareaud. 81 have been consld-
cred useful about a garden"
"EOOlI" Retty did not hear the word