Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-02-02

eyes, and 1t seemed to MIN that few
kisses and a few tender words might
make 1t all right again between them,
and drive away this suspicion which
surely, some ill-natured mischief maker
must have been at pains to create in her
mind.
Dear little Kitten, silly little tree
elfl" he said half-jestingluy to her.
What foolish notions have you not TAX
en- into your small head! Come and kiss
me, and don't talk nonsense any more,
tree-elf," he said, trying to take her into
his arms.
But Kitten pushed him back with her
small white hands.
60" she said, with an odd little gasp
in her voice, which he only remembered
long afterward. go now-no, we won't
talk any more nonsense, as you say-it
was all-all a mistake"
And SO he went and left her. he
turned back to nod to her before he left
the room. Years and years afterward
he could see again the breakfast table,
daintily decked with little ferns in china
pots and punches of summer flowers, just
as Kitten always loved that her table
should be.
Half an hour later a hanson carried
up a note to a certain house in Con-
naught Square, addressed to Sir Roy
Grantley.
you said If ever I wanted friend,
you would be one to me. little thought
1 should claim your promise so soon.
Come to me, Roy. / want you.
KITTEN"
1t will be imagined that Roy was not
long In responding to this appeal. Soon
after he was sitting with her in the
shadowy GOODNESS of her pretty drawing
room, holding her tiny thin hand in his,
and listening to her in dire dismay.
Leave your home, Kitten? Can you
realize what you would be doing? What
will people say of you if you go away
from your husbands protection"
II shall not, Roy. l shall still be In
his house, only he will not know it."
II don't see how it can be managed"
said Roy.
do you mean that you will not help
me? Oh, then am sorry indeed that l
sent for you"
Now, Kitten, you know that is un-
Just. Would l not die to serve you?
But l cannot see the use of this strong
step which you are contemplating. What
is there to be gained by it? After all,
are you not his wife? Why, if you fear
the influence of this other woman, why
play into her hands by deserting your
post? How can you better your case by
finging aside your own rights and the
security of your own positionT
"Ah, you do not understand she said
impatiently. You talk about my rights
my position. " lat are they when |
have not got my husbands hearth Will
he not be happier without the perpetual
reproach of my presence? Roy, only
think how awful 1t must be to have to
pretend to love a person every day Of
your life, when you are always banker
ing after some one else. Think If l had
married you-and loved Brian"
He WINGED little and turned away.
Oh, women are very heartless to the
men they do not love. 1t did not occur
to her that she was causing him any
pain, she was too full OF the tragedy
in her own life.
could not bear it," she cried; "and
to see him strive and struggle to simu-
late love for me that l know he does
not feel, that is what l will not sit by
and do. l want to set him free"
"You cannot set him free, not really,
Kitten; it is a folly to fancy it." he
said, almost angrily for this abnegation
of herself filed him with blind rage
which he did not dare to give utterance
to.
"Oh, why-why did he marry your
he said, with a groan.
"That is my affair."" said Kitten cold
ly, and rather loftily. If Roy had dared
to utter one disparaging word against
Brian, she would have ordered him out
of the house, and Roy knew it. "We
need not go into that, if you please, but
you can understand once and FOR all that
our marriage was entirely my own doing.
Will you help me? And will you keep
my secretY'
He promised to do anything and every
thing she told him.
II don't see how it is to be managed"
he said doubtfully.
Kitten rose and went to her writing
table, and taking letter out of a draw.
er, gave it to him to read.
1t was from Mrs. Succurden, the house
keeper at Keppington, and was address.
ed to Brian. Roy read it through care
fully, then he looked up at her.
"Well?" she said impatiently.
II am sorry, Kitten, but l really
don't see" he said hesitatingly.
"Oh, Roy, you were always stupid
boy" she said, with half-impatient
gesture. "Cannot you understand that
the housekeeper writes to ask Brian II
she may have a girl under her, to take
charge of the china and glass; she says
she is getting too old to clean and dust
1t all properly herself. And Brian gave
me the letter to answer, and-and I have
written this morning to say that l am
sending a girl down from London. Here
Is my letter, and you must post It for
me-"
But still Roy did not understand. He
looked at her earnestly and fxedly, striv.