The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-12-26
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. lalHIGHlalt HlGlhHllt
LADY KITTY'S
MARRIAGE.
BY \. G. Il. Stokes.

"There is no romance about them
You have often said so yourself"
THAT is not the way to look at IT,"
tNe countess persisted quietly.
There are certain things in the
lid that must be faced Mar
20 is one OF them. And you are
r-and-twenty to-day. darling"
am very, very happy as | am.
Nhy must / marry someone who
,.aghs at every expression Of true
ling and scorns the idea of show
Is d girl that he would go through
htc and water for her? Look at my
grandfather. Didn't he ride ten
miles to church every Sunday, wet
or dry. Just to see the girl lie after
ward married." And no was not
allowed to speak to her then. Who
is there who would ride or walk
mile in the rain to see me? Not one.
81 believe Rupert Halliday would
II you would let him"
Rupert? He's a dear-in QUE
way Always ready to take me ont,
and to do ordinary things tAat man
In society must do. But he doesn't
understand the very A, b, c Of love-"
Lady Kitty said scornfully. AND
! want to be loved. mother-iust for
myself"
Plenty of men have told you that
they do"
In sort of pour passer le temps
way, that is all"
The countess took Il photograph
from the little table at her side and
looked at it critically. 1t showed
girl with a delicate face full Of
thought
You have often told me how
houDy Muriel is. She has found rO-
nance apparently" Lady Kitty
glanced at the photograph AMI
sighed
Yes. But it was a hard struggle
for her. She made the best of things
because she wanted to marry Goo
frey, They had hardly any money
at first and lived in a horrid fur
nished fat. She worked hard all
day; they had a friend to live with
them, and she never had new dress
for two years"
Would you like that7" the
countess asked gently. Her daugh-
ter got up and walked to the win
dow.
II don't believe 1t is in me-" she
said, in a low voice. But Muriol
Il quite happy. They are much
tier off now. and Godfrey worships
="
Shall you be In to lunch to-day.
r.r?".
No; / am going to take the Frs
les in the motor to Harrow. It's
Nilfred's birthday, and he is 20 have
tea party"
you won't run any risks?"
We'll follow van, if you like"
laughed Lady Kitty, as she ran out
of the room.
The countess sat thinking for some
time. Then she went to tho hall
and telephoned to Mr.. Halliday.
Can you come to lunch?"
Thanks; l shall be delighted. Ia
Lady Kitty in? She ought to see
the chrysanthemum show-it's
splendid"
'She is motoring. I want to see
you particularly"
Il will be with you in half an
hour"
over the fire In the library, after
lunch, Rupert Halliday asked the
question that had been worrying him
for some time.
"You said you wished to see mo,
Lady Eversley. Can l do anything"
Il want to speak to you about
Kitty" the countess said, looking
him full In the eyes. Halliday
flushed but bore the look without
flinching.
Il think you know what my
feelings are for her, but somehow
she never let's me tell her so. We
are excellent friends-but we get no
further"
You do not, perhaps, take her In
the right way. Let me tell you our
conversation this morning" Tho
Countess did so, and the Hon. Rupert
Halliday listened
Il am ready to do anything" he
declared when she had ended "In
my opinion Lady Kitty is quito
right, Life nowadays is too much
Ike one Of these musical comedies.
Everyone plays the fool, as 1t were.
You know quite well, Lady Eversley,
that II | were to take a box to SEQ
Forbes Robertson in Hamlet. or the
piece at the Gaiety, that nine girls
out OF ten would prefer the latter"
Kitty among them?"
She would go with the crowd"
And wish all the time she had
been the tenth?"
Very likely. but what can one
dor"
Stop taking too much for
granted"
MY uncle, the admiral, has left
me, twelve thousand pounds, every
penny OF which will be settled on
my wife"
You must use your own discra-