Middletown transcript., 1907-11-23
,na ,,ninr its rinl.atu h1f.

violence OF 1t to abate.
I hope this delay is not going
to cause you too much inconven-
ience, observed Kitty, the first to
speak.
Ii will probably interfere with
an important engagement, an
swered Rochester, with a little in
ward smile.
Kitty turned inquiring eyes
upon him.
The Kensingtons = Thames
giving dinner, you know.
Kitty felt her heart start pain
fully. Marie Kensington! Sure
fy that was. the name Of the girl
with whom gossip had tried to
connect Billy's-name since
-since-well, since she no longer
had a right TO think of him!
Was it so very important she
asked in a colorless tone that
tried to be casual.
All engagements are, more or
less, are they not ? He gave her
a pointed glance.
But Kitty did not see it. Her
eyes we're down now, to hide the
pain and shadow that she could
no longer conceal, and her cheeks
we're whittier than he had ever
seen them. But presently she
controlled herself and looked up
bravely. I'm just awfully hun
CRY, aren't you ? she said, with q
little weak smile and an infiec-
ton that was almost hysterical.
Horribly that's why I brought
this along. I don't know what's
In it, but it's eatable anyway, and
we sha mt starve.
He united the package with
hands that had seemed to grow
a trife unsteady of late. Kitty,
watching him, noted this, and
noted, too, that the brown face
bent above them was thinner
than usual. with q queer, sharp
ened expression in the outline.
Turkey!
Oh, Billy ! she cried, using the
name involuntarily, where in the
world
My sister put it up for me. !
told her / was going out on
little fish, and that l mightn't be
back right away.
/ Cranberries, pickles - mince-
pie and all Wasn't it dear Of
her?
| For half an hour they ate in
eloquent silence, all the Thanks
| giving delicacies spread out in
tempting array on the crude wood
| floor with its cloth of straw.
When they had finished, Kitty
put what was left back into the
box-for a future emergency
and deftly cleared away the
crumbs.
It was now past three o'clock.
The storm had at last worn itself
out, and desultory patches OF
blue showed through the hurry.
| ing clouds.
| Rochester rose and walked oul
into the open. Well about be
able to start in an hours time,
he observed, taking a sweeping
inventory Of the outlook.
Kitty opened her lips to say
something, but closed them again,
and busted herself with arrang
ing her hair.
i Presently, the pungent odor ol
a cigar fioated in to her, and she
found herself drifting back un
consciously into the old position
She started to her feet impul
sively, but recollected in time
and settled back into her seal
with tightened lips.
There was-was there moi
Marie Kensington ? In al prob
ability his thoughts were of her
even now. while she Shs
foated off into q train of reflec
tions, from which she was finally
aroused by the light touch Of /
hand.
I've called you twice, sait
Rochester; it's clear now, and
think we'd better be making ,
start-it's after FIVE.
] Kitty rose quickly and mad
ready for the walk. The air out
i side was crisp and stimulating
after the rainfall, and they wakes
half mile without fatigue. Blu
presently, Kitty began to fee
her feet grow heavy, and a pitt
ful little droop showed itsel
about the corners of her mouth
But she held her head stnbbornl,
averted, resolved that Bill,
should not detect her weakness
Another fifteen minutes, ant
the skiff loomed gratefully int,