Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-16

for him, though l felt almost sure that
| he loved you"
"Cared for him. exclaimed Beatrice,
| lifting the innocent eyes of a child ~
her companions face, when he was
nv very own cOusin-almOst the same
thing as a brother. OF course I cared
for him, and why do you say that you
| felt almost sure he loved me-did you
ever doubt it for moment" Miss
| Thornton smiled as she took the pretty
| head between her hands and kissed its
curly locks.
What a child you are, Beatrice
she said softly, 80 much-so very
much younger than Kitty"
Beatrice shook her head, leaning ii
up against her friend.
Pm not young" she said, half-sad-
w. Tin about a hundred. When a
woman has had every thing-has been
married, lost her husband, had child
there is nothing more for her TO feel
she has lived all her real life.'
| II am not so sure of all that, Bea-
trice, there may be things for you III
the future that You have never known
Tell me. dear child, i never asked be-
fore, did you love your husband?'
did l love Mr.. Perkins? Mamma,
why, of course,-didn't L? hope SO,
he was so good to me-almost as good
| as Papa was. Just think how much
more I would have missed poor Papa,
if Mr.. Perkins had not been here to
take his place. And then when he was
killed before Kitty was born, l felt 50
sorry for him, it must have been such
a disappointment not to see her. Don't
you think SO, Nanna?"
Undoubtedly, my DEAR" said Miss
| Thornton, drily. Here comes Kitty,
and the carriage. Let her talk to the
| man, dear, and take her to see the
child next Sunday, but do not mention
that now, and don't have any COM
.nunication with the man yourself. Get
| your wraps and we will 60"
Kitty flew to her friend as soon as
| the carriage was stopped, made IN
| tensely happy by the sanction to her
conversation. All through dinner that
evening, she chartered about him so
constantly that it seemed odd that she
| had been able for so long time to be
silent on the subject. There were only
| two items to irnpart, that her chicken
man owned to the non-commital name
OF Brown, ard that his little daughter
had the most beautiful eyes in the
| world just like those of some one else
| who might now be dead. 49,
Easter morning dawned, to Kitty's
great delight. 1t had always been u
happy day for her. She could not re-
member when her mother had first
taken her, with Miss Thornton, to the
hospitals, laden with plants and flow
ers for the patients, and to have her
dear chicken mans child added to the
list of the beneficiaries made her very
grateful and joyful. All through the
long morning service she looked I'M
usually absorbed and thoughtful and
confided ito Mamma, when they came
home, that she had been thinking all
the time of Trixy-true and wondering
if He might not be able to make her
able TO walk. 1T would make my dear
| Mr.. Chicken-man so happy" she said
After luncheon, the carriage came to
| the door, and Kitty danced out, her
| arms full Of roses carefully wrapped
from the cold, waited to see all avail
able space filed with blossoms and
plants, and then tucked herself in be-
tween her mother and Miss Thornton,
the happiest child in Boston that day.
The hospitals were first visited and
| flowers distributed. but Kitty had not
| the usual desire to linger beside each
cot. Her heart was full. of the little
crippled Fair-star, the roses being
jealousy guarded for her alone.
1t was long drive, through a part
Of Boston which Beatrice had never
known. though she had lived in the
shadow of the Gilded Dome ever since
her marriage, but at last they found
the tall tenement house of which Kitty
had the address. She had asked 1t OF
the chicken-man many times, and at
length he had yielded to her impor-
tupities. trusting. it might be, TO the
I shortness of a childs memory.
Yes, the man smoking in the entry
told the footman, he knew about Mr..
Brown-sixth floor back. If they went
to Mrs. Callahan's room. she was
fourth floor front, she'd tell them all
sne knew. nobody else had nothing to
10 with MN or his cripple, Brown was
ouoe and swell. Brown was.
Inc visitors mounted one stair after
announcer. at last finding themselves at
I the door. of a room whence issued
SOUNDS OF festival hilarity, and child
| VINO answered their knock, rosy and
| AN~Su, informed mem tnat Mrs.
Caiiahan lived there. Mrs. Callahan,
also rosy and clean of face, shook her
mead with decision on hearing their
request, but yielded finally to Kitty's
ehtreaties-few people could resist Kit
ys GEAR little ugly. honest face-and
led them up the remaining stairs. Miss
beatrice-here Mrs. Perkins. gave a
great start.-had been poorly for the
iast lew days. she said, but she would
see She took key from her pocket,
as she spoke, and unlocked a door.
| MISS Beatrice. my DEAR" she said,
opening it, Twill you see young lady
VINO Is friend Of your papa@'
Miss Thornton caught her breath.
looking about beautiful, we'll APP
pointed room. An open fire burned up-
on the hearth. heavy rugs covered the
Hoor, beautiful photographs and en-
cravings hung on the walls. All Thu,
pretty frifles which have become nee
! essarv part Of our daily life were scat.