Graham guardian., 1909-12-03
TANNING
A SHREW
BY Martha Mcculioch- Williams.
Copyrighted. 1899. by Associated
Literary Press.

Pretty Kitty Clyde was not really a
shrew. She had merely been born I'M
perious and had grown up absolute
monarch Of an adoring family.
Until she was rising eleven Douglas
Norton had been also Of her subjects.
Fate whisked him away then to inner
1t an uncle's fortune and go racing
about the world. thereby giving Kitty
her first realizing sense that things
could happen otherwise than according
to her will.
The process was unpleasant, BY a
curious mental alchemy Kitty uncon-
sciously stored the unpleasantness as a
grudge against the absent Douglas.
SO when he came home ten years
later and fell openly and instantly a
victim to her charms she was in two
minds as to what to do with him. and
she yielded In favor Of the mind that
advised her to do something unpleas-
ant.
He was a dear fellow. suiting her
exactly in some Of her moods. In
others--but In those others nobody
suited her, least Of all herself. Those
other moods would probably have
made her send Douglas about his busi-
ness II he had not had the lucky mis-
fortune to have the Ackroyds for
friends.
The Ackroyds, whom Kitty loathed,
gave up days and nights to warming
Douglas against her. The warnings
we're not wholly disinterested. Though
the two Miss Ackroyds were quite old
enough to be his mother. there was
Lena Shotwell. their niece. over in Kit
tredge town, for whose establishment
they were most anxious.
Given the facts, the temperaments
and tho situation. the resulting engage
mant follows logically. Kitty excused
hsfself to her conscience for II with
the special pleading that 1t would cha
grin the Ackroyds and that If she final
" broke II the making It would have
saved Douglas from worse.
OF course she would not think Of
marrying him for years. Meantime she
would revel In the Ackrcyd discomfi-
ture. Then her people were so happy
over the prospect. That really meant
lot to her.
Dimly at the bottom Of very warm
heart she felt that, ON the whole. she
had not made them as happy as she
might have done.
So altogether she was not Ill content
with the estate In life wherein she
now found herself until Douglas OBJ
stinately Insisted upon her naming the
day.
go away! The role Of impatient
lover does not ft you In the least,
she said to him, with the most fetch
ing pout "You know you'd be dread
fully upset IL agreed to anything so
insane. We can be married when we
are too old to care for tearing about.
When you are thirty-five l shall be
thirty-two. That will be quite time
enough to do the Darby and Joan act.
Until then--well. we will stay as we
are"
I'VE viii notv Douglas asserted,
seizing both her hands. Understand,
I'm going to be a married man before
the year Is OUT
II dare say you can get Lena Shot
well--or somebody like her-all on a
sudden this way" Kitty interrupted,
trying to pull away her hands.
Douglas held them tight. "Pm go
ing to marry you-nobody else" he
said. MAKE up your mind to the fact,
ladykin, and give up gracefully while
there IL time"
"Of all impertinencer' Kitty flashed
out at him. "Let go my hands SO
can take of your rubbishy ring! |
won't marry you-now. never nor next
day. l won't even speak to you ever
again II you hold me second longer"
what a peaceful home we shall
havew Douglas murmured, letting go
her hands, but catching her In his
arms. He pressed her close and went
on, with his lips against her pink ear:
Little darling. l ought to want you
to be sensible, but the fact isl don't.
1t is ever so much more thrilling to
take you thus in spite Of yourself. You
have never even let me kiss your hand.
No matter when we married. this
would have to come some time. You
know you need mastering. but I'm too
generous to ask you to admit 1t. Come
along. / want you to hear me tell
daddy all about 1t. Mother Clyde has
already agreed with me that the wed
ding had better be on your birthday"
Then Kitty forgot herself, her years,
her grownup estate. She screamed.
He did not pay any attention. She
became so angry that she tried to claw
his cheek, but none of her efforts or
shrfeks availed.
He lifted her as II she were only
fve years old and carried her Into the
sitting room, where her father rose In
alright. Mrs. Clyde. pallid. but more
composed, stood beside him. her hand
laid detainingly upon his shoulder,
TITS hard to bear. mighty hard"
she whispered. We've ought to bear
It for the child. Spelling her so is our
work. But for heavens sake keep
still! Her whole future depends on It.
Douglas is the man Of men for her,
and she win throw him over II she
has the least chance"
Daddy! oh, dear daddyw Kitty
painted. trying to reach out appealing
arms. Douglas pinioned them fast and
went close to Major Clyde, saying.
with laugh that was not quite easy;
major. this girl you gave me is be-
having no badly. | think you might
throw In one of old Flossy's pups to
even up the trade"
AT that Kitty screa med efresh, The