Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-03-04


ing. 1t was a most unfortunate thing
for him to haye done, for Immediately
Katherine buried her face in the ham
mock cushions and began sobbing con-
vulsively.
Jack watched her perplexedly. She
looked very appealing in her gracetui
slenderness. He could think of only
one thing to do-and he did 1t.
Katherine was on her feet In an in
stant, her cheeks tear stained and
flushed with indignation.
$50 it was you the first time after
all. Jack Kingsleyr' she exclaimed. 81
think you're too contemplate for
words. You're a thief and a-and you
don't tell the truth, and"-
Not so fast, not so fast" begged
Jack gently. 81 really wasn't the first
one, Katherine, upon my honor,
but
"Wel, what in Cupid's name are
you two quarreling about?" called
Bill Heming from the near back
ground. Cant an unmarried man
pardon me, l should have said an in
eligible man-find one undisturbed
spot In this hymeneal garden? Just
passed two other lovers down the
path who seemed to be bit out OF
tune. It must be the weather"
81 assure you the weather has moth
ing to do with it, Mr.. Heming.' an
swered Katherine haughtily.
"She's right, Bill" assented Jack
genially. The cause of our seeming
disagreement is purely
Imaginary" interrupted Katherine,
with such manifest alarm that both
men laughed heartily.
But in spite of this little diversion
the conversation dragged along apa-
thetically and Bill at length gave up
his attempts to mend the situation.
'Well," he said, yawning ostenta-
tiously, guess I'll go in and play
with the infant. He's nearer my level
than you self absorbed grownups BY
the way. Miss Katherine, how did you
like our little joker
"Whose-what little joke" demand.
ed Katherine apprehensively.
"Reginald's and mine. of course. We
watched you asleep for awhile; then
we thought it would be great fun tc
wake you up. So we kissed you"
"Mr. Hemingw gasped Katherine
''You don't mean to say that YOU
BLESS you, no, my dear. l just
helped Reginald"
But what-what did you run away
for? Katherine pursued inquiringly.
"Oh, that's a little habit of mine
Miss Katherine" was Heming's cabal
istic reply as, musing, he walked to,
ward the house.
Queer old duffer, isn't he?' com
mented Jack by way of giving Kath
crime time for bit Of mental read
justment
''The rest Of the house party call him
Bill the Matchmaker she remarked
Her manner was wholly impersonal.
81 don't wonder" Jack assented
There was an awkward little 81
lence
Jack"
what is 1t, Katherine?"
what were you going to tell hin
was the cause of our-our quarrelT
Il started to say the cause was pure
ly-osculatory."
jack
"Wel, wasn't it? Tell me, Rather,
Inc, were you really awfully angry
with meY'
Katherine nodded. For two rea-
sons" she said with emphasis, lone
because l thought you had been the
first one who kissed me and that you
had lied about it."
And the secondT
Because if you weren't the first /
Twas sorry you had not been. Jack"
For several seconds there was un
ruffled quiet in the "hymeneal gar
den" Then Jack broke the serenity
with question.
when shall we tell the others?" he
asked softly.
"Oh, not for days and days" de
clared Katherine jealousy. IT'S sucf
fun 10 have a secret"
But inside the house. without wait
ing for authority, a two-year-old baby
was babbling to the admiring grouT
gathered about him.
Man say-kiss Katha. Kiss Katha
man." And all smiled comprehen
II