The Democratic advocate., 1909-03-19
TANNING
"A SHREW
Copyrighted. 1900. BY Associated
Literary Press.

Ebrew. 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.
Bate whisked him away then to inner.
it an uncie's fortune and 60 racing
about the world, thereby giving Kitty
her first realizing sense that things
could happen otherwise than according
10 her win.
The process was unpleasant BY al
curious mental alchemy Kitty uncon-
sciously stored the unpIeasantness as oil
grudge against the absent Douglas.
So when he came home ten yearel
later and fell openly and instantly al
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, suittng 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 bust.
ness II be had not had the lucky mis-
fortune to have the Ackroyds for
friends.
The Aciroyds, whom Kitty loathed,
gave up days and nights to warning
Douglas against her The warningsl
were 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 temperament
and the situation. the resulting engage
ment follows logically. Kitty excused
herself to her conscience for It With
the special pleading that It would cha.
grin the Ackroyds and that II she flnal.
~ broke II the making It would have
saved Douglas from worse
OF course she would not think ofi
marrying him for years. Meantime she
would revel in the Ackroyd discomfi
ture. Then her people were 80 happy
over the prospect. That really meant
q lot 10 her
Dimly az the bottom Of n 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 III content
with the estate In life wherein she
now found herself until Douglas OBJ
stinately insisted upon her naming the
day.
Go awayl The role OF impatient
lover does not at you in the least
she said 20 him. with the most fetch
ing pout you know you'd be dread
fully upset if agreed to anything 80
insane. We can be married when we
are too old to care for tearing about
When you are thirty-five ! shall be
thirty-two. That viii be quite time
enough to do the Darby ana Joan act
Until then-well. we win stay rs we
are"
I'VE VIII notF' Douglas asserted.
selling both her hands Understand
Pm going to be married man before
the year IN 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 I'm so.
ing to marry you-nobody else" he
said, "Make up your mind to the fact
ladykin. and give up gracefully while
there Is time"
"of all impertinenceF' Kitty flashed
out at him. "Let go my hands so
can take OF your rubbishy ringi 4
won't marry you-now, never nor next
day. won't even speak to you ever
again IL you hold me a second longer"
what a peaceful home we shall
haver' Douglas murmured. letting 90
her hands, but catching her In his
arms. He pressed her close and went
on, with his lips against her pink ear;
Little darling, ought to want you
to be sensible, but the fact ISL don't
It is ever so much more thrilling 4
take you thus In spite Of yourself. You
have never even let me kiss your hand
No matter when we married. thi
would have to come some time. Yot
know you need mastering, but I'm too
generous to ask you to admit IT, Come
along. want you to hear me tell
daddy all about It. 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
shrieks nvailed.
He lifted her as IL she were only
i've 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.
'sIt's a hard to bear, mighty hard,
she whispered "we-we ought to bear
It for the child. Spelling her so Is our
work. But for heavens sake keep
still Her whole future depends on ii
Douglas Is the man Of men for her
and she win throw him over IL she
has the least chance"
Daddy Oh, dear daddyp Kitty
painted. trying to reach out appealing
arms. Douglas pinioned them fast and
went close to Major Clyde, saying,
with a laugh that was not quite easy
"MaJor this girl you gave me is be
having 50 badly. | think you might
throw In one Of old Flossy's pups to
even up the trade"
At that Kitty screamed afresh, rheI
majors breath came hard. his face
grew apoplectic,. but his wife's hand,
closing and unclosiflQ convuislvelv