Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-28
MARCH %, 1909.

to hear it. He can come to my room"
EYES, mother DEAR" said Kitty, al
most by force of habit; and then re-
membered that Meta had the first
right there now
But Meta only nodded absently and
Kitty rose hastily as Lady Thornton
crossed to the door.
Can l come and do something for
you darling?" she asked. shall
come and read?"
Lady Thornton turned, and it was
not Kitty's Imagination nowhere
were tears in her eyes. Dear child
no. Not tonight. I'm too tired. dear"
She disappeared almost befort Kitty
had realized that there was real trouble
in her face. Then she turned and the
thought was banished for moment by
something more grave and serious.
Meta had risen and was in the act
of opening the window. 1t looked out
on to the terrace, like the library and
drawing room, and swiftly Kitty's
mind sprang TO. the thought of the man
she had seen and Metals hurried prom
Use to meet him.
She stood hesitating, watching, and
at that instant Meta looked round. Her
face darkened, changed. Something
cruel and wicked leaped into 1t. Her
eyes blazed and then suddenly softened
again.
81 shall go out" she announced, in
differently, as If she were making an
ordinary statement. ut is going to be
deadly dull indoors, and a walk"
"But--you can't" Kitty stammered;
Look at the mist. And it's so cold"
"Bosh! Cold Is better than dizziness,
and shall go mad If l sit and twiddle
my thumbs opposite you in the draw
ing room. / shall just walk up and
down the terrace and see if l can see
Chris at work in the library. I'll get
him to come out, too, IL can drag MIN
from his silly books"
Kitty WINGED a little, then went
slowly from the room. Scarcely real
izing what she meant to do she went
up to her room and got wrap and a
dark coat. To her surprise as she
came out she saw a figure whisk by
her-a figure in a dark cloak, too, and
recognized 1t was Meta's, and again
there came the queer, sickening sensa-
ton at heart as there flashed before
her the memory of the hard, defiant
look Meta had given her and Of the
desperate note in her voice as she had
given her promise on the terrace before
dinner.
Kitty had always disliked Meta, but
now in her heart was something else
fear and distrust.
She went slowly downstairs, her
mind made up now to watch her. She
had hesltated before. A spy! She had
never spied on anyone in her life, but
now somehow 1t seemed necessary.
The night was thick with mist and
cold. 1t drifted up, lying white where
the light of the house caught 1t, and
hanging in dripping veil upon the
thick trees.
Kitty felt it damp upon her face as
she stole down the terrace steps and
along the drive in the direction of the
plantation. The light from the libra
ry window stretched across the ter
race and fell in a patch just at the
open space before the thick trees shut
it out, and for a moment she stood
and looked back before she plunged
into the shadow.
She turned a minute later and crept ,
along the messy drive The stile lead
ing into the plantation was only lit
tie way down. Many and many
time she and Christopher had sat upon
1.-THE often with his gun, for the little
plantation led directly to the covers,
and ii used to be her habit to meet ;
him there. Now-it seemed like a
mockery that the girl he loved was
going to meet another man there to-
night!
She reached it a little breathless.
and stood in vague dismay. No fig
ures were in sight, not even shadow
against the gap in the hedge.
She went forward more quickly, and
then something brought her up with
a little start. Some one was there
some one dark against the shadow of
the trees-bending forward-peering
at something in the little patch of !
open ground that lay in front Of the
plantation.
Kitty stood watching. 1t was Meta
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