Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-04-03
TANNING
A SHREW'
BY Martha McCulioch. Williams.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.
By Martha Mcculloeh. Williams.

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
II an unclc's fortune and go racing
about the world, thereby giving Kitty
her first realizing sense that things
| could happen otherwise than according
10 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 Il
victim TO her charms she was In two
she yielded In favor OF the mind that
advised her to do something unpleas-
ant.
lie was n 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 bust
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 warning
Douglas against her. The warnings
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 temperaments
and the situation. the resulting engage
ment follows logically. Kitty excused
herself to her conscience for It with
the special pleading that II would cha
grin the Ackroyds and that II she final
~ broke II the making II would have
saved Douglas from worse.
or course she would not think of
marrying him for years. Meantime she
would revel IN the Ackroyd discomfi-
turc Then her people were so happy
over the prospect. That really meant
n lot 10 her.
Dimly Mt 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 fit 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-fve shall be
thirty-two. That will be quite time
enough to do the Darby and Joan act
Until thcn-well. we will stay as we
are"
1--WE will mott. Douglas asserted,
seizing both her hands. understand.
I'm going to be 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. I'm GO
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 impertinence" Kitty flashed
out at him. LET go my hands so
can take of your rubbishy ring! 1
won't marry you--now. never nor next
day. | 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. ought to want you
TO be sensible. but the fact isl don't.
II Is ever so much more thrilling to
take you thus I'm 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 we'd
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 availed.
He lifted her as II she were only
FIVE 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 detalningly upon his shoulder.
Its a hard to bear. mighty hard"
she whispered. We've ought to bear
1t for the child. Spelling her SO is our
work. But for heavens sake keep
still. Her whole future depends OH 1t.
Douglas Is the man Of men for her.
and she will throw him over II she