The St. Mary banner., 1909-05-22
Miss Kitcat laughed.

Miss Kitcat laughed.
Now, when Dolly Kitcat laughed her
charming eyes closed until only the
long curled lashes were visible, her
parted lips showed a dazzling row OF
teeth-and the effect was entrancing.
At least, so thought Alwyn Romaine,
who had been fortunate enough to
amuse her, and likewise thought poor
Billy Darrell. whose pleasure, however,
was mitigated by the fact that it was
his brilliant companion who had caused
It.
Alwyn and Billy were inseparables.
They smoked the same brand Of cigar
ettes-at least. Billy bought them and
Alwyn smoked them-and they worked
and played in unison. Billy was lost
in admiration for his clever and popu-
lar friend, who accepted his friend
ship and admiration with equanimity.
Alas! Love. the great leveller, had
winged his careless darts into the
breasts Of both of them, and they
adored pretty Dolly Ktcat. Alwyn only
less than himself, Billy more than all
the world.
Miss Kitcat was as impartial as love
itself, and admitted them both into
close and perilous intimacy.
Three, and waltzes, please. Miss Kit
cat" said Alwyn authoritatively. mo
less. please; your dancing Is just per-
lection, and flatter myself our steps
At to a nicely"
Alwyn's requests to the weaker sex
always insinuated a command; he felt
IT INDICATED his manhood, which was
not always in evidence.
Billy sat silent while Miss Kitcat
laughed again.
''very WE'LL" she said, "if the chap
erons cease from troubling, and Mrs.
Grundy is at rest, three you shall
have"
Eight, eleven and thirteen" said
Alwyn, noting the numbers on his spot
less cuff.
We'll, Mr.. Billy" said Dolly gayly,
after a short pause, "are you not 60
ing to ask me for something?"
1t was indicative of the character OF
William Darrell that every one called
him Billy" and he flushed up. with
pleasure at Miss Kitcat's speech.
We'll, er-er," he said hesitatingly,
Il sh-should just love ppolka or g-get
you an ice or hold your f-fan or So
something"
Poor Btlly's stammer grew unman-
ageable, but he said ''so-something," as
II Miss Kitcat had offered to transport
him direct to Heaven, which as mat
ter Of fact was not far from the truth.
Dolly's eyes softened at the lads ear
Iesfness as she said encouragingly,
''seven and fourteen, then. Mr.. Billy.
The luckiest numbers in the card, and
don't forget 'em."
! Billy assured her with deep sincerity
That ~hetwould not, and then Alwyn,
Who always flung himself wildly in
10 the tide Of conversation ere 1t ebbed
too far from himself, broke in:
That's real kind of you, Miss Kitcat.
but mind the fireplaces. Billy general
~ manages to enthrone his partner in
<he CRATE In the midst Of his wild ca
reer: and, by the way. when may l
bring my new song to sing to you?
4old me that were it not trifle above
the heads Of the masses they might
have considered It,"
Now, Alwyn, it must be remembered,
was genius, not an ordinary. full
blown, famous genius, but one faltering
On the threshold OF publicity and full
Of glorious works, which would, when
the mood struck him, be transmitted In
flaming language to paper. He was al
ways waiting for the mood to strike
him; at his club, when he would have
many whiskey and soda to while
away the time till 1t came; in the
street, oh, yes, particularly In the
street, when the mood would lightly
tsp him. 50 to speak, and he would
rush to pen and paper, only to md the
moment had fed again: but he was
illcd with very complete self-satis-
faction, and spent many hours OF his
valuable leisure explaining his theories
ana ideas to Dolly Kitcat.
Billy Darrell had no theories and not
too many ideas. but he was beloved by
men Is the best Of good fellows, who
rode and shot q straight IS he lived
and his happiest hours were spent rid
ing with Miss Kftcat IN the Row or
xisking his lie g bis motor car. which