Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-28

gulf between them and to tighten the bonds be
tween Meta and Sir Christopher. Every day Meta
seemed to gain another step, and every day Kitty
seemed to be pushed little more out into tho
cold.
She sat now before the great library fire, where
nearly always after tea Sir Christopher used to join
her and his mother. To-day only Kitty sat before
the blaze. Sir Christopher was, of course, some
where with Meta, and Lady Thornton was probably
with them. They had forgotten Kitty.
She rose presently, turning, shivering to look
out on to the dull gardens. 1t was growing cold
and chill and dark. She put up her hand to close
the open French window, and then, altering her
mind, went out to the terrace. 1t lay before
her dark and apparently empty. But suddenly she
started.
figure mounting the steps had emerged upon
the top-a figure that crept quietly forward until
he reached the first window, which was that of one
of the drawing rooms. There he stopped and look
ed in. Kitty, shrinking behind one of the big plants
against the WALL watched him with queer, breath.
less sensation upon her. Who was heY What had
he come forH Why was he theref
The answer that to her perhaps con-
jured up by her sick jealousy and her dislike
of Meta. But it came to her clearly; he had come
to see Meta, of course-a lover, no doubt-some
body who wanted to meet her secretly. She peered
forward, and then her thoughts stopped with
jerk.
sound of footsteps below made the turn
sharply. He stood for instant, then hurriedly
made his way again to the top of the steps. AS
he reached them, Meta came into sight. She gave
Il
backward as she did so. The man sprang down
the steps and out of sight. For moment Kitty
stood dismayed-not knowing what to do
An instant later she ran forward to the top of
the steps, and then stood GREATNESS, unable to be
lieve her own eyes, For there was nobody in
sight
Impelled by curiosity, she went on, rounding the
end of the terrace and reaching the garden
that stretched away from it. And then, sud
denly, sound reached her ears-a voice speak
ing rapidly, breathlessly = Meta s voice, but
now so frightened and desperate Kitty scarcely
recognized it.
'Yes-yes-I1 meet you. Yes
III swear it, if you like-after dinner tonight
There Is stile at the end of the plantation
l III come to you there-I swear it, Dick"
Kitty stole back without waiting to hear any
more Only thing clear to her-that
Meta was deceiving Christopher. And if he
cared-if he cared-what theni
A FTER dinner that night, instead of steal
IN ing away somewhere by herself as she
had grown accustomed to do since Meta had
been there, Kitty waited Something was to
happen to-night-what, she did not know
scarcely dared think.
She sat lingering over her dessert, and then,
to her surprise, Sir Christopher rose before
them.
''Excuse me- mother, won t you2''
Lady Thornton looked around and up at him
as he fingered for moment beside her chair
More work yet, Christ" she asked
Haven't you got things straight yetG'
"No-not yet, - he answered. and surely it
must have been Kitty's fancy that his voice
a was slightly husky, and that there seemed to
have grown about his face a gray, haggard
look that was foreign to itq Surely he had
nothing to worry hma she thought. Or stay,
had he found out something about Metal Had
he discovered her to be false, and was that up
setting hm7
She waited restlessly wondering what would
be the programme that Sir Christopher
had left Meta to herself
Lady Thornton was the next to move and,
indeed, to speak. She rose putting down her
serviette upon the table as she did so.
"Will you two children amuse yourselves to-
nightR'' she asked, with little culver in her