Putnam patriot., 1910-03-04

tons of goldfish swan about Forming
a kind OF triangle about The basin were
three ancient marble benches such as
the aniahle old Roman senators were
wont to lounge upon during the heat
of the afternoon. maiden sSI on
one OF these benches. her arms
| thrown out on either side of the
crumbling back. her chin lowered end
her eyes thoughtful
Merrihew stole up from behind
with all the care Of practicea
hunter. Then be put his hands over
her eyes. She struggled fer a brief
| moment. then desisted.
1T II no puzzle at all" she declared
Il can smell horse. horse and again
horse Mr. Merrihew--
Yea I should have fetched along q
sachet powder I remember but one
thing. Kitty. and that's you" He SAT
| down beside her. There's no doubt
| that I reek q the animal. But the
real question b, How much longer
are you going to keep me dangling on
the string. I've been coming up here
for ten days now"
She had dressed expressly for this
moment but Merrihew was net going
| to be told 30.
But am to be blamed II. after
having refused twice to marry you.
you still persisty" Kitty assumed .
judicial air.
But you haven't refused me this
| time"
Because wish to make II as easy
as possible for YOU" Which of the two
meanings she offered him was lost
upon Merrihew.
Come. let us be sensible for ten
| minutes"
Merrihew laid his watch on the
bench beside him.
Kitty laughed roilicklngiy. for be-
meath her furbeiews and ribbons and
| trinkets she was Unfortunately happy
and light of heart. Her letter had
rome She was only waiting for the
| day OF sailing.
1 Merrihew reached out and caught
her hand
"oh. I said let us be sensible for ten
| minutes" she demurred.
Kitty. will you marry me2''
Gould you take care OF mef'
| I'll work"
"Oh. II Won were only richr.
"You don't mean that. Kitty"
| NO" relenting u don't But you
bother me-
| "All right. This will be the last time
| Will you marry me? | viii do all a
man can to make you happy. love
| fou with all my heart. | know. You're
afraid You've an idea that am tickle
But not this time. Kitty: not this time
] Will your"
Then without further hesitance. In
| different To the future or the past con
scious only of the vast happiness OF
| the present. Kitty laid her hand in his
| He would have drawn her into his
arms had not they both seen 0Mally
pushing through the box hedge. fol
lowed by some belated tourists. Merri
hew swore softly. and Kitty laughed.
On the terrace the tea table dazzled
the aye Wjlh-tEs spotless linen. Its blue
seantcn and ifs bundle OF pink roses
Iiilard extepted his cup for . second
| 0iling. Ia Signorina vaguely won
dered where Kitty was. She needed
Kitty At TINS moment
| How insxplicable were the currents
end cross currents Of life. She had me-
q thousand men handsomer. mors
brilliant. They had not awakened
more than normal interest. And YET
this man. quiet. humorous. ordinarily
| good looking. aroused In her heart dis
| cord and penetrated the barriers to the
guarded sentiment Why? Always
| this query.
She gathered up 4 handful OF the
roses and pressed them against hel
face. breathing deeply.
III were poet. which ] am not
| He paused irresolutely.
'You would extemporixe on the
beauty OF the perspective" she supple
meufed rHow tho
~ was thinking Of your hair" be
interrupted. Il have never seen any
thing quite like IT.
She had recourse to the roses again.
You have not told me the real rea-
son why you sang under my window
that night"
"Have I not? Well then. there can
be no harm In telling you that. had
Just signed the contract to sing with
the American Comic Opera company
in Europe. I saw the world at my
feet. for il would be false modesty to
ceny that | have a voice. More dis
Illusions. The world IL not at my
feet" tightly.
"will you answer a single question r
II can make no promise"
SIS there another manT
Silence. which grew and heightened.
"What do you meanr she asked
evenly.
I'm Venice you told me that there
4 IL.