The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-16
THE SILENT WITNESS

BY YEMPLE BAILEY.

BY xEMPLE BAILEY
No one knew just where the white kitten belonged.
The chances were that she came from Of the low
generally be found on-<aaay- hiieeks the
en- END Of the peninsula where she dug sunny nests
between haf-closed There traces of dis
tngushed ancestors in the length Of her hair. the
business of her tail and the blueness of her
Now and then she drfted down close to the waters
edge and played with the FOAM of which she seemed
almost part. with her snowy fur and her light
movements.
There were two persons who came often to that
end of the peninsula and who played with the white
kitten. The girl who came white gowns.
that when the kitten lay ON lap they seemed
merged one into the other.
"she LIS beauty" the girl said day in late
summer. Il going to steal her and take her home
with me- Richard"
Tho man laughed lazy. III you nnd out to whom
stealing"
The kitten blinked, and yawned. She had always
lived by the and she loved it. She did not know
that over her head, they planning to her
to the city where she would be shut in from this
After that they talked sweet nothngs her
head; but finally they disagreed The loud voices
startled the kitten and she gprang from her resting
place and few down the sands. But they did not
Il can't give all of time to Richard. she said
not lot until after our engagement is announced
essary to keep it secret, Elizabeth"
Il have told you and told YOU" she stated that
until mother returns from abroad and ratlhes 1t
Il am SO afraid Of losing you he said that per-
with Radciin last night that my heart was heavy
l watched YOU"
gesture of scorn. las IL would look at
him twice when you around. Richard"
His face cleared that anu they began their walk
back toward the hotel talking peacefully they
went The white kitten trailed along behind making
mad dashes down the beach, and, length. rushing
on ahead of them, she landed on ledge followed
where a bird had made a Elizabeth stopped and
examined 1t. TITS like little mail box she said
Richard"
Every day shall look for It." he declared ar
IDENTITY
After that the kitten stood guard often let
ters which came TO the strange hiding place. Some
of the letters in pale gray envelopes and ad-
dressed in a feminine hand. others big and
square with IA masculine scraw1. une day strange
man left letter and when Elizabeth opened it she
What is III" Richard demanded.
hereY'
You must have told him." Richard said. ~Yos
have been with him often enough late"
"Oh, jealousy"
Her eyes blazed. "wiu you never understand that
he is only an old friend? Why. have known him
why should he write you etters7"
TITS Just foolishness." She tore open the
envelope and gasped
But she would not tell him. and. jealousy getting
the better OF him. ne insisted that she should.
and then fly down the beach toward the gray cot
tages Late that night, however. she scuttIed back
crested with silver. white kitten stretched her
snowy length along the ledge. half closing the
/
her gently. When he had gone there peeped from
the rl hole the edge Of white, white envelope;
against the bit OF and the cracking made the
white kitten sit up and take notice She patted III.
out from the hiding place. Helped by the kitten
eager aw-and- blythe wind hay futterfng on the
ledge Then the wind took it again. down the beach,
Once 1t went sailing the tops of the like
some strange bird. only to be brought back for the
The next morning the kitten again the ledge
when the girl came. She was alone and when she
had looked and found letter she sat down on
the sands and cried. Presently man came along the
was Rchard.e
Did you get my note yesterday" he asked. Per-
haps should not have written have put 1t here.
But had seen you two people exchanging notes.
She looked at him responsibility "Your joke has
Jealous IL He to see the
and made so much out OF trtie that would not
write me ana apoiosizs thought, Of course I hs
would. but he hasn't"
sat together on the sands Both Of the had left.
and the girl very lonely. Now and then shs
played with the kitten but usually she sat looking
The kitten played. however. racing up and down
the sands chasing the waves eaping after
thing that nuttered In the wind.
One da. there came flying down tho beach bit OF
in the air carried BY strong
breeze She fiattened herself on top o. i when she
tics and. growing Interested caught UP the bit OF
% "a 0s to throw rs the
aye II familiar masculine serawf With eager
haste she opened and read the letter that the
had drawn from the hc1e two weeks before
Why" the girl murmured he did write and he
begged my pardon.
The kitten sat and looked at her she had been
silent witness to the whole story the petty quarrel
the tragedy OF parting and OF loneliness which had
followed. To her the letter had been piaything;
TO the girl Il meant life.
The girl hung her out with q glad gesture to-
ward the Il shall write to him tonight" she
said "and tomorrow. oh. waves. you shah bring him
back me-"
She sped toward the hotel and the kitten was for
gotten But the kitten was content For her ther~
and 81 the wind. $3.50 N