Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-29
BY A HAIRS BREADTH.
BY Mabel Chase England.


BY Mabel Chase England.
Copyright, 1910. by the Associated
Literary Press). fs
It was I o'clock in the morning and
the first dance of the season was al
most over Kitty Payne sat in a low
chair, on the veranda, gazing out at
the big yellow half moon just rising
among the trees. Leaning against the
railing, looking down at her With a
somewhat whimsical expression, was
Jack Neville, her partner OF the last
dance. ...
Dreaming, Kitty" he asked lightly.
She lifted her dark eyes to his for
an instant
"Dreaming-yes' she admitted.
Not by any chance of me?'
She smiled enigmatically. Sud-
denly she gave her shoulders little
shake and sat erect. ,.& - 49,.
do you consider yourself the
stuff that. dreams are made off" she
laughed, with swift return to her
usual inconsequent lightness.
Jack Neville Strengthened up and
stood clear of the railing. A look OF
desperate determination came into
his eyes.
kitty" he said, 81 have something
| want to tell you. don't know that
it will interest you particularly,
but
At that moment hurried steps were
heard approaching and their host ap-
peared, a worried expression on his
face. ..a.a
l., h1 coiI want q
you on the telephone at cnce. think
it's your mother. Can you come In
for nlinure?'
"Tll be back in a second Kitty he
whispered. please wait" r.
AS the two men went back down
the long veranda Kitty watched
them, vaguely wondering what the
message could be. Presently she
heard footsteps again, and tall form
came swinging toward her. 1t was
not until the shadowy figure had al
mcst reached her that she saw it was
not Jack but Harold Graham. man
VINO was always among the foremost
in her train. An unreasonable irrita-
ton sureed up within her.
You here Kitty?" he called. cheer
ilv as he came up Neville sent me
Rack to give you his apologies and
say Gcod-iy. Poor chap! His father
has had an accident. train wrecked
CT something. coming up from the
sontil. He's going to take his mother
down to him, and they've just time
to catch the express.
Kittv listened silently. ncarahle.
i,rt T., ~, CT maxim any comm NJ,
Sine hafn't lDOTn that troTmle ccT-
irc to jack world make Der feel like
ibis. md what vTg II Re had want ed
t. tel lGr? Her checks nNehed in tho
oar ,ess. Only enc thing surely
And icr answer II ight rave reen dit
fcrent. rerrars: | ut pow. in the fa"c
Of this sorrow ti,:+ i'cd como to him
She knew. srd1erlv that sac loEca
him ~ 49,.
al VII ! O lard ca - comm"
:'.st I,,~- in the frsi FISH If his en-
sa"ement" Tarcld's cheerful voice
vent oil.
"Trca ~euent' lagk?" Nitty's threat
vert e-,-.7c-,lv div.
"4-es cent vru l.r0'v? A Bost' n
g'rl ] Erito~c. Fey rremcnd told
80. she mot ti,c>' @1unohing in New
Yer. and Jack whisrered it to her
rs f., ~ were coming OFT
A h-sh Fad risen Nitty's creeks.
he abandoned the subject with a
fbrue ard entered into merry war
Of words With Young Graham. LAUGH
in~ and +aIlIirg with almost fevcrisi1
animation. crushing rack the thoughts
trat were clamoring insistently at her
brain. So that was what ne had
wanted to tell her. And she had
imagine ed he was going to offer her the
alteration and worship that he had al
ready laid at the feet of another.
IN tee days that followed she I'M
mersed herself in constant round OF
excitement. making engagements for
every waking moment, keeping excit-
ing books on hand for the hours Of
darkness when sleep would not come
and bitter realization crushed heavily
in upon her.
After four or five days letter
came from Neville apologizing for his
abrupt departure. telling her that his
father was fortunately recovering and
that he expected to be back In week.
"You probably don't remember he
wrote, "but l had started to tell you
something when was called away,
something that, as said, can hardly
hope will interest you very deeply, but
that / intend you to, know, neverthe-
less even if the telling Of it is not a
matter of much Importance in your
eyes
Kittys lip curled. 81 don't see why
he makes such point Of It," she
murmured; "He could have told me IN
the letter" Then hard little sob
caught in her throat. Her hands
clenched in an effort to crush back the
pain that was gripping her heart She
tore up the letter hastily, and going to
the telephone called up Harold Ora.
ham.
rs that you, Harold? Well. I've
changed my mind. I'll go out with you
in the auto this afternoon. That is, II
Won haven't arranged for anything
else"
certainly not. You're brick"