The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-10-15

together"
ooh, really said Mr.. Cowles in mild
surprise. Perhaps, then, misunderstood
your previous sentimentsa"
No, you didn't" said Kitty. tive Just
come to myself I've been perfectly horrid
and beastly lately, and Billy has stood it
like an angel. 1t would serve me good and
right If he never spoke to me again. And
I've been horrid to Major Dillon, too, and
to Mrs. Tindale, and suppose they'll never
forgive me for it. They're both awfully
nice, and hope they'll get married and live |
happily ever after"
) Mr.. Cowles smiled rctrospectively. "a
"Your sainted mother used to have these
spells OF remorse and regeneration, my dear
child" he said sentimentally "Our little
reconclliations were some of the pleasantest
incidents of my life"
/ Major Dillon, red-faced and - omfs-t-i
able in high collar and wonderfully sn +
wasted coat, paused near them. "No{ if
young Wyeth were coming here as d d.
tary man., he said ,harping on his favol tie
string, he would probably be more pd c-
tual; but as civilian, you see, he takes the
license OF the needless times we are livingin. 2
Kitty astonished him by smiling sweetly.
Mr.. Wyeth is such a busy man, Major !,
she explained. He has many responsibili- /
ties we know nothing of. l shall be de-
lighted if he is able to get here at all. "
Halbertstone was standing near and he
smiled mysteriously. I'm almost certain
he'll come, yknow," he said. II happen to
know he had no end of lot of rot to attend
to to-day, but I've his word he ii be here"
Suddenly door opened at the end of a /,
long passage leading to the parlor, and
man came in.
Good God!" cried Major Dillon. II
The newcomer wore jingling saber and
uniform fairly overlaid with gold braid and
the festooned cords and aiguillettes of
staff officer
A servant stepped within the door and
announced: Colonel Wyeth!"
Instantly the silence was broken by ew-
carnations of wonder, pleasure and con.
sternation.
"Why, by George, the young beggar OUT
ranks me-" cried the Major with note Of
bitterness Il
The only person in the room who
seemed to know all about it was the
Duke, and he was delighted as any hostess
who runs off telling coup at one of her
dinners.
So they went in to the table presently;
and inasmuch as Billy was the only Guards 4
man present with the rank of Colonel, he
followed General Talbot in the little pro-
cession with new and radiant Kitty upon
his arm.
r;I,I e l,or n ell
Kitty pinchcd her champion S arm furtively
"You might tell me how, it all happened
she said softly. 81 didn't know sergeant
major could get to be colonel over night .
Wyeth smiled almost regretfully. Il
suppose" he said, that with dads money
and political influence sergeant-major
could get to be almost anything in few
minutes"
you came like regular Lohengrin,
said Kitty happily. 81 was just too utterly
miserable, Billy. | had just been thinking
what dandy time the old Borgias had
poisoning the people they hated. Why
didn't you come in boat drawn by
swami"
Swans are deucedly expensive, and
they're not city broke, so / chose a taxi
cab," laughed the young colonel.
But you haven't told me how it hap
pened. What kind of Colonel are you,
anyway"
ooh, it really wasn't as sudden as it
seems" said Wyeth. II have been con-
sidering it for some time. Then father
recommended it and told me to go and order
bunch of uniforms and he'd see that the
commission was ready as soon as they were.
So now I'm on the Brigade Staff with the
rank of Lieutenant-Colo and nothing to
do but wear these things and ride horse
in parades. But I'm not going to answer
too many questions now. Just remember
what happened to Elsa when she got too
curious about Lohengrins family and bust
ness affairs. You've got to be mighty care
full and polite to one Of my rank, or I'll
just call my faithful taxi and sail away,
and never come back any more"
I've been bad child" said Kitty be-
witchingly, and I'm going to be good now
for ever and ever, to you and Major Dillon
and Mrs. Tindale and Minnie Ryder and
everybody" ass.
And are you going to promise to marry
me right away" asked the Colonel simply.
Kitty's eyes were wandering absorbedly
over his shoulder knots and other emhellisf-
ments. BILLY" she exclaimed irrelevantly,
you're the most beautifullest thing ever
saw"
And then they both laughed and looked
around, and everybody at the table was
listening and laughing at them with
friendly sympathy.