Las Vegas optic., 1914-04-28
WHAT KITTY MEANT
BY i. SWEET.

AS ShCy WaAEAEA oAC b0AA ACA NCAAA
panioR of new plans. That very day
she had secured employment in the
blanket factory, and would com
mence work the next morning.
Six months before she had come
home a broken wreck her husband
recently killed in drunken brawl.
her own life spoiled, as she thought.
by the man against whom she had
been warned. But now, with renewed
health and resolution, she was about
to commence life again, to build up
from the wreck Halstead listened
quietly until she had finished, then
broke out:
you know there amt no need for
tt. Kitty. You know I've been wait
in' for you to get strong so ! could
say the same thing did befOre--be-
fore you met him. 1t didn't seem
right TO persuade you when you first
came, you was SO weak an tired.
But now you're strong again an
know your own mind. An, Kitty"
his voice trembling in spite Of his Of
forts at selfcontrol- been wait
in 3 good many years. rye never
felt to marry anybody else"
Her hand rose impetuously, to stop
him.
~But you must think to marry
somebody else, Halstead,' she said,
earnestly. You're too good man
TO be wasted that way. An you must
stop thinhn' Of me, for 1t can't ever
be, after-after what's gone by.
ain't much, but / couldn't be SO mean
as to harm a man like that. Now
Halstead, pIease"-touching his arm
as she saw the grim amusement on
bis face-"don't make me go on feel
In I've ruined your life. There's
Nelly Bocup. She likes you. an"
Halsted laughed aloud.
mo use talkin' that way, Kitty"
he interrupted. Il want you, an If
can't have you now, I'm willin' to
wait awhile. When it gets too hard
/ shall grab you up an run 80 fast
an far you won't be able to get
breath to say no."
I'm sorry, Halstead." There were
tears in Kitty's eyes, but her voice
was firm. Il shan't ever marry any
man to hamper him. 1t won't be no
use for you to wait and ask me
again. ever"
There was much sickness in the
town that fall-a malignant spotted
fever, highly contagious-and one by
one the poorer portions of the town
were put under quarantine. Then one
evening Halstead helped what he
thought to be a drunken man to his
home, and the next day the man carne
down with the fever, and within
week was dead. Within an hour af-
ter Halstead heard this he was on his
way to the woods for what he said
was to be few days hunting. In
reality, it was to watch himself.
One morning before people had be-
gun to appear on the streets, he stag
gered to the sidewalk outside the
fence of his sisters homes where
Kitty boarded.
Mary, oh, Mary" he called. Then
when his sister appeared at the door
Don't come any nearer You know
that empty cabin up by the big rock,
where we walk sometimes
"Yes."
Well. want you to send some food
and water there, soon's you can. I've
got the fever. Wait" raising his
voice little bitterly as she withdrew
hurriedIy into the house. There amt
3 mite of danger this far. not for you
nor the children. / won't go near the
cabin till you get the things in, so
it'll be SAFE I'll stay of in the woods
8 couple Of hours. But please hurry.
for I'm beginnin' to lose sense Of
things"
? sHalstead!" it was 9 quiet but per
emptory voice from an upper window.
Halstead raised his eyas and tried to
* his mind on what he saw there.
kitty. Kitty" he said, dreamily,
that you? Better SO in an shut the
window. Maybe the Winds BLOWN
AhaE way" S
"aalsteAd,g the voice asad slowly
ANA distinctly. can you SO straight
20 the cabin BY youfsslfT'
Course" Indignantly. "straight's an
arrow. But I'll wait two hours
''No, Deremptorily, you must 20 at
once, straight. win see about the
food and everything else. I'll have
doctor there almost as soon as you
are. An I'll have nurse. I'd make
you come In here, but there's your sis
Ter and her children, an there's chill
dren In both the next houses. So
maybe IT wouldn't be best. No go,
straight, straight to the cabin
Halstead raised his hand to his
forehead undecidedly. But the voice
mad been clear and inclalve. and Just
now 1t was easier for him to obey
than to think. So he nodded vaguely
and staggered up the sidewalk Kitty
watched him anxiously until she re-
allied that, In spite OF his wavering
atena he was heading toward fha