Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-07-17
Tanning
A ShreW
With an interruption That
Brought . Climax.
By Martha Met ulloch- Villains.

fretty Kitty CIy0e was NOT really
shrew. She had merely been born i'm.
periOus and had grown up absolute
monarch Of IN adoring family.
Until she was rising eleven Douglas
Norton had been also Of her subjects.
Fate whisked him away then to inherit
an uncle's fortune and 60 racing about
the world. thereby giving Kitty her
first realizing sense that things could
happen otherwise than according to her
will.
The process was unpleasant. BY
curious mental alchemy Kitty uncon-
sciously stored the unpleasantness as a
grudge against the absent Douglas.
So when he came home ten years
later and fell openly and instantly a
victim to her charms she was in two
minds as to what to do with him, and
she yielded in favor of the mind that
advised her to do something unpleas-
ant.
He was dear fellow, suiting her ex-
actly in some of her moods. In others
but in those others nobody suited her,
least Of all herself. Those other moods
would probably have made her send
Douglas about his business If he had
not had the lucky misfortune to have
the Ackroyds for friends.
The Ackroyds, whom Kitty loathed.
gave up days and nights to warning
Douglas against her. The warnings
were not wholly disinterested. Though
the two Miss Ackroyds were quite old
enough to be his mother. there was
Lena Shotwell, their niece. over in Kit
tredge town, for whose establishment
they were most anxious.
Given the facts, the temperaments
and the situation. the resulting engage
ment follows logically. Kitty excused
herself to her conscience for It with
the special pleading that it would cha
grin the Ackroyds and that II she final.
ly broke the engagement the making
Of It would save Douglas from worse.
OF course she would not think Of
marrying him for years. Meantime she
would revel in the Ackroyd discount
ture. Then her people were SO happy
over the prospect That really meant
a lot to her.
Dimly at the bottom of a very warm
heart she felt that, on the whole, she
had not made them as happy as she
might have done.
So altogether she was not Ill content
with the estate in life wherein she
now found herself until Douglas OBJ
stinately insisted upon her naming the
day.
go away! The role Of impatient
lover does not ft you in the least"
she said to him with the most fetch
ing pout. you know you'd be dread
fully upset II I agreed to anything so
insane. We can be married when we
are too old to care for tearing about.
When you are thirty-fve shall be
thirty-two. That will be quite time
enough to do the Darby and Joan act.
Until then-well. We shall stay as we
are"
I'VE will mott" Douglas asserted.
seizing both her hands. Understand.
I'm going to be a married man before
the year Is OUT
Il dare say you can get Lena Shot
well-or somebody like her-all on
sudden this way" Kitty interrupted.
trying to pull away her hands.
Douglas held them tight. I'm going
to marry you-nobody else," he said.
MAKE up your mind to the fact. lady.
kin. and give up gracefully while there
IL time"
"Of all impertinencer' Kitty flashed
out at him. LET 60 my hands 30
can take or your rubbishy ring! l
won't marry you-now, never nor next
day. I won't even speak to you ever
again II you hold me a second longer"
"What a peaceful home we shall
have!' Douglas murmured, letting 60
her hands. but catching her in his
arms. He pressed her close and went
OF. with his lips against her pink ear:
Little darling, l ought to want you
to be sensible. but the fact isl don't
II Is ever so much more thrilling to
take you thus in spite Of yourself.
You have never even let me kiss your
hand No matter when we married.
this would have to come some time
You know you need mastering. but I'm
too generous to ask you to admit It
Come along. | want you tn hear me
tell daddy all about II Mother Clyde
has already agreed with me that the
wedding had better he Gu your birth
day"
Then Kitty forgot herself. her years
her grownup estate She Screa med
He did not pay amy attention Sh'
became so angry that she tried t. claw
his cheek. but none Of her efforts III
shrieks awaited
He lifted her Ms n she were onl,
eve years old aud carried her into th'
sitting room. where her father r,sr Il
alright Mrs clyde. paIlid. hut NOR,
composed. stood beside him. her hant
laid detainingiy upon his shoulder
1T Is hard Ia hear. mighty hard.
she whispered. we ought to bea'
Il for the child Spelling her so In our
work But for heavens saks keep
sui! Her whole future depends ON II.
Douglas 10 the man Of men for her.
and she will throw hin over II she
has the least chance"
Daddy! Oh. dear daddyr' Kitty
painted. trying 70 reach out appealing
arma Douglas plnioned them fast and
went eIose TO Major CiydA sayinG.
With q laugh that was not quits easy:
"Major. this Girl you gave Ne = b.
having % badly! I think yea might
throw In one Of old Fiossy's pups -
even up the trade"
At that Kitty screamed afresh. The
majors breath came hard. his face
grew apoplecuc, but his wife's hand.
c1osfnp md unclOsinR rOnvulaiv a1v