The Washington herald., 1914-03-25
DAILY SHORT STORY.
THE BLUE-EYED KITTEN.
BY BELLE stANIATEs.
iCopyright. lsll.l

tcopyright. lsAl
| 1t was three days before the wedding.
Constance had lost interest In the pres
entsSthat had been pouring In. They
were all SO conventional and there had
been such a tiresome repetition Of silver,
glass and china.
"why can't people be original even in
| wedding presents?" she wondered.
Her meditions were interrupted by the
entrance of a maid with a note.
For me?" asked Constance stretching
| forth her hand.
She read the note twice. thrice, her face
aglow with curiosity. interest and MEM
ories of the past.
my Dear Connie-I hear you are to be
married on Thursday next. In memory
of old days. which / trust you have not
forgotten. l am sending you a wedding
present. / cannot hope to compete with
the costly gifts you will receive, SO 1
have sent you something for which long
ago / heard you express a wish. You
will not. / am sure. have a duplicate of
1t. l am sending this note in advance to
prepare you for my gift, which will ar
rive in a short time.
wishing you all happiness. I am. most
sincerely, DOLPH KANE,
The note carried Constance back to the
days before her father had made money,
ana they had lived in plain style In q
small town. She had been Connie" then.
and at the public school from the days
or the sixth grade until she was grad
uated Dolph Rane-aad been, in the school
vernacular. her steady" He was two
years older than she. but they had been
In the same classes.
The fall afte. she was graduated h.r
father had struck oil. and they had
moved to the city. For a time she and
Dolph had correspondended regularly,
then in desultory manner and finally
an communication had ceased. So MANY
tninss mad happened. She had been
abroad twice and had lived in a whiri
OF social pleasures. But she was sure
sne had written since she had heard from
him.
Her heart beat a little faster as she
read his note that sounded So boyishIy
like him. She remembered SO wildly his
eager, alert face. He had been a favorite
with the entire household, and he had
been urged to visit them after they left
Marshfield, but he had refused She had
tried TO make him realize that their
change of fortune would not affect their
friendship but he had been very foolishly
proud about II. A year later he<had gone
West and she hadn't heard where ne
was until this note. She wondered what
his gift would be. Something different
from the others, OF that she was sure.
very warm tender feeling crept into
her thoughts OF him. She summoned her
maid.
Find out. Elsie. who brought this
note"
Elsie returned with the information that
1t had been brought by a district mes
senger.
Then he must be here in the city"
she decided. and gave orders that no mes
senger bringing a present was to be al
lowed TO depart until she had interviewed
him. She waited restlessly, trying vainly
TO recall what she had wished for in
those bySone days. At last she was sum-
moned TO the servants hall. messenger
stood there with a BASKET to which was
attached a tag bearing her name
Where did you go TO get this" she
asked. ''or was II brought TO the office"
Il was telephoned for" informed the
boy. Ito come to IlS Hollis Building. and
when got there, a young man gave me
this kasket"
Did you notice the name on the door,"
Yes: il was real estate. The names
on the door were Douglass & Kane"
The boy was allowed to depart and
Constance opened the basket. Out sprang
kitten. whose soft fur was of spotIess
white blue ribbon was tied about its
neck Then she noticed that its eyes
were blue, and she remembered how she
had once longed for a kitten with blue
eyes
ITO think Of his remembering, No one
else l know would remember that long."
she thought wistfuIly.
Carrying me kitten in her arms she
went to the telephone. She found the
desired number for Douglass & Kane by
calling information. Dolph's voice an
swered.
'Dolph. this is Connie"
'Oh. How did you find me?"
by the boy, of course: but how long
have you been living here in the city.
pray?'
Two weeks"
And You never came to see US! Do you
call that friendly?'
''Well-you see-I heard you were to be
married"
What difference did that maker"
"A great deal to me-"
silence followed. which was broken
by plaintive NEW from the kitten,
who had stuck her head into the re-
ceiver.
rs that the kitten sent?"
Yes: and she is a darling. like her
best Of any of the presents"
That's nice of you to say So"
"Dolph, If We had known your ad-
dress We should have sent you an in
vitation to the wedding. They are all
mailed now. but l want you to come on
my personal invitation"
I'D rather not, please, Connie"
But you will-to please me, Dolph.
want to see you; but I shall be so busy
for the next three days. Come, IL only
for a few moments, please. Dolph."
VERY WELL Connie. I'll come"
After the ceremony was over, Connie
stepped from the receiving line to greet
an eaSer-faced young man.
Connie! And I thought you were to
be the bride Douglass told me so.'
People always do get Cornelia and |
me mixed. But" in feiGned alarm. you |
won't take your present back?' |
mo, Connie. And will you take me |
back?'
..I neyar LAT VAL 10 Dnlnhn