The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-03

| NAeSCu udo UcSu put " Ucu ouc
was wide awake and fairly tingling
| with excitement, but officially it was
understood that small persons under
ten. even II they had been flower girls.
should not remain up during the re-
ception after the wedding.
And she had wanted to see all the
presents laid out in the front suite
upstairs, so very much. She sat up
in bed and listened. Everyone was
down on the first floor, in the long
reception rooms. She slipped out into
the hall, and peeped cautiously over
the balustrade The coast seemed
perfectly clear. And yet she heard
Aunt 'Stasia give explicit instruc-
tions to Jeanne not to leave the front
suite during the entire evening.
Kitten didn't like Jeanne She was
unsmiling and cross no matter how
much one smiled at her. and her eyes
were gray and somber, with heavy,
dark brows and lashes Aunt 'Stasia
said she was a very able and reliable
maid and tried to induce Lenore to
take her away on the honeymoon.
why, mother, darling. I'd just as
soon engage the obelisk," Lenore had
laughed.
Still, she had great deaf of respect
for Jeanne, and tonight when she
reached the front suite she was sur
prised to find it empty. 1t really was
pleasant in way to be undisturbed
She tiptoed about, admiring gift after
gift until all at once she heard some
thing strange. It sounded like some
body outside on the long roof of the
stucco veranda, somebody creeping
along over the tiles.
Kitten never stopped to investigate.
She just Topped right down on the
floor and rolled under the bed out of
sight. Downstairs they were dancing
now. Kitten kept still, for Jeanne had
come into the room and crossed to
the window, where the noise came
from. She unlatched the screen noise
lessly, and man climbed in. They
spoke in French, and Kitten did not
understand at all what was said. but
Jeanne stood by the bed, so near she
might have stepped on yellow curls
almost, and the man was lingering the
,, jewelry and silver
Kitten held her breath as they
passed into the next room. and then it
just had to come. She sneezed, a
funny, half-smothered sneeze.
Jeanne hurried back, alert and
startled. She listened at the door, and
, spoke in whisper to the man. Then
she opened closet door, and he went
in as she told him to-
When Kitten stuck her head out
, Aunt 'Stasia was calling Jeanne, and
, she hurried away to answer. So. with
out stopping to think much about It.
, Katherine-she was always Katherine
on great occasions-just stepped over
and turned the key in the closet door
1t was one Of Jeanne's favorite pun
, ishments, this shutting persons away
in closets and turning keys on them
: to keep them out Of mischief, only she
had not thought she would dare Dc
it to a grownup. Only, of course, she
had forgotten to turn the key. Sc
, Kitten did 1t for her. The doorknot
: turned cautiously. and again, and
, again, but the captor turned her shoul
ders away resolutely. Discipline hat
. to be maintained somehow, and he
i, certainly had been mussing up lie
, nore's presents awfully.
, And then there came the sound oil
feet on the stairs, and laughing cir
voices. Lenore was leading, holding
, up her white satin skirts about hel
as they chased her. 1t was time TO,
the going away, and the one who I'M
), pinned the bridal veil would be fht
first married that year.
,, But when Lenore saw the dignifiet
little figure in the white nights0wr
> standing with her back against the
, closet door, she stopped short ant
: gathered It in her arms.
: why, blessed Kitty Katherine
!, whatever is the natter" she asked.
1--WE got him locked In here" salt
the Kitten. firmly. Until Jeanne
comes back He was going to take al
q your presents, guess. Lenore."
Lenore rose and looked about, he,
:, face palins.
Girls. call father and Andre
please" she said. There's . bursaal
here"
!, At the door stood Jeanne, her darl
. eyes glowing. her lips compressed
Without a word, she took in the who5'
scene. and threw herself at the close
door, striking blindly At Lenore ant
= the others. But there was no key il
y it. Some of them held Jeanne, whit
was sobbing Historically, and Uncle
Broderick ordered everyone down
/, stairs. Outside the Kitten heart
whistles blowing, and wondered yhat
. that was for, but perched high on An
dre's shoulder. she gave up the key
. and allowed herself to be borne down
, stairs with the bride and bridesmaids
and all the startled, white.faced throns
of women and girls.
However did you do it, Kitty Kath
I erine?" asked Lenore, after it was
over, and the police had taken Jeanne
, away, and her tall, porch-climbing
, sweetheart You've saved all of my
gifts for me, you wonderful mite. How
did you do it?"
Il Just sneezed, and scared him, SO
he hid In the closet, and I locked
him in"
, The Verbal fIuance.
The Evening Post loves the verbal
nuance. About fifty housewives it
says, and six brides heard the talk"
New York Tribune