The Clio messenger., 1915-09-24
WHEN KITTEN sAEtzED
by IzoLA FORESTER.

Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)
Kitten had been put to bed. She
was wide awake and fairly tingling
with excitement, but officially 1t 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 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 deal 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. 1t 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 a 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 1t
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 a whisper to the man. Then
she opened a 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 do
it to a grownup. Only, of course, she
had forgotten to turn the key. So
| Kitten did ii for her. The doorknob
turned cautiously, and again, and
again, but the captor turned her shoul-
ders away resolutely. Discipline had
to be maintained somehow, and he
certainly had been mussing up Le-
nore's presents awfully.
And then there came the sound of
feet on the stairs, and laughing girl
voices. Lenore was leading, holding
] up her white satin skirts about her
as they chased her. 1t was time for
the going away, and the one who un-
pinned the bridal veil would be the
first married that year.
But when Lenore saw the dignified
little figure in the white nightgown
standing with her back against the
closet door, she stopped short and
gathered 1t in her arms.
why, blessed Kitty Katherine,
whatever is the matter?" she asked.
"Tve got him locked in here" said
the Kitten, firmly. Until Jeanne
comes back He was going to take all
your presents, guess, Lenore."
Lenore rose and looked about, her
face paling.
Girls, call father and Andre,
please" she said. There's burglar
here"
At the door stood Jeanne, her dark
eyes glowing, her lips compressed.
without a word, she took in the whole
scene, and threw herself at the closet
door, striking blindly at Lenore and
the others. But there was no key in
it, Some of them held Jeanne, who
was sobbing Historically, and Uncle
Broderick ordered everyone down
stairs. Outside the Kitten heard
whistles blowing, and wondered what
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 throng
L -