The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-30
WHEN KITTEN SMEezED
BY izoLA FORESTER.

Kitten had been put to bed. She
was wide awake and fairly tingling |
with excitement, but officially II was |
understood that small persons under |
ten. even IL 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, 30 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-
tons 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 II empty. 1t really was
nj In N ha nndfc lei n bod
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 Unattached 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, q
funny, half-smothered sneeze.
Jeanne hurried back, alert and
startled. She listened at the door, and
spoke in Q whisper to the man. Then
' she opened q 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 1t
Katherine-she was always Katherine
on great occasions-just stepped ovel
,, and turned the key in the closet door
|, It was one Of Jeanne's favorite pun
ishments, this shutting persons ava!
, In closets and turning keys on then
|. to keep them out of mischief. only sh'
had not thought she would dare d,
1t to q grownup. Only, Of course, sh'
, had forgotten to turn the key. 81
!. Kitten did It for her. The doorknol
v turned cautiously. and again. AM
a again. but the captor turned her shoul
, ders away resolutely. Discipline ha'
4 to be maintained somehow. and h
certainly had been mussing up Ii
A nore's presents awfully.
n And then there came the sound o
n feet on the stairs. and laughing gil
4 voices. Lenore was leading, holdin
h up her white satin skirts about he
J. as they chased her. It was time 70
q the going away, and the one who VI
pinned the bridal veil would be tn
n first married that year.
p But when Lenore saw the dignif1e
II little figure in the white nightgow
y standing with her back against th
T. closet door. she stopped short an
Ir gathered It In her arms.
r. why, blessed Kitty Katherin
" whatever is the matter?" she asked.
g. 1--WE got him locked In here" sal
n the Kitten. firmly. Until Jeanr
ID comes back. He was going to take a
ID your presents. I guess, Lenore."
10 Lenore rose and looked about, b
70 face palins.
sr Girls, call father and Andr
please" she said. There's burgl'
here"
At the door stood Jeanne. her dal
a eyes glowing, her lips compresse
IT. without q word. she took in the who
at scene, and threw herself at the clos
to door, striking blindly at Lenore al
by the others. But there was no key
D. II. Some of them held Jeanne, wi
or was sobbing Historically. and Unc
Broderick ordered everyone dow
is stairs. Outside the Kitten hea
W. whistles blowing, and wondered VIII
te that was for. but perched high on A
~ dre's shoulder, she gave up the k
st and allowed herself to be borne dow
ne stairs with the bride and bridesmai
and all the startled. white-fsced thro
en- Of women and girls.
as However did you do 1t. Kitty Ka'
so erine?" asked Lenore. after It v
~. over. and the police had taken Jean
" away, and her tall. porch-climbi
A.. sweetheart. you've saved all Of I
-. gifts for me. you wonderful mite. HI
-. did you do IT."
II Just sneezed, and scared him.
- he hid in the closet, and lock
q. him in"
ull
Ia. The Verbal huanee.
ed The Evening Post loves the verl