Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-22
the front suite during the entire

the front suite during the entire
evening.
The Kitten didn't like Jeanne. She
was unsmiling and cross no matter
how much one smiled at her, and her
eyes were gray and sombre, with
heavy dark brows and lashes. Aunt
i '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. Jeanne is too digni-
fed for me- We don't like folks to
act as if they were four thousand
years old, do we, Kitty Katherine?"
And the Kitten had agreed with
her heartily. Still. she had great
deal of respect for Jeanne, and to-
night when she reached the front
suite she was surprised to find it
empty. No one at all to watch over
and guard all the splendid outlay on
bed and bureau and tables. 1t really
was pleasant in way to be undis-
turbed. She tiptoped about, admiring
gift after gift, until all at once she
heard something strange. 1t sounded
like somebody outside on the long
roof of the stucco veranda, somebody
creeping along over the tiles.
The Kitten never stopped to In
vestigate. She Just Topped right
down on the floor and rolled under
the bed out Of sight. Downstairs
they were dancing now. The music
drifted up to her. dreamy, haunt
ing South American air that repeat
ed one minor melody over and over.
The Kitten almost wanted to tap her
toes in time to it, but she kept still,
for Jeanne had come into the room
and crossed to the window where
the noise came from. She unfastened
the screen noiselessly, and a man
climbed in. They spoke in French,
AMI the 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.
The Kitten held her breath as they
passed into the next room, and then
II lust 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 closet door, and
he went in as she told him to.
When the Kitten stuck her head
out, Aunt 'Stasia was calling Jeanne,
and she hurried away to answer. SO,
without stopping to think much
about It, Katherine-she was always
Katherine on great occasions-]ust
stepped over and turned the key IN
the closet door.
It was one Of Jeannes favortte
punishments, this shutting persons
away in closets and turning keys on
them to keep them out Of mischief.
Donald and Archie, her boy cousins,
had both warned her of 1t, only she
had not thought she would dare do 1t
tn a grownup. Only of course, she
had forgotten to turn the key. So
the Kitten did it for her. The door
knob turned cautiously, and again,
and again, but the captor turned her
shoulders away resolutely. D1sci'
Mine had to maintained somehow,
and he certainly had been mussing up
ILenore's presents awfully.
| And then there came the sound OF
feet on the stairs, and laughing girl
voices Ienore was leading, holding
I'm her white satin skirts about her
al thew chased her. 1t was time for
the going away, and the one who un'
mined the bridal veil would be the
| first married that year.
But when Lenore saw the dignified
little figure in the white nightgowr
standing with her back against the
closet door, she stopped short and
gathered it in her arms.
"Why. blessed Kitty Katherine
whatever is the matter?" she asked.
eve 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 AMI looked about, hel
face paling.
Girls, call father and Andre
! nleasen she said There's burglar
here
At the stood Jeanne, her darl
ewes glowing, her lips compressed
Without a word, she took In the whole
scene. and threw herself at the close
door, striking blindly at Lenore ant
the others. But there was no Key II
II. The Kitten had retreated with !
clasped close in her moist little pinl
nalm. And to no one would she Civ
# up. not even Lenore, until Aun
,Stasia and tall Uncle Broderick ap
neared. with Andre and all the, mel
streaming up the stairs after them
some OF them held Jeanne who wa
Isobbing historically, and Uncle Brod