The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-07-30

Into the parlor.
tive other addresses, as you know"
she answered. But here's my refuge
when | need 1t. No man has ever
come here with me or for me before.
Two friends Of mine own the house
two old maids, one of them bedrldden
now. She's upstairs: her sister works
In the library. They gave me key
so that l could come here to read to
the invalid and for my own sake
whenever | needed to. They keep
all the personal possessions of Kitty
Hewitt I'll show you" And she
FASTENED upstairs
1t was evident that she stopped
first in the room Of the bedridden
sister; for Bertram heard exclama-
lions Of delight from gentle voice.
Then the light, quick tread moved
overhead toward the rear of the
house and soon Kitty came down.
stairs. She came slowly, and Ber-
tram, looking up, saw that she was
carrying heavy wooden box. He
took 1t from her and bore 1t to the
parlor, where he placed 1t upon the
floor. They sat down beside 1t and
opened it.
Everything my mother left me is
in here" said Kitty. 'She died,
told you, when l was FIVE. Then Eds
mother took me-"
''She kept these for me-" Kitty went
on. From these l learned every
thing | know about myself. Mother,
of course, would tell me nothing; and
she told no one else, either. | can
remember nothing whatever about
any father; but | had one His name
was Henry; 1t was engraved In
mothers weddlngrin with the date
Of their marriage year before I was
born
"His other name was Hewitt, sup
pose; at least that was the name they
had for me from my mother"
Bertram was helping her take out
the things-an old Bible with Mary
Hewitt" on the flyleaf; a work-basket
with faded silk lining; few spoons
marked MARY" and wrapped In cloth.
He came upon a mutilated photo
graph. It showed young woman
with a lovely face like Kitty's except
that her hair, instead Of being corn
colored, was dark. Beside her was
child with light harlan adorable
little girl. 1t was Kitty when she was
perhaps four years old and Bertram's
heart swelled at the sight.
Another figure had been In the pic
ture, but had been entirely cut out.
II think" she continued piteously,
II think it's plain, from what's here,
that mother must have loved father
at this time and then something
terrible happened and she cut away
every trace of him. What do you
thinkY'
81 think" said Bertram, she did
something which she could not bear"
"What sort of thing?"
Probably he left her-for another
woman, perhaps"
yes" said Kitty, very pale. That's
what I've thought. And I've thought
Il don't know why whether 1t was
that | heard 1t when l was q child
or got the idea some other wny-that
after he went to the other woman he
became rich. He was poor when he
lived with mother. | always hated
the rich; | must have been taught to-"
Your father, believe" said Ber-
tram. undoubtedly became rich"
She looked up quickly. You mean
you think he put up the bail for mq
todayY'
what do you think?" Bertram
fenced.
His fingers played with locket
which Kitty had opened One side
held a small circular photograph of
her mother; In the other side was the
girl herself as child
He felt both sides of the locket
and the side with the child's picture
seemed the slightest bit thicker. The
thought which leaped up seemed at
any rate worth trying "Get some hot
water and CLOTH" he bade Kitty
How he wished not to destroy the
picture Of her; yet to try his idea he
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