Year: 1873

which she accused him of already knowing
it Carlton was convinced that Kitty was
gone in good earnest.


There had been little peace in the house
of late. Kitty resented Selina's treatment
of her, and Selma tried to take tone as to
a naughty child, but found that something
more was necessary and so addressed her
with grim severity.


Catherine, am going to speak to you
very seriously. You should understand
that.we are poor-very poor. It's only by
favor and sufferance that we can keep this
roof over our heads"


Il don't want to keep this roof over my
head" said Kitty, as petulantly as Selma
could have desired to strengthen her posi-
tion that Kitty was only perverse child.
Kitty knew ii herself, but she could not
help it. Selma worried her fearfully.


"That is follyp said Selma. " Carlton
has no home to offer you. l have taken
pains to inquire into his circumstances. He
is at this very time forbidden his fathers
house, for practising the vice and extrava-
gance that he learned from his fathers ex-
ample and has no means of support, except
the very uncertain proceeds of his writings.
1t is not likely he desires to marry you now,
if he did when he thought you would have
some money. You romantic little fool
When, in real life, do high-minded young
men run after silly girls for honest love,
under assumed names, and in such secrecy?
If this mans motive was not money, he had
none better. His character is one that
stamps that of his female associates at
once. You ought to know that your gross
folly has already injured your reputation.
Every one is talking about you p


Kitty turned deep crimson and then
deadly pale at these words. She did not
speak she did not utter sound, nor shed
a tear she only put her hand to her throat,
which swelled and throbbed with suffoca-
ting pain. Selma saw that her words had
stabbed deep, and went on mercilessly


+" 1t is most unlikely, l repeat, that he
would marry you now, and if he should,
what would be your life To spend a few





one mean boarding or lodging house to
another lower yet, and to be deserted when
the burden grew too heavy. If such men
make any distinction between marriage and
any other tie, it is only to break it more
willingly. Even allowing him to do his
best, that must be the end. Little money
and debt, and then no money and no cred
it rags and starvation just fought of,and
coming at last sickness and children to
take up the last remnants of hope and pa
tience your husband taking all the case
there is in your joint life, and most prob
ably coming home, when he comes at all,
either raging or stupid with liquor. have
seen it all, and you will see it, and remem7
ber my words, if you marry your lover"
| Kitty was deaf and dumb. These life
pictures, true enough in themselves, wheth-
er true prophecies or not, were repeated
daily, and her only refuge was silence, for
escape from the house was cut off by long
rain. At last one day Selma called her into
the parlor. Mr.. Dangerfield wished to go
over some accounts with her, Kitty in vain
protested that she should not understand
any accounts. She came in, little paled
and worn, but looking yet unspeakably
youthful and bright in her black robes. Mr..
Dangerfeld was q highly respectable man,
with bald forehead, a very long nose,
steel-framed eyeglasses, and patronizing
and confidential manner. He went over the
accounts much in schoolmaster style, and
though Kitty sat and stiffened her neck, she
could not help following his fat forefnger
with her eyes, and the sense of the figures
with her mind, and seeing that the estate of
the late Simon Heybolt was in debt to q.
Dangerield to such an extent that it would
lose its balance and topple over into his
pocket the moment he gave little push to
the mortgage he held, and sent it beyond
the centre of gravity, unless there was
counterpoise of dollars, which it seemed
the estate could not furnish. q. so'n-l.l


Now,' said Mr.. Dangorfeld, bowling
his head SO near to Kitty's face that she
instinctively put up her hand TO ward him
off, have no wish TO distress any one
much less you and your sister, Catherine,
but Selma objects to being in any way de-
pendent upon me, and, indeed, can con-
ceive it to be very repugnant to your deli
cacy to receive pecuniary fayors from an
unmarried man" This he said with a
smile SO excessively arch, as he intended it
to be, and SO excessively offensive, as Kitty
felt II, that she had some difficulty in pre-
serving hor composure. AS IL was, she