The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-07-19
Our Kate.
II. l.. T..
OR, BORN FOR AN OLD MAID.

WE can imagine a recluse. who, by con.
slant reading of The lighter fictions of the
day and strong imaginative powers, might
conclude that all the young ladies of our
wide spreading country were like the an
gelic creatures described in story, with
beaming ewes, transparent complexion and
ruby lips. But fortunately such recluses
do exist. or they are careful TO avoid any
awakening from their blissful state of igno>
rance.
From such recluses our heroine would
never receive a second glance; and indeed,
so little was she formed to win the general
admiration even of the fashionable world,
u world cot Srer festidious. that without
kind efforts TO draw her forth, we fear she
would remain unnotIced. Our Kate was
as far from a beauty at seventeen as can
commonly be found. To be sure she nei-
ther squihted. had red hair, mo-, was freckled,
neither did she stoop in walking /; yet she
had reached the mature age mentioned a.
bove, and no one called her more than good
looking. If you had asked any Of the bel
les and beaux of Il. after a brilliant
party, if Kate was there they would have
answered hestatingly, "yes-no-l believe
so-in some corner-of course we saw but
little of her," Of course for Kate was
sadly out of place ON such occasions, and TO
retire into some remote corner, or draw
within the folds of window curtain and
watch those about her was to her the height
of enjoyment.
Twill not DENY that there were times,
when, with. her admiration of the splendid
charms of her cousin Ellen, there was min
gled sigh for her own want of beauty, for
women will be women, and there are none
who would not chose to be beautiful. But
Kate was Immediately cured of the sigh
ing if Ellen. from her body of adorers, cast
glance and a smile to the nook where she
was; for the cousins were mutually fond
and proud of each other, and the best friends
in the world, proud of each other :" asks
some one, what had Kate, pray, that any
one should be proud of herl" Ny dear
reader, she had well balanced mind she
was the charm Of the winter evening fire.
side, when sitting with her grand parents
and cousin Ellen, for boil, the girls were
orphans; she made them happy by relating
TO them the most amusing anecdotes she
had read during the day, the most interes-
ting of the adventures she had met with
in her strolls; in short, within knowing of
such an art as that Of convention, our Kate
had acquired it perfectly. Then was Ellen
the quiet admirer and listener she had the
good sense to know that Kate was far her
superior.
Kate had no loversi OF course not: the
idea is absurd: she never thought of the
possibility of such thing, and So tacItly
was il understood and firmly was it bellev.
ed that Kate was "cut out" for an old maid
that it had long been settled between the
cousins that whenever Ellen should choose
husband from among the admirers, Kate
should play the single sister of her house
hold. But as yet both were fancy free ;
so thought they, and so thought all &; and
SO in fact it was, much as our Young minis
ter,who frequently visited the old folks, wish
ed that it was not; but as long as he though
, his secret unsupported, be tried to be con
tented with his fate. Ii had entered Kate
} mind, for she saw more than others f.on
: habits ofquiet observation, that perhaps tn
grave, reserved and dignified Mr.. Gre,
j might be captivated BY the all-conquerin.
r graces of Ellen; for, from time immemori
al, she knew that, in cases of love, it ha'
: been a settled principle, that unlike quail
e ties should unite; and Kate liked him wei
. enough TO wish him success. Ellen saw
!. his superiority and confessed to herself tn
o love of such a man was worth winning.
e A slight look from Kate. with the slight
r est possible smile, when Mr.. Grey was tn,
e subject ofPraise-as minister always is il
: little town,--revealed to Ellen tine suspl
< cions of Kate, and with her eyes now open
! ed to the subject, she determined to under
stand how the matter stood. for she coul
. not deny to herself that she felt pleasur
in believing Kate right.