Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-12-29


ing to,breathe ii sentence above whisper but
each moment they gained courage, and before
they had traversed through half the grounds
theiramiIth got the better of their feare, and
they laughiugly joined their daring leader in a
plan to capture the squire if he should trouble
them.
The one that shall catch him first shall
have him." broke in a light, musical voice
above the buzz and laughter Of the party.
GOOD, good" answered another, i" but that
will be Kate Weston, our Captain, Kate, am
sure, for she can outrun any girl in Canston.
Why, girls, she goes like a deer y
Hush, hush . Captain Kate turned
about suddenly as she spoke. and held one
white hand,up overwhelmingly towards the party.
"Il you mention the old ogre's name he'll be
sure to be out here Remember, bis apples are
dearer to him than his gold-for like most men
he thinks more of having his stomach we'll
filled, than his pocket-book
How beautiful she looked, standing up there
in the full, clear moonlight, brilliant, daring
Katie Weston There was a deal of pride
about her slender wilowy form; in the way
the carried her perfect head, flashed her great
hazel eyes, and curved her tempting. rosebud
mouth. And now as she spoke of Squire Wa
tcrs, her whole face seemed to glow with an ex
preston nearly akin to scorn. For some rea-
son, no one knew what, she had taken bitter
dislike to the village lion. Her very first i'm
preston of him was an unlavorable one, she
used to say. When she met him one afternoon,
as she was returning from school he had stopped
q friend in the street to ask about her, and that
too in such loud tone that she could not, had
she willed it, remain ignorant of what he was
saying. She had heard his companion give her
history, in short. detached sentences "poor
orphan-delhcatcl reared-well educated-very
beautiful and talented -proud-living with a
poor relation on the outskirts of the village"
were the words that fell upon her ear, as she
swept haughtily by them. After that she had
been introduced to the handsome, wealthy
squire at the school picnic. She knew that
the presentation had first been suggested by
him, and though she met his courteous, gentle
manly advances with a quiet, easy dignity, at
heart she was repulsing him all the while.
Perhaps he was conscious of this, for he was
more than usually winning and pleasing in his
, addresses, even when he saw in what a bitter,
satirical way she cut down his finest and most
polished sentiments, quietly making them the
food for her merriment. That was not all
either 1t was not enough that Kate should
have all the enjoyment Of the day spoiled for
her, but she must work herself up into such a
passion as to lie awake half that night in order
to sob it away from her naughty, perversc little
> heart.
Poor Kate And that was not all, either
! At Valentines time, some one had annoyed her
' by sending for her acceptance one Of the pref
tiest, dantiest little rings Imaginable. And
then the most puzzng OF anything about it
. was that it was mailed at Cranston, where she
} did not know single gentleman who could af-
: ford to send her IA present of 50 much WORTH
; She had vowel, at first, never to wear it, but
q after while, when she found that it looked SO
y pretty upon her slender white fngsr, and i'm
t proved her taper hand SO much, she gave up
d and did not allow it to 60 single moment from
# her sight. And better still Il am speaking in
con6dence) she used sometimes to press the dain-
i ty circle to her red mouth, and then pout anC
e put on the haughtiest of all her ways to make
It up for her foolishness.
v So it was that matters went on between the
II proud gentlemany squire, and the brilliant
IS beautiful Kate, until the affair of purloinine
d the apples was brought to notice. Kate coult
10 not brook threat, and when Squire Waters
l. word reached her, she headed the little groul
le of her school friends for second attack.
r WE'LL as l said, (begging your pardon 70
ID this dgression) Kate looked very beautiful
III standing there in the clear, slvery moonlight
o. holding up one white hand menacingly toward
ct her witching band of followers.
id "Pshaw, Ka,e, don't let's try to keep still
f. Let him chase us if he wants to- and see wha
IN he'll catch,' sounded the pleasant, musica
as voice of little Lucy Smiley. 81 don't beiev
| shall drop another glove for him to pick ur
ID let me run ever so fast. hope he was please
wv with my name stamped upon the wrist"
mt " He didn't trouble himself much about yo
he or your name, I'll wager you, when he ha
US Kate's dainty 'kerchief to wear next his hear
rs, That isn't the best of lt-there was specne
sss of her handwriting upon one corner of II
ON and if he ism t as as blind as bat he 81
% who favored him with the bushel May
nd made out of cabbage heads. Kate wrote Il
ms verses retorted Mary Prince laughing an
he clapping her hands.
er " Hush, say, girls, you mustn't run on st
ly don't want to be caught withom any apple
he If have to run, prefer to run upon iu
1T stomach. 50 speak low, if you cannot kee
ID, from speaking. We are almost there, now. :
nd Hush see the ripe, yellow fruit glistcn in tt
nd clear moonlight "
set Kate tiptoed up to the little thicket
an trees, followed by the hushed group.
After all, don't believe there is any use
nd keeping so still, y she said looking around :.
to- seems too much like real our.and-out stealn
INT instead of graciously condcsccnding to test OF
'gs lordly squire's hospitality So help yourselvt
- dears, while preside rs well Ms can, in pla
q of the gentleman himself No doubt he
ct, thank me Tor it when--he gets chance -
OF Perhaps, after all, he's hid, right in tt
ION th'cket OF trees, and when we get to holplr
the ourselves, as you say, III come Jumping o
OF here in tho very midst of u.s., suggest sor
old one in tmid voice.
the "Psbaw. don't Goar HATH, WI.