The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-27
qnaintances. Only he objected to her CO.
quoting with the gentlemen.

dears-one which girls and men engage in
more from want of thought, from vanity
and mutual appropriateness, rather than
any deeper reason, and while l deplore all
insncerity, I'm not such severe old wo~
man as to pronounce it very wicked. But
the other involves degree of selishness and
Indifference to the happiness of others
which is very blameable indeed criminal.
1t is when q man or woman (for the sin is
as common in one sex as in the other) tries
to excite feelings which they have no idea
Of responding to, merely for the sake of
temporary triumph and qualification. And
I'm sorry to say this is what Kate Barton
was guilty Of
She could dance, and play and sing, the
last beautifully, for she had sweet voice
and quick ear for her station in life, the
middle class, she might be considered &C.
complished.
A real lady lin those days, my dears, the
word meant something besides qoom0p)
would perhaps have thought her wanting
in refinement that good breeding which
at perfect ease itself, communicates it to
all around, though no gentleman would ev~
er have been so critical. TO men, her air
of frankness and simplicity was, as 1 have
said already, perfectly facinating. And
when she set, not her heart, but fancy, ups
on captivating one of them, she could seem
the dearest, and most charming girl in the
world.
To tell you the many pranks she played
would stretch out my story beyond an
hour when all of you ought to be in bed, so
l shan't try to do it.
By the time that she was twenty she
had refused at least dozen suitors, some
of them as handsome, honorable, high
minded gentlemen as ever foolish girl
might have been proud of and happy with.
l was her confdant Il suppose because 1
was considered very plain girl, my dears,
and had naturally sober disposition) SO |
heard all about it; she showed me their
letters and presents. and tod me all the fine
compliments they paid her, laughing and
calling me an old maid when ] remonstrat.
ed. Men, she said, got over being Tilted
easily enough it was only their vanity
that suffered not one in a hundred was
capable OF serious passion, and when she
found out that one, she would take my ad-
vice and treat Tim better---if she only liked
him.
The right man appeared at last, and, as
Is common IN such cases, he was neither
handsomer nor richer than many of his re
jeeted predecessors, only cleverer and more
persistent. AS he loved Kate sincerely,
as his appearance and manners were agree
able, and his position unexceptiouaole, her
uncle was very much prepossessed in his
favor, and, after a courtship Of over TWO
years, his untiring patience, affection and
good humor won upon her liking. | think,
too, he had one invaluable quality-the
power of interesting, which is worth all
others put together in its efficacy for reach
ing the heart of woman.
Did she love him in return? you are
wanting to ask me. Well, think, yes
at least as much as was then IN her nature to
DO, spoilt as it had been by homage and
aoulation, only certainly not as be loved
her. She never seemed to recognize the
idea that the passion ought to be mutual,
based on justice and fair play her expec-
tatiOn was all devotion on one side and
only complacent regard on the other. She
WNHsSA, Al AoNGs " 1uCSu IL OVcI q uu0UduU
as she mad done over her lovers.
They were married in great style at her
unce's house, and was one of the brides
maids Then they went to Newport to
spend the honeymoon, at pretty seaside
cottage which be had taken for the summer,
with the agreement thas was to join them
in months time, to keep her company
when be was obliged to run back to New
York on occasional business visits, which
you may be sure he always made as short
as possible. With my fathers consent l
went, and had not been there week before
our little party was reinforced by the arrival
OF the other bridesmaid, who had friends
living on the island.
She was giddy girl, as great coquette
as Kate, and not halt as sensible, so that l
and | think Mr.. Fletcher, would have been
better pleased if she had staid away. We
were always the best of friends, for l had
oeen on his side during his courtshp, as be
knew, though no confidence mad existed be
tween US, and, after 'marrisge, Kate told
him every thing hao said in his favor.
That is thing, my dears, Gian is Always
grateful Tor, Tor at such times he is sensitive
to kindness.
Well, Ella Champuey came, and we had
merry times together. Newport was DIFF
ferent place fifty years ago than it is at
present, with its great hotels and bathing
places, but it had handsome houses then
and fine people TO live in them, who wore
quite as fine dresses and gave as fine parties
as any now-a-days. We received p enty
OF invitations to balls, pic-nius, and sailing
excursions, and, as Kate was as fond of
pleasure as ever, after comparatively
quiet honeymoon, she and her bridesmaids
INDUCED in quite enough of gaiety.
One day, curing the absence OF MIR.
Fletcher upon one of his visits to the city,
and when l had declined making one of a
party to 60 to the Spouting Rock, in order
to write long letter, both Kate and Ella
returned in high spirits, and told me with
great deal of laughter and exultation that
they had met an old beau of the formers,
upon whom they had played off what they
considered a capital joke.
He has just come back from twelve
months visit to Cuba, and hadn't heard OF
my being married." said Kate +" SO, when
he came up and introduced himself, OF course
10 odJrooCod mo q q Al icc Rarton A nd EIIa