Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1868-12-26
katc's PROPOSAL.
ny MISS MARIAu T. CROSS.

You don't dare TO do ii, Kate
laughed Mag Reynolds.
l'll wager my pearl ring tha
you'll back out of il at the las
moment, cried Sue Develin, slip
ping tho ring of her finger, ant
holding it up to view.
Done, exclaimed Kate, 'and her,
is my gold locket in the balanc,
against your ring She unfasteneC
the locket from the chain arouno
her throat, as she spoke, and tn,
ring and lockct were laid in tho
hands of Mag Reynolds, to be held
until claimed by the winner
oh, Of course, you say you will
but then, we know you won't they
said, in chorus.
Kate Adams thrust her hands in
her apron pockets, pursed up her
mouth in defiance, and replied
Il dare, and what is more, | rHl
ask him between this and to.mor-
row afternoon
Five young ladies were standing
in n vine-clad arbor, in the garden
at Judge Adams residence. Four
Of them had dared the Judges
daughter, Kate, the widest romp
that ever wore CATERS and tore
dresses, to take advantage of the
privileges leap-year affords, and
propose to Dick Walton, rather
stately, and, as the girls declared,
altogether unapproachable' young
gentleman, then visiting, for few
weeks, her father. AS the girls
matured their plans, they failed to
see pair of gray eyes looking down
upon them, nor did they hear the
suppressed laugh which proceeded
from the tangled shrubbery.
But how are we to know?' queried
the girls.
Meet me here at half past five,
tomorrow afternoon, replied Kate;
and then with merry leave taking,
they separated for their respective
homes. Kate walked slowly toward
the house, revolving in her mind
the best mode of attack. Should
she beard the lion in his den, or
should she come upon him unawarcs,
in some corner? She concluded the
latter was the better plan. AS her
form disappeared in the distance,
the vines parted, and young gen
tleman stepped through the aper-
ture, into the arbor. His eyes
twinkled mischievously.
'Ahal bonnie Kate, you'll get
in trap ofyour own setting
and he lauged outright.
Among four children, Kate was
the only girl, and was spoiled in
Not one of her three
brothers could ride, hunt, fish, or
whistle bette, than she. And yet,
when she was in the parlor, there
was not one ofheryoungla lady friends
one whit prettier, or more accom-
plished, than Mistress Kate. She
danced beautifully, had magnif-
cent voice, and played and sung
but, at the bottom o. it
Ill, she was u natural born coquette,
md fiirted wickedly with her male |
'riends. Dick Walton, after a three
week residence under her fathers
'oot had become desperately smit.
on, but knowing her flirting pro-
declined adding himself
o her already long string of discon-
olate adorers. .0.
Once, in particular, when her
ather, desired her to look uncom-
monty well, because of a certain
elderly parsonage, whom he wished I
o call his son-in law, she astonish-
d them both by appearing before
hem with her arms akimbo and a
igar between her lips. The old
'eau was so disenchanted, that he
hen and there declined the honor
f an alliance with Miss Kate, which
o enraged the father, that he or
cred the suitor from the house.
That same day, the young lady
egan her Operations on Dick, but
e eluded her. If she found him in
he parlor, he found some pretext
o leave the room. IT, by chance, I
he met him in the garden, he i'm
nediately fed to the house. To go
0 bis room, she did not dare. So
Torried out, she wentto bed, deter
nined to try again the next morn
ng. She did not for a moment
ven suppose he would answer her
he supposed he would turn up his
proboscis, and leave the
ouse in disgust Kate did not like
be latter idea very well, for way
own in the bottom most part of
er heart, lay Dicks image. u
The next morning, she rose and
ressed herself with serapulous care.
he had some misgivings about it,
hought. II did not seem half 50
asy then, as il did the day before. 4
be let pass many good oppOrtUni-
es, and il was one o'clock on the
tale vening, before she mustered
D courage 70 do tbe rather delieae
usiness. Her fs,her and mother
-ere gone away, her brothers were
king a comfortable sissta. or gone
uniting the lion was lolIing on