Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-07-17
5liafgllAngQng.
HATES PROPOSAL.

you don't dare do it, Kate" laughed
Mag Reynolds
''I'll wager my pearl ring that you'll
back out" oft at the last moment, " cried
Sue Dalevin, slippingthe ring other finger
and holding it up to view.
Done" exclaimed Kate; and here is
my gold locket in the balance against your
ring She unfastened the locket from the
cord around her throat as she spoke, and
the ring and locket were laid in the hands
Of Mag Reynolds, to be held until claimed
by the winner.
"0h, Of course, you viii say you viii but
then we know you WON'T" they said in
chorus.
Kate Adams thrust her handin her apron
pockets pursed up her mouth in defiance,
aud replied
dare, and what is more, will ask him
bet Eeen this and to morrow afternoon.
Five young ladies were standing in vine
clad arbor in the garden at Judge Adams
residence -Four Of them had dared the
Judge 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, a
rather stately, and, as the girls declared,
altogether unapproachable" young gentle
man, then visiting, for a few weeks, her
father. As the girls matued their plans.
they failed to see a pair Of grey eyes look
ing down upon them, nor did they hear the
suppressed laugh which proceeded from be-
hind the tangled shrubbery.
But how are we to know r. queried the
girls.
Meet me here at half past FIVE tomorrow
afternoon, replied Kate; and then, with
merry leave taking, they separated for their
several homes. Kate walked slowly towards
the house, resolving in her mind the best
mode of attack Should she beard the lion
in his den, or should she come upon him
uuawares, in some coruer? She concluded
that the latter was the best plan. As her
form disappeared in the distance, the vines
parted, and a young gentleman stepped
through the aperture into the arbor. His
eyes twinkled mi5chieYously.
"Ah bonnie Kate, you Il get caught in
a trap Of your own setting;' and he laugh
ed outright.
Among four children, Kate was the only
girl, and was spoiled in consequence. Not
one of her three brothers could hunt, ride,
fish, or whistle better tha she And yet,
when she was in the parloT, there was not
one Of her young lady friends one whit pref
tier or more accomplished than mistress
Kate. She danced beautifully, had mag
nifeent voice, and played and sung superb
ly but at the bottom of it all she was a
natural born coqaettc, and firted wickedly
with her male friends Dick Walton, after
a three weeks residence under her fathers
roof had become desperately smitten, but,
knowing her flirting propensities declined
adding himselft to her already long string of
disconsolate adorers. Once in particular,
when her father desired her to look uncom-
monty well, because of certain elderly per-
sonage, whom he wished to call son in law, "
she astonished them both by appearing be-
fore them with her arms akimbo, and a ci-
gar between her lips The old beau was so
disenchanted that be then and there declined
the honor of an alliance with Miss Kate,
which so eurAged the father that he ordered
the suitor from the house.
That same day the young lady began her
operations on Dick, but he eluded her
II she found him in the parlor, he made
some pretext to leave the room IF, By
chance, she met him in the garden, be
Immediately fed to the house To 60 to
his room she did not dare. So wearied
out, she went to bed, determining to try
again the next morning. She did not, for
moment, suppose he would even answer
her She imagined he would turn up his
aristocratic proboscis and leave the house
in disgust Kate did not like the latter
idea very well for, way down in the bottom
NEST part Of her heart, lay Dick image.
The next morning she arose and dressed
herself with scrupulous care. She had
some misgivings about it though. 1t did not
seem half as easy then as it did the day be-
fore. She let pass many opportunities, and
it was one clock on the fatal afternoon be-
fare she mustered up courage to do the
rather delicate business. Her father and
mother were. gone away, her brothers were
taking comfortable siesta, or gone hunt
ing; the lion was lolling ON the parlor
sofa. Kate crept softly to the parlor door
There the enemy was, certainly not at all