Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-12-01
From the New York Mercury J
KATE HAUGHT0N'S VOW.
ny Gypsy QUEEN

the home he had purchased for his aris-
tOcratic mother and invalid sister.
1T Is an ill-wiud that blows nobody
good" and the same freak Of Fortune
that swept away Judge HaughtOn's
wealth, and obliged him 10 sell his
> beautiful home for debt, had thrown in
Audlcy Ashton's way exactly what he
was seeking for, an elegant country-res-
idence. Perhaps he would have prefer
red the gayety and excitement of city
life to this humdTum existence: but his
sister liked the country. Her health
and spirits were always improved when
she could enjoy peace and quiet together
with plenty OF fresh air; and Audley,
! devotedly attached to this frail, delicate
flower, would make any sacrifice for her
sweet sake Besides, this was rather an
aristocratic little village, the society
was remarkably good, and that suited
his lady-motheT to I.
Then, again, there was that wild lit
tie Orphan-niece Of his, who was going
into raptures over the house and its
surroundings: and, in her childish en-
thUsiasm, pronounced everything per-
! fectly splendid.
Audley himself did not find it tire
some and disagTeeable; his time, thus
far, had been busily engaged superinten-
ding some slight alterations that were
being made in the house and grounds.
He felt that the sweet, peaceful sphere
of home was pleasant enough after his
wild wanderings over the world.
The Ashtons had only been settled in
their new home a week.
tt was one summer-afternOOn that
AudIey, after a fatiguing walk over the
place, threw himself upon a rustic bench
near a hedge that slIirted the outmOst
edge of the lawn.
Just on his left was q small wood with
q pathway running through it, leading
TO several residences in the suburbs of
the town.
Suddenly the sound of merry laughter
and girlish voices came floating to him
through the soft summer-aiT The
sound approached nearer, and soon a
a cluster of bright, pretty girls was Vis-
ible to him. He instantly perceived
that his position was entirely concealed
from them by the shrubbery.
II cannot go a step further with you,
girls" exclaimed a remarkably sweet
voice. The speaker was tall, graceful
girl OF some twenty summers. at is
growing late, and papa will he at the
cottage presently. You see ] cannot
bring myself to call any place home but
this" she added, with q nod toward the
sometimes"
II do not wonder at it having to leave
such q home as yours, - spoke up one of
the party, q sparkling little brunette.
. ''If / were in your place, Kate Haugh-
ton, | should almost hate those people
/ for stepping into my home, pushing me
out, and taking possession Ofeyerything
as they have done"
PshaW! Fannie, don't be mreasOn-
able laughed Kate. at isn't their
/ fault that papa was unfortunate in bUsi-
ness and deprived of my home. If Mr..
Ashton had not bought the house, some
one else would. We were compelled to
sell it: but what troubles me most is,
that papa Is 50 sad and detected, more
on my account than his own. 1t seeDls /
/ to hurt him 50, not to be able to furnish
me with every little comfort and luxury
! that l have been accustomed to. new
/ er let him see that I feel the loss of for
/ tune i'll the least, and endeavor to be as
/ cheerful as possible. But, changing the
subject, DO any of you know anything of
/ these newcomers ~
/ 90, yes,n answered 4 fair, gentle-eycd
/ girl. "Brother Charlie is acquainted
with them: there is an elderly widow
lady, her son and an invalid daughter,
also little girl, the gentleman's ward.
/ And, what do you thhink, girls? broth
er says this Mr. Ashton is q perfect
AdOnis, q cOnsumate male fiirt, and reg
uIar Iady-liller. Almost every woman
who sees him falls in love with him.
His pastime is breaking young ladies'
hearts, so take warning and beware.
"He must be a most irresistible man,
! truly remarked Kate Haughton.
/ There was a slight touch Of irony in the
voice. If he is so very dangerous to a
young lady's peace of mind, we had bet
ter keep clear of him. For my part,
she continued warming, 81 have the
most supreme contempt and disgust for
any man who flirts, and think"
! "Dear me, Kate, how you fire up!
Pray do not get excited" drawIed lam
| guild beauty.
"NNell, but, Blanche, ii is such little
business for a man-breaking girls
/ hearts, indeed. 1 hope we will show
! him that our hearts are not so easily
won, to be tOyed with awhile and then
/ thrown aside to make way for the first
new fancy; and now you all hear me
say that I, Kate HaUghtOn, do set at de-
/ fiauce this same Mr.. Ashton, and do
4 hereby soIemnly vow and declare never
to yield, in the slightest degree to his
/ charms and destinations ~
Kate's face Wore an expression of
i HUN SOlGluIllNs anu IltI DEtllN Il1llt
/ hand was appraised.
The girls all laughed mewiIy, Kate
with the rest, they then bid each other
good-evening and separated, dispensing
! in different directions.
When alone, Kate HaughtUn paused q
moment, the merry light faded from
/ her eve and the smile deserted her lip. /
She stood there looking lOngingly, love |
ingly, Wistfully up at the old house.
/ Il wish we could have kept it," she /
sighed and the voice was full of tears /
Poor papa! | expect he is waiting for !
me now. | must brighten up for him" /
\ moments musing, and she went Oh
as if thinking aloud: "And so this man /
/ is Il flirt-hOw l do detest him :" Again /
/ that flash of the eye and curl Of the lip /
/ that added naughty splcndor to Kate !
HaUghtOn's qUeenly beauty.
/ As she walked away, AudIey Ashton .
gazed after the graceful figure until it /
was lost TO sight.
/ II suppose it docs go hard with her, !
| very hard to give up such home as
this" he said. "StTange, in my bUsi-
ness transactions with the Judge, Inev-
or saw or heard Of his daughter.
Then he fell to thinking, Miss Haugh-
ton being the subject Of his cOgitatiOns.
Even in OveThearing this short CONVEX
satiOn, he had gained some slight in
sight into Kate's character. He saw
by her tender devotion TO her father,
that she possessed true womanIy feel
ings; by her disgust and dislike for fir
ting, that size reyered truth and frank
ness.
81 am contemplate and Disgusting,
and she dctests me does she? WeIl.n
\ peculiar smile played round the hand
some mouth, Il smile that seemed to rid
icule the idea Of any one detesting him,
and say that Miss Hau@hton should yet
feel and acknowledge his power despite
her vow. Ea-E
''Shc is Il noble, higII-spirited girl, and
/ like her. he muTmeTed aloud, and
was about TO add, will win her for my
wife if possible, but stopped short
"Bah! [, who have always preached
against love at first sight, declaring that
want this girl for q wife, whom have
never exchanged word with. 1t will
never do. Perhaps after all she isn't
what take her for. Besides y he smil-
ed at the thought, ''What would Miss
Haughton herself say to this?"
Just then lovely, red-lipped, bright
eyed child came bounding down the
walk.
~ have been looking for you every
where uncle Audley. The carriage is
ready and aunt Ethel waiting
'fNCrV we'll Fleete I am Gt yoVr pCrv-