Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-06-11
SELECTED stony!
KATE'S PUNISHMENT.

r KATE'S PUNISHMENT.
/ A Proud, impcrious girl was Kate South
erland, but alas that we have to record it,
most inveterate coquettc. Reared in lux
ury, the only child of fond and loving pa
rents, who granted her every wish, it is not
to be wondered at that she grew up to wo-
manhood proud and naughty being.
Nevertheless, Kate was a remarkably
handsome girl-tall and synmetrically form
ed, with long flowing tresscs of the richest
auburn, and eyes Of the deepest blue, that
sparkled like diamonds and shot forth be-
witching glances when their owner willed
All things must come to an end, and it
was so with Kate's coquetrics- they came to
an end at last.
One bright afternoon there came to the
city tall handsome young man of perhaps
five and twenty years of age, bearing letters
of Recommendation from some Of the most
influential residents Of neighboring city.
The new conner took lodgings at a common
but respectable boarding house, rented and
fitted up neat and substantial office on one
Of the principal streets and hung out the
following sign 90 ..is -fa ela49{ aGT >
-.a.a MORTON VANE, !.
ATTORNEY AND, COUNSELLOR AT LAW. %
/ Being f of good department and pleasing
manners the young lawyer was at once in
troduced into the most fashionable circles Of
society. At fashionable party he met for
the first time the reigning belle of the sea-
son, Kate Switzerland. From the very
first they were pleased with each other
Kate who had always scorncd the idea Of
love, and whose heart up till the moment
she met Vane had been free and untram-
meled, mentally acknowledged him to be hel
conquering hero, and that he was her fate
And he! In vain did the stars Of lesser note
outvie each other in their attempts to gain
from him look or a word-he had neither
eyes nor ears for aught else but Kate and
when the party broke up he was her escort
home. From that time forth the young law
yer was constant and welcome visitor at
her fathers house and Madame Rumor soon
asserted, and for once truly, that they were
engaged and wedding day set.
A short time after the engagement between
Morton and Kate, there arrived by the even
ing train from Washington the gay and
dashing Charles Lee, Representative in Con-
gress from that district. The arrival of the
honorable gentleman created quite buzz
among the fashionables Of the place, and a
grand ball was given by Ma Crane, a
wealthy citizen, in honor, as he said, of the
Representatives, return.
Before his election and departure for
Washington, young Lee was one of the many
aspirants for the hand Of the fair Kate
Switzerland, in fact there had been quite a
desperate Irritation carried on between the
the two, and rumor even went so far as to
hint that they were engaged. How that
was we do not pretend to say but this we dc
know, that when Kate entered the ball room
on the night referred to, leaning on the arm
Of her afhanced, the young honorable i'm
mediately left the circle of charming bellies
that had gathered around him, and came
forward extending his hand in hearty greet
ing. An exultant smile which she could moi
hide, shone for an instant on Katc's face,
and dangerous bewitching light CLEANED
in her eyes,
Immediately after the ceremony of intro
duction between the two gentlemen had been
gone through with, young, Lee, "for the sake
Of old acquaintance, as he said, claimed
Hates hand for the first dance, the sets Of
which were then forming on the floor. With
out word she took his arm, and they Gid
ed to their places.
1t was soon apparent to the most careless
observe in the room that Hates old habit
Of flirting, which every One thought had
been laid aside forever, had returned with
all its old vigor. She did her utmost to
keep young Lee chained to her side, and
she succeeded. Her conduct was the gen.
eral theme of conversation throughout the
room, carried on in whispers, to be sure,
out of which young Vane could not help
catching an occasional observation, 1t
reused his pride and anger; yet by no out
ward sign did he bctray the fercestorm that
ragged within his heart-calm and collected
be was, as though the utter neglect of his
betrothed was merely previously arranged
farce @ i>a
One there was in that fashionable throng,
whose heart was far away from the glitter
and pomp that surrounded her and whose
mind wandered back to the grand old man
sion on the homestead farm, where had
been passed the happy gleesome years OF
her girlhood. Of timid, unobtrusive ma
ture was, Ettna Raymond. Beautiful she
really was, with natural and unstudied
grace in all her movements and a some
thing beyond mere beauty shone from the
depths of the clear blue eye, revealing the
pure and spotless life within. Her mother
had died when she was quite small, and
year previous to the commencement OF our
story, her father had followed the mother to
the land of spirits, leaving Ettna sole heiress
to all his vast wealth, and it was in accor-
dance with her fathers last wish that she
was now in the city finishing an education
not yet complete.
Vane was somewhat acquainted with Miss
Raymond, having previously met her, and
to her it was that he tnrned for partner,
after bearing for while the utter neglect
of his betrothcd. AS we said, his pride was
reused for the time being, and he was de-
termined to be as Indifferent as his betroth.
ed, and if neglect was her game be would
have her understand at the start that taoo
could play at tit; yet despite his resolves
when the festivities of the evening were over,
and Kate came floating up to him, bright