Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-12-09
SELECTED STORY
ONLY KATE.

NIT. Ealrnelc sat In the craving room 0
Haverstone's neat little villa, at Noting
Hill, patiently awaiting the young lady b,
had called 10 see.
He had met Miss Haverstone, with hel
uncle and aunt, at Southend. and as she wal
very stylish, aud, at the same time ar
agreeable young lady, he had become init
mate with her This was the first call he
had veptui ed to make since his return t.
London, and be was wondering how she
would receive him. He did lot send hi;
card to her, because he wished to surprise
her-pleasantly. as he hoped.
''Be sure and keep out of the aoay," he
heard a sharp voice say IL should be
ashamed out Of my wits if any one ssw go,
moping about"
There was no response to that injunction
and, moment later, Miss Haverstone en-
tered She was tall, handsome young
girl, who seemed born to command, and yet
there was soft, bewildering light in her
brown black eyes.
miss Haverstene he said, rising up.
"Mr. fairfield p she exclaimed. els it
rossible that it is you? am so happy to
meet you once again p
Their greeting over, they settled down
into quiet little chat; and Mr.. Fairfield
was very much surprised to find how swiftly
time had fed when he arose to 60. She
invited him to call again, and he accepted
her invitation, and called frequently.
Hc was her escort with her aunt to the
opera, theatre, balls !; in fact, to every place
Of amusement. In that way several months
passed, and he was meditating asking Miss
Haverstone to accompany him through life.
One evening he called rather earlier than
usual, and went into the music. room. Some
body was playing quaint little song, and
singing in a soft, sweet voice He had no
doubt as to who the somebody must be, SO
silently stepped over to her side.
"Amclia," he said, gently.
The figure on the stool turned round sud-
denly.
pardon me, am only Kate !" she ejac-
ulated.
'Pardon me-" he returned. II have
made mistake. was quite sure that it
was Miss Haverstone, as | was not aware
that she had any lady visitors"
Il am not visitor" she responded. Il
am Amelia's lame sister"
ooh thousand pardons.'
He could say no more. He was wonder
ing why Amelia Haverstone had never spo-
ken about this invalid sister It could not
be that she was Indifferent to her Amelia 8
heart was too tender for that.
"Amelia will be here in few moments,
sir" she added, as she took her two little
crutcbes and leaned heavily on them.
Before he could speak, she had left the
room, and be was alone.
Miss Haverstone entered. She apologize
I'd for keeping him waiting SO long, and
seemed ali sweetness.
II was not aware that yon had sister
before, Miss Haverstone," he observed
''No? Did never mention her to you p
she said Il thought I had And yet
feel SO sad when I think of her affiiction,
that I hate to allude to her at all"
There was wonderful pathos in her
voice, which touched him. He had ne'
mis- Judged Amelia it was only the extreme
sorrow which she felt that had kept her llps
from speaking of Kate. He often went to
the house after that; but he never caught
glimpse Of a little lame figure, whose mourn
ul song had rung in his ear ever since.
f II would like to see your sister," he ven
tured to observe, one evening "Why does
she keep herself SO secluded p
because she is so sensitive" was thu
response. II have tried to induce her tt
come in here but in vain"
He had to he satisfied with that reply
though he felt great curiosity to see per
He imagined, by the outlines of her face
which had been partly defined in the twl
light, that she was pretty, of course, bu
not SO pretty as Amelia.
The next morning he called again. Ill
had some concert tickets, and he would jus
step in moment on his way to the city.
"You need not ANNOUNCE me-" he said, Il
the servant. II hear voices in the break
fast room, and will go there and surpris
them"
The maid-servant gave mysteriou
smile, and muttered. "Much good tn
surprise will do you, if Miss Amelia is ran
ting as usual1'
He did not notice her ominous words, bu
kept on ''ths even tenor of his way
He put his hand on the aoorknob, an
then he hesitated He did not wish to enat
the part of listener, but he had caugt
the mention of his own name, and ne had
little pardonable curiosity.
''Do you love Mr.. Fairfield 2 he heard
soft voice ask
"rm glad the witch has asked that que