Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-09-20
SELECTED STORY
KATE MAYO.

I KATE MAYO.
| II don't believe in love in a cottage,
said Kate Mayo, looking defantly round :
81, for one, mean to marry richest
LOB, Kate p replied Helen Dewy, re
proachfully.
Miss Mayo shook tbe tiny gold ringlet
that hung like spirals of sunshine over hel
pretty forehead, while mischievous spar
kle came into her blue eyes; she rather
seemed to enjoy the CONSERVATION she hae
created.
"Well," said Kate Mayo, II mean it.
Who wants to be drudge, in an ill-fttins
calico dress and last years style Of bonnet
just because some idiotic young man asks
you to be bis wife? My taste is for thread
lace shawls and MORE antiques, and bonnetE
that lock as if they had foated across The
sea on a Partisan zephyr! Moreover,
have fancy for fuc houses and chocolate
coIorea btougham, and box at the opera,
and French maid Oh, I tell you girls,
my husband must be rich Z"
Kate Mayo spoke as if fate were at her
own command, as if she were crowned queen
Of her own destiny. So she was, in SO far
as wit and beauty and certainty of self-pos
session may constitute the sceptre of ones
own existence. Tall and gracefully formed
as Greek statue, her loneliness took you
as if it were by storm. She was fair as a
waxen leaf Of white rose, with pure,
straight features, cheeks just tinted with the
faint. delicate pink that comes and goes like
fleeing shadow, and little ripe mouth
that made one think of the crimson sugar
hearts that little children delight in Kate
had been sent up from the cid farm TO see
what winter in London would do for her
in the way Of life establishment; and Kate
had some very decided ideas of her own uron
the subject
"My DEAR said Aunt Dewey solemnly,
call this sounds very morcenary."
81 can't help it, aunt" was Hates rejoin-
der. II am merceuary.''
cat your age, Kate?"
"What difference does age make, won
der p said the beauty, with petulant
shrug of her shoulders ''Pm going in for
diamonds and tour Oh the Continent -
Sentiment is very we'll in novel, but in
real life it doesn't work
Aunt Dewey's expression Of horror only
made Kate Mayo laugh
Miss Mayo was decidedly success" in
the brilliant circles of society that winter
It was not cntlely her faultless beauty, nor
her quick readiness of repartee, nor yet the
bemitching confidence with which she seemed
to take the worli's favor for granted, but a
mixture and mingliDg of all these-a some
thing which could hardly be expressed, save
by the word fascination. But notwith.
standing her triumphs, Kate Mayo had, as
yet. made no election in life.
I "My dear" said Aunt Dewey, solemnly,
what was the reason you refused Harry
Pelham %
"The reason? Why, aunt, he's Gus
tom-house clerk, as poor as Jobs cat"
"Kate! what a very inelegant expires.
sion p
Gas church mouse, then, ma am, if
you like that better"
"My Ryerson, then ?" pursued Mrs.
Dewey.
| give no idea of coming to the work.
house before my time
"Mr. Ryerson is well off, I'm sure
1.-The positive degree won't suit me aunt
must have the superlative."
kate, you will die an old maid yet y
''Better an old maid, aunt, than a care.
worn old wife"
Aunt Dewey shook her head.
sKate! Kate there. is such thing as
going through the woods and picking up
crooked stick. What do you value your.
self at pray n
Twenty thousands pounds at least, aunt
and from that upwards" laughed Kate al
she put the last rose into the vase Of flowers
she was arranging.
"Where win you get such prize as
that ?"
Mot in society just now, to be sure
aunt, but the representative will be here
yet"
Whom do you mean :"
Il mean Mr.. Emmett"
Aunt Dewey sat down with uplifted hand
and eyes.
"What! the millionaire of St. Angus
tines Place %
"Yes, aunt"
"But be is on the Continent.
"Nimpo'te-hes coming home soon.
"You have never seen him."
II dare say shall see him.
"Kate, you are crazy!'' ;,
'No I'm not, aunt; you yourself VII
own it when you see Mrs. Emmett p
The audacity Of the girl fairly bewildere.
her sage relative; it was as if little Frenc
grisette had aspired to share the angus
throne Of the Napoleon
We'll, I never die? gasped Mrs. Dewey
"But that's no sign you never will, aunt,
said Kate. Evidently the mischievous eli
enjoyed the old lady's sore perplexity :,
But, Kate" suggested little Helen, VIII
had sat by demurely listening, Suppose yo'
fall in love with somebody else p
Il fall in lovep p said Kate, with mel
ry, hooking laugh. crest assured, Helen
l shall never commit any such absurd plec
Of folly as that Haven't | told you fort
thousand times that intend to marry onl
| f,r Q eo,,pJ . Eft1o onpoplt6O