Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-04-19

so that you wouldn't act like fool,
and disappoint me Of your visit
But Kate will neither eat you up nor
fall in love with you, so you needn't
be scared"
"Don't EXPECTING to pay attentions
TO her"
"Hold on, there. She hasn't given
you a chance vet. hate's quite 3
belle in city society, an d awful par
ticular in her company. Sad dogs
ike You and /, wouldn't stand q
ghost of chance"
ssHumph! don't know that she
could do better!" grOwled Frank,
instantly, with mans usual contrari-
ness taking the opposite track.
"She might think so. Pm going
to the smoking-car, Frank. Come
along?"
SNo; 1 don't care about smoking
now"
can right. just look after Kate
till 1 come back-thats a good fei-
iow!''
Now Frank had not the least iuten-
ton of "looking after Kate" but
when he approached her seat, she
looked up with such frank pleas
ant smile and moved her shawl from
the opposite seat, TO make room for
him. with such q cordial air, that he
could not resist the temptation TO sit
down and enjoy her society.
Not much of it did he get, how
| ever. for. after that first pleasant re-
ception, Mrs.sKate betook herself to
her book again, and never even
| looked at him. BY way of reveng-
| ing himself, Frank looked at her,
and the prettier she grew.
"She a widow he thought
ssShe's not q day over one and tWen-
| ty, if she's that. / wonder il she is
Toms sweetheart
And strange to say, this reflection
made Frank feel like grinding his
teeth at the unconscious Tom, calm
ly enjoying his cigar in the smoking
car.
The journey passed OF without
anY special incident, and without
Mrs. Kate troubling Frank, in the
least, for any attentions.
At the station they found Black
Bob awaiting them, with the big
sleigh, and q few minutes breezy
sleigh ride brought them safely to
the door of Toms home. If Frank
had found Kate Comeron pretty in
her hat and travelling wraps, when
she took them of, and showed the
slight form; with its graceful curves
and arches, he thought her bewltch-
ing. OF course, he didn't care any
thing about her; but, some way, 1t
was a great relief to find certain
pretty little Minnie Brown, who
was one of the holiday party, un-
mistakably occupying the position
as Toms sweetheart, and putting
Kate out of the question.
Before they had been there three
days, Frank began to have an un-
comfortable sensation under the
left side of his vest whenever Kate
was near; and, Sunday morning,
when she came down dressed in a
bewildering suit of blue velvet,
ready for church, he quite gave up,
and owned to himself that he loved
every inch of her, from the heels of
her tiny boots to the tips of her lit
tie blue gloves.
Mrs. Kate was sharp enough very
speedily to see how the land lay; but
she never gave one sign that she
cared straw for him, and Frank
tormented himself daily with hopes
and fears, after the usual fashion of
lovers.
The holiday visit was to close with
grand party on New Years Night
and all the young people in the
neighborhood were invited in TO
assist in the merry making.
Late in the evening, silent fig
ure sat by the dim library fire, hay-
ing stolen away from the jewellers
below stairs to indulge in a mo-
ment's quiet reverie. Presently
the door was pushed softly open,
and the faint light glittered on Kate
Cameron's blue robes, as she came
forward and addressed the figure in
the chair:
"Why, Tom, old fellow, what is
the matter? Have you got a fit of
the blues?"
A deep sigh was her only answer.
"Why, dear, dear, its worse than
| thought" laughed Kate "Have
YOU been quarrelling with Minnie
Brown? Tell me all about it,"
And with cousinly freedom, she
laid her hand on his head.
The little hand was quickly i'm
prisoned and carried to the lips of
the silent figure; and then Kate
stopped, and Looked into the face,
not of her Cousin Tom, bat Frank
Worthington.
She gave vent to q low exclama-
tion, and would have fed instantly,
but Frank took good care to hold
fast to his little, white prisoner and
detain her.
at isn't Tom, but don't go," he
pleaded. "Stay with me, Mrs. Cam
eron-dear Katel Tom don't love
you half so well as dol"
"How do you known" whispered
Kate, shyly.
''Because Tom only loves you as
cousin, and Lob Kate, love you
better than my ifep'
"But you have known me such a
little while"
"'Yes-and might never have
known you at all If Tom, the bless
ed old boy, hadn't deceived me, and
made me believe it was an old lady
who was to come down with us.''
"I know-Tom told me all about
it," laughed Kate.
"Did he?" But you will forgive
me, Katy, darling, because L love
you so, and learn to love me little,
won't you?" pleaded Frank, boldly
throwing one arm around her, and
drawing her down by his side.
''Pm afraid have learned that al
ready" whispered she, frankly.
And then-But then neither you
nor 1, reader dear, have any busi-
ness listening TO love-secrets in the
fire lighted library, so l won't tell
you what then.
But will tell that, when next
New Years came, Frank and the
bewitching widow were visiting at
Toms a1ain; but She was q widow