The Portland daily press., 1873-03-08

good joke. How diu yo ssT ike whom -
turned in astonIsnheh''
what do YOU mean? ,,,so, ,,
" n .sJvhy CAPTAIN Kate, OF course.
..f h NY, seen Captain Kate. thank you,"
replied with dignity.
t sekRVhat. doesn't Miss Catharine Whiting
hoard here with her step aunt, Mrs. Dear
borne?'
sYou don't mean I began. while Fred in
terrupted coolly:
'As a jumpist you are successist. As a
stupid blockhead you also excel. Yes, Miss
Whiting is Captain Kate.o
But Fred" | said, helplessly, "she is so
Innocent and childlike, and rarely pretty, and
so sweet and quiet.''
"All put on said Fred, shaking his head,
gravely. "She is a regular airt, and those
are her arts. She's weaving her nets around
you, see, successfully"
The emotions of my heart should ma
difficult to explain. But found Miss Wnlt-
ing in the arbor half an hour later, aitei
Fred left, and lifted my hat with nourlsh'
and knelt at her feet. :, :,
GAN honor to Captain Kate, 1 saiu !"
mock humility. o,u,
ID She closed her book with almost yawhi
ssYou've found out, she said; VINO toio
you?" ,o, for re-
ssFred. And shall ask pardon 1or re-
Ire /
Certainly not" she sald s"eeuy' Aoo
had never seen me Them
sAnd now have proposition to make"
T beoan. 'sWe are to spend several weeks to-
gether here, and report calls you terrible
f1irt-"
$50 it does you,'' she interrupted 81
heard of you before left town.
every WE'LL" continued, ''the more need
of my proposition. 1t is this. Let us enter
;,+a a oof,a 10 haxra
knowing there is no danger of a broken
heart on either side. Thus we have nothing
to fear, nothing to guard, and can be very
happy Ply, -,
But what is the need?" she asked sWe
haven't fiirted before-why need we now %
Because we couldn't help it; and it is
better to go about it with full understand
ing than to sly about it in the old way.
Thinking you harmless, Miss Whiting. I
could have gone on all summer and never
dreamed Of flirting; knowing you to be Cap
tain Kate, shall suspect you of malicious
intentions every move youmake. Therefore,
let US agree to Irritation and all will be
WELL" i.ss.
II agree" she said archly, "anl here is
my hand on it." She gave me her hand-I
remember thinking how soft and shapely 1T
was-and raised it to my lips.
'sWould your heart come with it?" said,
and she lauehe merrily.
s'Bravo, a good beginning! I see you are
no amateur" she cried; and we launched on
the sea of Irritation.
L told Fred of our arrangements the fol-
lowing day. thought he looked pleased.
GAN right, old fellow he said, shaking
my hand heartily, 81 am glad to know you
are not my rival, for I am in earnest / want
to marry Miss Whiting, if can, and I didn't
like to think was fighting against you. You
are quite sure you are in earnest"
''Quite sure" / answered. $50 on, my
| dear boy, with my blessing; but don't marry
| her until leave, and so spoil our Irritation"
''Oh, mol shouldn't think of it under a
year. My business won't permit it, and I
suppose she will be willing to watt" ard
Fred looked as grave and thoughtful as if it
were settled.
mo doubt she win wait any length of time
you suggest" l said, so dryly that Fred look
ed up quizzingly. Seeing me perfectly seri-
Gus, he continued:
"And Ben, couldn't y ,u-seeing you have
no intention there yourself-couldn't you
SPEAK good word for my prospects? Speak
about that uncle of mine that went to India
twenty years ago, and has never been heard
OF since. You couldn't put that in, though /;
just say he went there, and 1 am the only
heir"
Iassured Fred that I would do SO. "Just
as well as not,' l said. "Will bring your
PROJECTIONS all to light, and say nothing of
your taiings." Fred thanked me warmly,
and we parted.
Captain Kate was in the garden when re-
turned. She was dressed in blue, thin
gauze stuff, and frill of lace at her throat
and wrists. She looked exceedingly pretty,
and / told her so.
''Goodt' she cried, bringing her shapely
| hands together. 81 dressed purposely tC
make you pay compliments, and have sue
ceeded. Am really, truly pretty % =
| Really and truly" echoed. KS
"And my eyes are not bold, and do moi
seem like trooper?'
|. your eyes are the sweetest in the world,
and you seem like an angelo
| She breathed long breath.
| 'sHow nice! Now, where have you
been?'
'sTo see FredAthe finest fellow alive Got
rich uncle in India, somewhere, and is the
only heir"
@Does that constitute his finsness ?, She
said. a little scornfully.
According to woman's idea yes. But
that is not all. He is a splendid fellow, good
intelligent, steady"
| 'Rather pleasant fellow" she acknowl-
edged; ''and he waltzes like an angel.''
| "Are angels proficient in that accomplish
| ment?" laughed.
/ well, 1 suppose SOL she retorted. s'You cal
me an angel, aud waltz beautifully
| l should never have recognized Miss Whit
ing for the girl l had known before. Sht
dropped her quiet, calm, child-like self, ant
| ass med the gay, dazzling mask of Captain
! Kate
| She dressed becomingly and elegantly, vel
| with no show or glare of colors, else it would
not have been becomingiy. She studied my
taste in all things, and fairly dazzled me with
her wit and beauty. Yet think missed
Miss Whiting sorely, for few days after her
departure and Kate's advent. We walked,
we sat, we drove, we talked together. Fred
occupied all the spare moments, and, few as
they were, he seemed very hopeful, for Fred
was always hopeful about all things, though
he never succeeded in anything. He had
paid his undivided attention to three young
ladies, al different times, and been certain OF
success, and each time failed. He was not
cast down, however, but was now looking
confidently forward to his union with Captain
Kate.
You have helped me great deal, Benz
he would say, 'sand thank you heartily for
your kind words. When am settled consid-
my home yours"
Certainly" I would respond, 81 will,
Fred.' rrF
So three weeks slipped by, and in two more
oIou. u dCpdlts Oul COutiilu6u
undated. Kate was bewildering, and I
sometimes trembled for my own safety.
Once, when standing near by to her, my lips
somehow came in contact with hers, and I
have never felt quite safe since that day.
kissing provoketh love,'' said, Sand will
avoid that hereafter ..---
50 did; and we sailed, and rode. and
nirted delicionsly through the remaining two
weeks, and one morning 1 arose with the
uncomfortable feeling upon me that it had
all come to an end, and was to leave on the
forenoon train. also arose with another
knowledge-that I was very much in love
with Captain Kate; yes, decidedly, irrevoca-
| bly, Love. l had an odd feeling, too, that
it was just what Captain Kate intended, and
determined to keep my secret locked up in
my breast. So / complm rented her, in the
old mock way, through the morning, and was
conscious that, under all her gayety, there
was lurking disappointment. And then ]
| nerved myself for it; went to the arbor to say
| the last farewell.
with my most heartfelt thanks for the
| pleasant filtration you have kindly INDUCED
me in, and hoping you all happiness in the
future, ! will say goodbye"
And who viii dress for now, and who
will pay me pretty compliments and admire
ne?"
Fred will serve as substitute, won't
heT' l asked; but she shook her head grave
ly.