The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-03-24
ALEXANDRIA, La. WEDNESDAY, MARCH "a, 1875.

S~>SSSA-
one occasion, but somehow months
of marked attention had passed, and
vet Katie had never heard the covet
ed words.
To-day after David Dawson had
left her, she sat down on the trunk
of all old tree in the orchard, and
tried to think it allov She asked
herself: "Why do I ALLOW his atten-
lions, when really'if he asked mo, /
do not think 1 would marry him?-|
And why is it that I regard his con-
duct so differently from Mr.: Dun
cans? Is it not because know in my
heart that Mr.. Duncan, though he
loves me sincerely, is waiting to see
if 1 will not act my better self, and
stop this giddy triiing with varney
Kenworthy; and do not I know, be-
sides, that he has too much self-res-
pect to put himself in the attitude of
rival with such man as he knows
Varney to be? Katie Fordyee, be a
sensible girl, and send the fellow on
his business-let the apple blossoms
come to fruit"
And so saying Katie wolked slow
ly towards the house, turning her
good resolution over in her mind
But on the porch stood varney Ken
worthy, looking very handsome in
his light spring overcoat and rakish
gray felt sombrero. His horse and
light wagon stood at tue gate, and as
Katie came up he called out gaily,-
| "Sust in time, Miss Katie; a party
are going down to the Long Woods
to gather wild flowers, and I've come
to take you. The day is so fine and
mild that we must take advantage of
it," 2s
Refusal was on Katie's lips, for
she had told Mr.. Duncan that she
, would be at home that AFTERNOON
but she had been longing for week
to go out to the woods where hepat
lea and anemones grew, and said
"Who are going?"
"Oh, Jemima Brown and Charlie
Ransom, 1dlewild Gardner and Ross
Raymond, the minister and little Me
ia Van Buren,, and II don
know who else"
! ''The minister and Meta Van Blu
+ ren,'' thought Katie. "That settle
q it. If Mr.. Duncsn can find compan
ionship with that silly doll and brea'
@ his engagement to me, why, I ma
@ as we'll go with Varney, and stop ca
q ring what he thinks" So she sale
CPL be down in minute" and tril
0 ped up stairs for her bonnet an
$ sack. AS they drove away; Varne
IS said, 1--WE are to meet the rest Of tn
d party at the cross roads and drive tt
y gether to the woods"
At the crossroads half a doze
~ carriages were waiting filled wit
IN merry people, but the minister WI
ID not there, Meta Van Buren, and h
I two cousins from the city were in
re rockaway with some young men fro
70 the next village. Katie said nothil
or but when they were gathering flo
,e ers at the pond side she asked Me
ed why Mr.. Duncan was not with her.
"Ob," said the young girl inn
fle Gently, 81 asked him to come with
at on Cousin Lita's account, for tn
ur used to be acquainted when he "
lst in the seminary, but he said he h
off another engagement"
DIV Katie's heart sank little VIII
ID she remembered how lightly she h
ID broken her resolution, but in the s
nd iety; and pleasure of flower gatheri
to she soon forget it. But she fou
ne that Varney was by no means all
tention to her. Lita Van Buren,, FRI
nd the city, was very pretty and styli
,ry and had the reputation of being
~ great heiress, and to her the you
Pa man devoted himself most assiduo
vas ly. Katie felt little piqued, ]
Try her regard for Varney would not
,ht low any deeper feeling,
she AS the frightening shadows p
lis claimed the approach of sunset,
She little party set out to return. Y
'he ney's horse was a mcttlesome CT
ian ture, and two or three hours sta
un- ing made him eager to get hol
lalf Hardly had they cleared the w
an, when he took his Head and ran.
avs vain Vurney tried to pull linn
and Katie sat still, but trembling, KIN
his ing very we'll, however, that WI
to the road was smooth and open bel
sed them there was very little dan
mi Varney's teeth were set and he |