River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-04-26
KATE's EsCAPADE.


ran the length Of the grand old house,
which was her home. She was passing |
the library door, when her father called |
her to come in. On entering, she found |
him with an open letter in his hand.
1 have Just received word from my |
friend Seymour, that he will visit US next |
week. said he.
Kate shrugged her shoulders; papa's |
riends are not generally very entertain |
ing to young people, /
sfHe will be accompanied by his nephew,
for whom he has been guardian, who has
lust returned from an extended foreign
tour lie is a young man of excellent
family, an heir to an immense fortune. 1t
has long been Seymour's wish-as, also,
mine-that you and his nephew should
marry when you had reached suitable
ages. You are now twenty, and that is
quite old enough. They are here on
Tuesday, and desire that you look your
best, and be as agreeable
He was interrupted by Kate, who be-
inc possessed of considerable spirit did
not relish being thus summarily disposed
of. . Do you think am going to marry
a man / don't know, and never sawl" she
asked, Indignantly. "Do you wish to sell
me, as if were share in railroad stock,
or had no more heart or soul than lump
of coali'
" Kate, said her father, sternly TO whom
are you speaking9p
81 don't care l''she cried, excitedly. +" |
hate Seymour and all his relations, and, If
his nephew were rich as CrGsus, l
wouldn't marry him! There?'
II. n fax.nrsfa rrninCf Of her
| fathers, and Kate had heard it limited at
ever since she had been out OF school:
She had only laughed. The idea OF
things assuming such tangible shape
had not occurred to her.
In vain her father coaxed, scolded,
threatened. Kate was obstinate and de-
clared she'd "never speak" to the obnox-
ious sutton. Thus the tempestuous inter
view ended, and Kate went to her room
in high state of indignation. Throwing
herself on low couch, she gave vent to
| a flood of tears. She soon dried her eyes,
however. and began to think about the
! means by which she could vanquish the
enemy. One thing was certain she wasn't
going to stay home to be bored by con-
ceited swell who parted his hair In the
middle, and drawled his words-posslbly
| nspSu. ~ - de --ae better than
that. Why not go to Grandfather How
ard'sl They were always wanting her to
visit them. Why not go now2 So she
| Immediately wrote to them, saying she
was coming, and telling when to be at
| Stanley 1.-THE nearest station) to meet her.
| Grandfather Howard lived in the country,
| about one hundred miles from the city.
| He was warm hearted, pleasant old
| gentleman, and he and his wife lived
/ alone in great stone farmhouse. The
peaceful quiet of their lives was occasion
ally enlivened by visit from grandchil-
dren. These, however, were not frequent,
so when Hates letter arrived announcing
her coming, it was quite an event to
| them. The spare chamber was aired and
rearranged. and an endless variety of
good things prepared to tempt her appe-
tite. +" For, "said Grandma Howard, !" the
dear child is fed on confectionery and
French cookery, and good wholesome
food will do her good"
Monday was the day appointed for her
arrival, and at five o'clock that afternoon
Mr.. Howard got out the falling top and
drove to the depot at Stanley.
| Kate was accustomed to doing as she
pleased, so Monday morning found her at
the depot awaiting the arrival of the
/ train. Her brother Charlie was with her,
and when the train came in he deposited
her safely in the car, with the brotherly
advice "not to step from the frying-pan
into the fire. and fall in love while she
was gone" gave her a parting kiss, and
she was left alone, without friend in the
crowded car She opened the new book
she had brought, but finding it uninter-
/ esting, Logan to look about her TO see
who were her fellow-p passengers, for moth
| ing so amused her as the study of charac-
| ter.
The car was crowded. Near the front
was nervous old lady who held her
ticket tightly grasped in one hand and
| her portmonnaie in the other-all the
while looking fearfully about her. Evil
IDENTIFY she was not much used to steam
| transportation. Near her Yankee ped
| dler was trying to convince a stout old
gentleman at his side that his backing
was g the best that's made, SIR" Glanc-
| inc down the car the usual number of
gentlemen engrossed Ia their newspapers,
and of ladies in novels, met her eye.
tn Sc, with few tired, dirty children, and
al invalid who upset her camphor bottle,
made up the occupants of the car.
"There are none," thought she, "who
| look as if there was a history connected
with them"
She was gazing out of the window as
they stopped at the first station, and did
not notice any one enter till voice at
her side murmured:
| pardon me, madame, but this is the
| only vacant seat.n
She moved slightly to make room, and
young gentleman sat beside her. TAX
ing out newspaper, he was soon appar-
emily buried in its contents, and Kate had
an opportunity to study her new compan-
ion. He was a gentleman, and quite dis
tinque, the first glance decided. Hand
some? Yes, undoubtedly handsome,
though rather peculiar style, for hair
and mustache were jetty black, and the
eyes, shaded by heavy brows, were blue
as the sky.
Must be twenty-five" thought she,
unaware how closely she was scrutiniz-
ing him, till the blue eyes were suddenly
raised from the paper and met hers with
frank and rather curious look.
BIushing deeply at being caught in
such a rude act. Kate drew down her veil
and gazed studiously on the passing land
cape. Station after station was passed.
Half an hour more and she would be in
Stanley. free from Seymour and his
nephew. The very thought was refresh
ing. She almost laughed as she thought
of the discontinue her departure would
cause both the contracting parties" as
brother Charlie called her father and Mr..