Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-05-24
FContinued from first page. |

guardianship of Mr.. Balyon. He did not
think it necessary to explain TO his wife
what those circumstances were, but brief
ly told her that such q child existed, and
was coming to live with them. lie fur
ther added that the boys were To be taught
to regard Kathleen as their sister, and, las
for you, madam, II you coddle her ny
bali as much as you do your poodle and
the paupers in the village. It's all shall
ask of you"
"rll Try to do my duty by her. the sad
spirited woman replied, and cOhsclen-
tiously she carried out her promise. No
mother could have bestowed more care
and love upon daughter than Mrs. Bal
Won gave freely to Kathleen. The duty
became II pleasure rs soon as she saw the
bright, beautiful il tie girl, and when
Kathleen nestled in her arms and begged
her TO be "a real mamma" the gentle
hearted lady yearned TO the little one, and
she pledged herself solemnly to be TO
Kathleen what she prayed some other
good woman would be to her boys il she
were taken fr)n them.
Years rolled on, and the handsome boys
grew into fine young mrn, and the cilld-
queen into a beautiful girl. and still the
fraternal reiati rus between them seemed
likely to be unimpaired. Sdll, when the
boys. as she called them, came back to
the Court. Kathleen held up her face to be
kissed by them, as frankly now that the
one was ful-blown barrisler. and the
other Captain in the army, as in the old
days when they were school-boys, and
she their pet and plaything.
Take care that your sons don't tall in
love with little Kate by and by, the Squire
had been won't TO say To his wife. when
the boys were young. she has strain
OF her mother in her, and will make the
heart of the man who's unlucky enough to
love her ache-take care
'lf Ispent my lille 10 guard against it,
1t would come aooat just the 81 ne ii it is
TO be So" Mrs. Biylon, who was some
thing of fatalist. would reply: land l
can wish nothing better for either of my
boys than such a girl as Kathleen for his
wife, but I'll promise never to put the
notion into their heads. Rupert and Ar
chic will go out in the world and see
other girls; if one of them still thinks
Kathleen the fairest and sweetest, you
won't say him nay, will you?
''She is the daughter of the greatest CO.
quette in Christendom," the Squire grum-
bIed; "however, we must keep TIE girl
here, and I'm not sorry for it, for I'm fond
of her myself in way, and what is TO be
will be, as you say. If she marries either
of them, l trust it will be Rupert, Tor he
will be able to stay at home and look al
ter her-aH your training hasn't eradicat-
ed the seeds Of coquetry from her nature.
She's a hirt to the marrow OF her bones"
Poor child, you've never seen her
Af.o paIvnn ,,l.aIaA 9th. hn
are like brothers TO her, and she never
sees another man to ilrt with. think
she's too true and TOO frank to tritle with
and wrong any one who loves her. ! have
faith in Kathleen"
"And Ihave none. for knew her moth
err" the Squire laughed. but like the
girl for all that, and the boys must take
their chance"
The boys took their chance. and. when
Kathleen was about nineteen, Rupert came
home to spend Christmas week in the old
house, and fell in love with her in sud
den, unreasoning, sincere, and manly way
and took the earliest opportunity of tell
ing her that he bad done so.
She listened TO him with bent heal and
joyful eyes, and seemed very much sur
prisei at the turn affairs had taken. Oaly
three days before she had run ou, to the
hall door to meet him, and had held her
cheek up to be kissed by him as usual 1t
seemed TO puzzle her that he should want
her to be his wife, but the puzzle seemed
pleasant one to her, as he gathered from
the expression of her face.
Papa and mamma will be very angry
with you," was the first thing she said
kathleen, you know they love you al
ready as if you were their own child be-
sides, II all the world were angry with
me l shouldn't care so long as you were
pleased Are you pleased that | love
you. and want you for my wife, Kalh-
leen ?" 3.i
Pleased that you love meP Yes.
Pleased that you want me for your wife
2 Doubtful! You see its an upset. Rupert
we've been told all our lives to love each
other like brothers and sisters, and we've
done as We were told. 1t seems unfair
on Archie, that you and should contem-
plate making a change without consulting
him."
CONTINUED tomorrow