Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-18
KATE'S SCHEME.
From the Waverly Magazine.
BY E. I. WOOD.

From the Waverly Magazine.
Reader, you never saw Kate Warren,
else you would not blame Frank Seyton
for being SO desperately in love with her,
and clinging to her so faithfully after
her disgraceful escapade [ say you
have not seen her, by which [ mean you
have not made her acquaintance; for
she was not what the world as general
thing calls beautiful. "a pretty face"
a casual observer would say, and pass
on; but when you knew her, when you
saw the varied play of those mobile
features, the exquisite little dimples on
that rosy cheek, when you heard her
enlivening chatter, noticed the pretty
toss of her head, every expression, every
motion, every act perfection, then you
began to comprehend the secret of
Franks alteration. A petted darling
she had always been; from her child
hood she was noted as vivacious romp;
In her teens she could ride the swiftest
hunter, climb trees like squirrel, and
fish with an ardor that would have
claimed admiration from "dear old
Izaak'' himself; and yet, although her
amusements were decidedly boyish, she
was not in the least hoydenish, but seem
ed to lend charm to everything she
undertook
Frank had met Kate at the hunt, and
of course, like everybody else, surren-
dered his impressive young heart at
once and, curiously enough, this fair
young damsel, who was the magnet of
many handsomer Ind richer men, recip-
roacated his affection heartily. Frank,
however, was not the prize old gentle
man Warren had designed for his daugh-
ter, and although he usually felt loath
to oppose the dictates of his spoiled
darling, yet, In this particular, he was
determined Kate should further his
wishes by marrying his distinguished
friend, Colonel Darcy Mr. Warren
did not try to conceal his dislike for
Frank as a sutton, and both understood
each other perfectly. Now there is
nothing like opposition to further any
project. 1t is we'll said that /" the course
of true love never runs smooth" 1t
would not be true love, if it did Just
as 1t needs a few opposing volumes to
establish a heresy, so it needs opposition
to draw out the depths of true love.
Kate, who had hitherto rather admir-
ed the dashing colonel, now hated him
just as intensely, and the inevitable con
sequence was that she loved Frank Sey-
ton more AS to Frank himself, when
he discovered that his visits to the house
were not agreeable to Mr. Warren, he of
course stopped them; yet he often man
aged to gain an interview with the charm
ing Kate. In these delightful meetings
he begged Kate to marry him despite
her father; but she as persistently de-
clared she would never marry without
his approval.
Things went on in this manner for
some months, the colonel still guest of
Mr.. Warren, and using all his blandish-
ments, supported by her father, to cap
ture the heart of Kate, when Frank was
called to the Continent to look after
some pressing business of the firm to
which he belonged. Now the coast was
entirely clear, the colonel made still
greater efforts in fattery and obsequi-
business to WOO the fair maiden. Why
her father was so intent on her marrying
this man, Kate could not understand;
and with that inherent trait of curiosity
SO universal In the female sex-a direct
transmission from Mother Eve-she set
all her efforts to find out.
These efforts were soon crowned with
at least partial success by discovering
that the colonel had some secret of her
fathers in his keeping, which he held
like sword over his head, and by it
made Mr.. Warren entirely subservient
to his wishes. Instantly on finding this
out she hurried to her father, and de-
manded to know what it was that gave
Colonel Darcy such hold on him; but
he tenaciously held to his secret, and
positively refused to tell her.
as it debt?' asked Kate.
"No.n
"Then what is it?' she demanded.
Il cannot tell you, Kate answered
her father. Suffice it to know that my
honor, my hitherto unimpeachable rep
utation, my all, is in the power of Darcy
to blast, which he threatens to do if
don't persuade you to marry him. Oh,
my daughter, my Kate" cried the father
tearfuIly, everything that IS dlsgraceful
he has in his power to bring upon me-
Will YOU not avert it? Will you see your
wretched fathers gray hair go down
dishonored to the grave? Will you not
marry him?'
Certainly not" said Kate, decisively,
unless | know why | should | hate
this dashing colonel, and more SO since