Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-04
TContinued from first pase.I

the undisputed domain oil Kate Kyle tn
younger. Every spring she saw to tn
ingathering and branding of the calve
and colts, hundreds at a time. Th
milking, and making of butter and chess
at the spring-house, where water wa
abundant. were her care. All this de
manded early rising, to say nothing o
being almost always in the saddle anu OF
1.-THE LOPEZ. g., a long gallop-ove
the praries after willful cows or wander
ing mares or colts. Very little time ha'
Mss Kate tor French or novels. Sh'
had a piano, but did not open it once ;
month. Her knowledge of crochetins
was as vague as her dates in history, bu
then il was splendid sight to see he
on horseback, with her floating hair
glowing cheeks and radiant ewes; fo
there is nothing in the world so delight
frl as the open air and green grass ant
the swift riding of that paradise OF 4
climate.
But Satin entered into this paradise also
Tom Raffles was the son OF neighborlng
planter. Seeing what came of it in the
end, do not know how it could have been
helped. The growing of the grass, the
frisking of the calves, the wild careering
of the colts with flying names and tails in
the exhilaraling sun and wind, was not
more an inevitable process of nature.
Having to care for his stock, very often
obliged to separate his and hers when
their .brands" got mixed up on the open
prairIes. it was impossible that Tom and
Kate should not often meet, and meeting
it was impossible they should not have
loved. The brilliant atmosphere made il
-hxsll CHI "A
not have loaned and sparkled in it like
champagne; being so happy together, very
often galloping side by side in search OF
strayed cattle too, it was utterly impossi-
BILE, insist, that what followed should not
have followed.
Kate herself told me all about it. GLOW
could Tom hell our men marrying among
his women ?" she said TO me. "Mother
got mad, because she hated to have our
hands going off to their wives houses on
his place; but wonder if their men were
not coming TO their wives houses on our
placep Mother told Tom he must stop ii,
but how could he ? She has got SO used to
telling the people on our plantation what
they must and must not do. and being
minded. that she thinks the very stars
must do as she says"
And that was the way Kate happened to
spend those three winter months with us.
We lived in town a days journey dis
tant from the plantation, and had spent
many delightful day under Mrs Ryle' s
hospitable roof; and without word to
US she sent Kate to be our guest so as to
get her away from Tom. 1t is amazing
TO me that so sensible woman should
have been so stupid. True, Tom never
entered the house, but then got letters
for her all the time cut OF the office; and
why Kate was 50 fond of long walks al
most every afternoon l never knew, be-
You'd her telling me that she was so &C.
customed TO exercise in the open air that
if she did not go out she would die.
have an impression that the mother
thought that my being a minister was a
remedy for her malady-that there was a
seriousness as in the very atmosphere OF
my house which would stife all vain de-
sires on the part of her wayward off
spring.
When the sagacious mother supposed
Hates affection tor her Objectionable suit
or was cured by such separation, she
wrote for her to return, and to me, tell
ing me how heartily she vas obliged for
the hospitality on my part which had brok-
en- off her daughters love for that abomi-
nable Tom Rallies"
Kate left US on Monday. Saturday
evening she was back at our house-on
horseback this time-and Tom with her.
They fastened their horses down at The
front gate, but saw them, and made uu
my mind, as they walked up betw cen the
rows of cactus-p plants to our door, | would
not do it.
This is Mr.. Tom Raffies," Kate said,
introducing him, rough. honest-iaced
fellow enough in his Sunday clothes,
which always deform men of his bronzed
and muscular sort.
IL see he is" | said promptly; "but,
Kate, / cannot do it. Your mother trust
ed me, and / will not do it. | am sorry
to disappoint you, but l will not"
"Wbo wanted you to P'' she said as
promptly; and added, "Oh, Tom but
wasn't it iunnyP" and as she coolly took
off her things she laughed as people new
er laugh who have not lived in the open
air. II thought should have died." she
explained for Tom was evidently to be
the secondary person of this curious
couple. at was all could do to sit on
my horse. There she is now. Run and
help her out. Tom"
As she spoke there was the roll of
wheels at our gate, and before Tom, who
was in no hurry about it, could go, Mrs.
Ryle the mother ran into the room, pant
ing and out of breath, exclaiming, "Hold
on! stop! don't do it. sir They've run
away. III never consent; she isn't of
age"
II have just assured them that l will
not" FASTENED to say as Mrs. Ryle laid
her large and eager hands one on each OF
mys houlders and pushed me back. What
magnificent woman she was !--expanded,
as Queen Elizabeth was. by so many
years of absolute rule into as powerful u
female in every sense as you wish to meet
1t was easy TO see that in few years her
daughter would equal her in every way
she was her mothers own child.
1--WE don't want him to, she said, and
added. ''Oh. but should have died |"
"Come," her mother said TO the gentle
man who had accompanied her daughter
you 60 away. A nice neighbor you are
to let your women marry my men, and
toll them off my plantation that way. as
if they could be back by daybreak in
time Tor the cotton-palch Aud now you
want to steal Kate No, sir Go away ~
1T almost killed me-" the daughter