The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-05-03
WAS 1T UNWOxASLYl

After Doctor Reid died, Mrs. Reid
very sensibly sold the big house with
its lawns around ii, Conservatory on the
terrace. and stables behind the clump of
cedars, and moved into smaller, though
not less pleasant house, on Academy
Avenue. People were not surprised At
this, but when they heard that Kate
Reid was going to teach mathematics at
the Female Seminary, then tho public
was amazed. 1t began to pity Mrs.
Reid q little. The Doctor must have
been terribly in debt, or the place mort
gagged, for otherwise it would not have
been necessary for Kate to teach school.
Too bad for her, poor thing, just 20, and
so bright and so good looking, to be
obliged TO toll from Q to IL with . par
eel If stupid girls at the Seminary. In
reality, however, Kate was not Obliged
to do it at all, but, being young wom-
an Of rather Independent ideas, she fan
cied that to have six hundred dollars .
year, all her own, would not be disa-
greeable sensation to experience. She
was not needed particularly in the do
nestle department at home; in fact,
like good many other bright and
agreeable unmarried women, she was
not needed anywhere to any extent. So
IL came about that she taught the Sem
mary girls arithmetic, algebra, and
geometry, and, though it was rather
trying TO the patience once in while,
on the whole, she very much liked
training the young idea
One day in December. she walked
home as usual at II o'clock, and pro-
cecded directly into the parlor. Sitting
by the window she saw Howard Wins
low, a piddle-aged gentleman Of pleas
ant appearance, who rose and shook
hands with Kate cordially, and stood
and talked to her rs she warmed her
feet and hands. You never would have
guessed from the greeting that these
two people were laboring under the SEN
timental bonds Of an engagement, but
such was the fact. They had been en-
gagged over a month. TO be sure 1t had
been very prosaic affair, for they had
\ known and liked each other always.
Winslow finally came 10 the conclusion
that he might as well get married. He
had money enough and was old enough.
surely, being nearly 40; and as he and
Kate had always been very good friends,
he sat down in his New York Office, one
dav, and wrote her proposal. When
she received IL, she was little amused
and great deal surprised, but as she
liked Howard, she sat down straight
way, also, and wrote an acceptance.
Nothing romantic about this, you see !;
but have an heretical idea that very
happy marriages are often the result Of
just such engagements.
Z No, didn't come up from New
York merely 10 see you.'' said Wins
low, in answer TO Hates question: ssbut
on business about the new railroad.
And, BY the way, one Of the civil en-
gineers, Ed. kasson, at work here. il
an old friend Of mine. He's very clever
as to his profession. and is q gentleman
through and through. lie isn't much
of ladies' man, but should like TO
give him note Of introduction to you,
II you wouldn't mind"
II should be glad to meet him, Of
course, y replied Kate; a and mother
and viii try TO cure him II he Is boor-
ish or bashful. Now, must 90 up TO
my room, Howard, and .renovate my
self little for luncheon. There is the
Tribune on the table, II you haven't seen
il already" With this she left the par
lor.
About q week, after, Edward. Kasson
called one evening, lie impressed Kate
with . sense Of squarencss. He was tall,
and had square shoulders. His fore
head was square; bis eyebrows arched
very little; his chin and jaws were
squared of rather heavily, and his mus
tachc stood out quite straight at the
ends, instead Of dropping over the
straight. firmly closed lips. Moreover,
no had little, straight cleft in bis chin.