The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-26

W
go near Kate for tep days.
Finally she met him on the street.
Have you been away ?" she asked
smiling up at him in a most friendl,
fashion.
'Oh, no." said Kasson.
been sick. then % persisted Kate.
II should think not" was the reply
given with healthy mans contempt O
illness.
Are you mad at me? '' added Kate
cleyerly mimicking a child's pout.
Good heavens" No" exclaimed
Kasson. 'The fact is 1 am fool, and
down to see you this evening, il / shall
not bore you"
"You are never bore to mother and
me, said Kate; "and don't overwork
yourself, Mr.. Kasson, but take time for
social relaxation"
In truth Kate's philanthrophy was
only skin deep. She liked Kassop s
company, and hardly deceived herself
when she urged him to take time for So
cial relaxation.
Kasson obeyed her, and the result
was they were together more than ever.
She stored up all the funny stories
him read the articles in magazines of
which she approved. She scolded him
for stunning his political duties, and,
in short, treated him as an old and ia,
vored friend. As for Kasson, he sat at
the feet Of this charming female CANA
liel and learned not only to discriminate
as to magazine articles and to know his
whole duty as a free citizen OF the
United States, but also received a va
riety of other decidedly interesting in
formation. He threw OUT a vague re-
mark once about being fond Of music,
and Kate resumed her neglected prac-
Using again. When she woke up to the
fact that she was practising for Kas-
sons express benefit, she was ashamed
OF herself, and took her turn at mental
discipline, and wrote Howard such an
affectionate letter that the recipient
was nearly struck dumb with surprise,
He was to return in the latter part of
March, but long before that time Kate
realized very keenly that she was in love
with Edward Kasson. She felt much
distressed thereat on Howard Winslow's
account, for though she had told him
frankly she did not love him, neverthe-
less to love some one else was certainly |
Kasson was miserable also. He was a
chopped his right hand off rather than
show spark Of his love for Kate. He
Kept his secret we'll, but 1t came out one
evening, accidentally. Kate had been
him with mathematical prob
EN- to solve, on which. he had used some
Did letter backs that he had in his peck
st. After he had gone, the scraps of
PAPER were strewn over the table. Kate
ossed them in the fire, one by one, alb
ently, but as she lifted the last scrap,
he was caught by seeing her name writ
On thereon. She read what was written,
IS any one might have done, for Kasson
lad said the papers were nothing. This
vas what she read:
| am heartily sorry for you, Ed. It seems
ard that the only woman you ever cared for
hOuid be engaged to another man. AS you
ay, the only thing you can do is to run away
rom Miss Reid before any one can guess that !
on love her.
Kate held the scrap in her hand for ,
econd; then tossed it in the fire. l
$50 he loves me-" she thought, ex- 6
ltantly.
Like dash Of water on a hot coal {
anne the memory Of Howard Winslow. !
late dropped into the nearest chair, !,
nd cried a little. 1t seemed very hard, t
ldeed, that she and Winslow must v
larry each other when neither cared a Eb
reat deal for the other. a
-
anne to the conclusion that she could s
OF marry Howard; it was an impossi- =
ility now. But she could not tell him !,
ne reason why she had changed her t
lind and, again, Kasson was going to s
save in week or ten days, and he a
Ould not say a word to her, except n
'iendly ones, while thinking her en- n
aged to Winslow. Then the result !,
Guild be, Kate would have no lover at "
IL. A vision Of old-maidenhood rose t,
p before her-a vision Of lonely years d
school teaching, over which she CT
ould grow gray and Grabbed. Kate u
le higher the civilization the more old <
aids there will be. She had no wish " "
n lifelong virginity. She could not 2
live her problem at all, but she finally n
Id send Howard a most friendly note,
'lling him she could not marry him be. Ell
ause she loved some one else. ia
The evening after she sent that note u
lere came in for call the minister's o,
life, Mrs. Van Week, and little later, al
dWard kasson. Kate had just written n,
letter to her bosom friend, Milicent ii
leopard, and the clump Of note paper, st
le pen and ink. still lay on the table. II
ne fingered the letter impatiently as d'
rs. Van Week maundered away about =,
'me fair that the church people were Sc
citing up. Finally, she turned to II e
ate, and said: II
"And we want you to act as secreta p,
:, my dear. We want you to write a tt
'te to Mrs. Morse, nsking for flowers W
1t just take that piece Of paper and u
1t down the list Of your duties.'' n ,n
There was no escape. Kate drew the n n
Get Of paper towards her and made a A. A.
It OF the things she must do for the Va
ir. cf
And now," added Mrs. Van Week, tn
ally, with patronzing smile to- GU
Irds Kasson, you must write notes to Ia Ia,
T. Weeks and Mr.. Kasson, asking a an
cir aid in some heavy work, such as W.
tting up tables" De
Kate laughed. ... tn
I'll write Mr.. Kasson's note right mi
ay,' she said, beginning to do so in DIR
It. an
~ Ia 4 ~ 4