The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-11-16

ant people. 1t is she to whom Winslow
is engaged, and he has chosen with ex-
cellent taste. Hope / shall have the
entree Of their New York house.
So you see it was all sort OF mutual
admiration society in the beginning. 1t
did not last, however, for very long
time.
Kasson became disguised with Wins
low first. He was such an ass to be en-
gagged TO 50 charming girl, and instead
of living in her smiles, went off to Florida
to get rid of the cold weather. What
was cold weather, compared to the tender
passion? Then Kate, she was so happy
without her love that she surely could
not care very much for the absent one,
although they did appear on such excel
| lent terms with each other. Kasson
! leveled a great deal of unnecessary vitu-
| peration at the heads of the engaged
| people, but, nevertheless, he went to the
/ Widow Reid's on every excuse he could
devise, and a good many times when he
had no excuse at all. Along in Febru-
airy, however, he put himself through a
severe course of self-examination. What
was he going to the Widow Reds for?
To see Kate. What business had he to
devote himself to a girl who was en-
gagged? And thereupon he shook his
wicked inclinations fiercely, and did not
go near Kate for ten days.
Finally she met him on the street.
Have you been away" she asked,
smiling up at him in most friendly
fashion.
ooh, no, said Kasson.
Z" Been sick, them" persisted Kate.
should think not" was the reply,
given with healthy mans contempt of
illness.
Are you mad at me?" added Kate,
cleverly mimicking child's pout.
Good heavensl Mol" exclaimed
Kasson. "The fact is, am fool, and
| have been busy, Miss Reid, and I'll be
down to see you this evening, if I shall
not bore you"
"You are never a bore to mother and
me- said Kate; land don't overwork
yourself, Mr.. Kasson, but take time for
social relaxation.
In truth Rates philanthropy was
only skin deep. She liked Kasson's
company, and hardly deceived herself
when she urged him to take time for
social relaxation.
Kasson obeyed her, and the result was
they were left together more than ever.
She stored up all the funny stories about
her pupils to tell him. She made him
read the articles in magazines of which
she approved. She scolded him for
stunning his political duties, ana in
short, treated him as All old and favored
friend. As for Kasson, he sat at the feet
of his charming female Gamaliel 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 variety Of
other decidedly interesting information.
He threw out vague remark once about
being fond of music, and Kate resumed
her neglected practicing again. When
she woke up to the fact that she was
practicing for KassOn's 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
WIFI 1Fl " dI u lAdSoOls krLIC ICAO IhuCh
distressed thereat on Howard WinslOw's
account, for though she had told him
frankly she did not love him, neverthe-
less to love some other man was certainly
dishOnorable.
Kasson was miserable, also. He was
a gentleman, and therefore would have
chopped his right hand off sooner than
show q spark of his love for Kate. He
kept his secret well, but it came out one
evening, accidently. Kate had been
puzziing him with a mathematical prob
lem to solve, on which he had used some
old letter-b backs that he had in his pock-
ct. After he had gone, the scraps of
paper were strewn over the table. Kate
tossed them in the fire, one by one, alb
sently, but as she lifted the last scrap,
she was caught by seeing her name
written thereon. She read what was
written, as any one might have done, for
Kasson had said that the papers were
nothing. This was what she read:
d" / am heartily sorry for you, Ed. 1t
seems hard that the only woman you
ever cared for should be engaged to an
other man. As you say, the only thing
you can do is to run away from Miss
Reid before anybody can guess that you
love her."
Kate held the scrap in her hand for a
second; then tossed it in the fire.
d" So he loves me-" she thought, ex-
ultantly.
Like dash of water on a hot coal
came the memory of Howard Winslow
Kate dropped into the nearest chair, and
cried little. 1t seemed very hard, in
deed, that she and Winslow must marry
each other when neither cared a great
deal for the other.
After considerable reflection, Kate
came to the conclusion that shewould
not marry Howard it was an impossi-
bility now. But could she tell him the
reason why she had changed her mind?
and again, Kasson was going to leave in
a week or ten days, and he would not
say a word to her, except friendly ones,
while thinking her engaged to WinslOw.
Then the result would be, Kate would
have no lover at all. A vision of old
maidenhood rose up before her vision
of lonely years at school-teachlng, over
which she would grow gray and grabbed.
She could not solve the problem at al,
but she finally did send Howard most
friendly note telling him she could not
marry him because she loved some one
else.
The evening after she sent that note,
there came in for call the ministers
wife, Mrs. Van Week, and little later,
Edward Lasson Kate had just written
a letter TO her bosom friend, Milhcent
Sheppard, and the clump of note paper,
the pen and ink, still lay on the table.