Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-04-30
$50 he loves me-" she thought, oxult.


came the memory OF Howard Winslow.
Kate dropped into the nearest chair, and
cried little. 1t seemed very hard, in-
deed, that she and WiusloW must marry
each other when neither cared a great
deal for the other.
Alter considerable reelection, Kale came
to the conclusion that she could not marry
Howard; it was an imp0ssiulity now.
But she could not tell him the reason
wig she had changed her mind; and
again, Kasson was going to leave in a
week or ten days. and be 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 ell. A vision OF old-msidhood
rose up before her,-a vision Of lonely
years at school-;esching, over which she
would grow gray and grabbed. Kate
did not share De Quincey's notion that
the higher the civilization the more old
maids there will be. She had 70 wish
Tor a lifelong virginity. She could not
solve her problem at all, but she finally
did send Howard a most friendly note
telling bin she could not marry him be-
cause she loved some one else.
The evening after she sent that note,
there came in for call the minister's
wife, Mrs. Van Week, and little later,
Edward Kssson. Kste bad just written
letter to her bosom friend, Millicent
Sheppard, and the clump Of note paper,
the pen and ink, still Icy on the table.
She fingered the letter impatjently as
Mrs. Van Week manndered away about
some Fair that the church people were
getting up. Finally. sho turned to Kate,
and said:
"And We want you to set as Secretary,
my dear. We want you to write a note
to Mrs Morse. asking for flowers. but
just take that piece OF paper, and put
down the list OF your duties"
There was no escape. Kate drew the
sheet of paper towards Der, and made q
list of the things she mus, do for the Fair.
Aud now" added Mrs. Van Week,
finally, with patroniziug smile towards
Kasson, 'you must wrise notes to Mr..
Weeks and Mr.. Kasson. asking their aid
in soma heavy work, such as putting mp
tables
Kate larehed.
"rll write Mr. Kasson's note right
away" she said. beginning to do so in
fact.
While you are doing that said Mrs.
Reid. "Ill take Mrs. Van Week in tho
dining-room to look at my homemade
lambrequins.
They went out of tho parlor, leaving
Kate writing an absurd note to Kasson.
She had hardly finished it. when her
mother called her.
Come here just mjn1te, Kate
Like fash there entered thought
into Kate's brain. On the table lag TWO
notes. one to Millicent Sheppard, one to
Mr.. Kasson. 1t took but a second 10
thrust the letter 10 Millicent into ths en-
velope directed to KassOn. Then she
Ran 1ed il 20 him with smile, saying as
she did so,-
"Here are your commands
As she vent out of the room, Kasson
opened his note and read thus:
IL have time but for few lines, but
they are emo olgh to tell you secret; a
secret which | have just discovered my
self, and which is max ng me very un-
happy"
Kasson read this in amazement; then
brushed a locl Of hair of his forehead,
and continued
You know very we'll that didn't love
Howard Winslow when | engaged my
self to him, and | tcld him that frankly.
We were simply excellent friends. But
now love somebody else, nod / wrote
letter to Howard 10 day, breaking off the
engagement. | c,uld no, marry him
while loved Edward Kasson. the gen.
tleman of whom | have written yon
before"
Kasson read no more. He understood
now that Kate had handed him the
wrong note. He glanced on the table,
and saw the other note. ln second he
had put the letter - Milicent in The
right envelope, and was reading his ab-
surd commands" when the ladies re-
entered.
1t was hard minute for Kate. but she
was q coed actress. Not dash OF color
Redeemed her cheek as she turned to
Kasson, aod said,-
Can you perform your muiIifarious
duties for 81. James Church ?"
She saw that he bad his own note in
his hands. and sho understood and loved
him for what he had dcne. This square
faced. clumsy fellow had something OF
woman's delicacy and quick witled tact.
Il rarely have received orders so
pleasant to perform" he said, with
double meaning to his words--s double
meaning which he had no idea Miss
Reid understood.
The rest OF the evening passed quietly !
and not until the two days later did kaS.
80. ..n-Enrr,, hia IInlaaS Sani dntN " In |