Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-10-31
WAS 1T UNWOMANLY ?

After Doctor Reid died, Mrs. Reid
very sensibly sold out the big house with
its lawns around it, conservatory on the
terrace, and stables behind the clump of
cedars, and moved into a 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 the public
was amazed. 1t began to pity Mrs. Reid
little. The doctor must have been
terribly in debt, or the place mortgaged,
for otherwise it would not have been
necessary tor Kate to teach school,. Too
bad tor her, poor thing, just twenty, and
50 bright and good looking, to be obliged
to toll from nine to twelve with parcel
OF stupid girls at the seminary. In
reality, however, Kate was not Obliged
to 90 1t at all, but being young woman
OF independent ideas, she fancicd that to
have six hundred dollars a year all her
own would not be disagreeable sensa-
ton to experience. She was not needed
particularly in the domestic department
at home; in fact, like good many other
bright and agreeable unmarried women.
she was not needed anywhere to any ex-
tent. So it came about that she taught
the seminary girls arithmetic, algebra,
and geometry, and though it was rather
trying to the patience once in a while.
on the whole, she very much liked train
ing the young idea.
One day in December, she walked
home as usual at twelve clock, and pro-
ceeded directly into the parlor. Sitting
by the window she saw Howard Wins
low, middle-aged gentleman of pleas
ant appearance, who rose and shook
hands with Kate cordially, and stood and
talked to her as she warmed her feet and
hands. You never would have guessed
from the greeting that these two people
were laboring under the sentimental
bonds OF an engagement, but such was
the fact. They had been engaged over
a month. To be sure it had been a very
Prosaic affair, for they had known and
liked each other always. Winslow final
ly came to the conclusion that he might
as we'll get married. He had money
enough, and was old enough surely, be-
ing nearly forty; and as he and Kate
had always been very good friends, he
sat down in his New York Office, one
day, and wrote her proposal.
When she received it, she was little
amused and great deal surprised, but
as she liked Howard, she sat down
straightway, also, and wrote an accept
ance. Nothing romantic about this. YOU
see; but 1 have heretical idea that
very happy marriages are often the result
of such engagements.
mo, l didn't come up from New York
merely to see you," said Winslow, in an
swer to Kate's question; "but on busi-
ness about the new railroad. And, by
the way, one of the civil engineers, Ed.
kassOn, at work here, is an old friend of
mine. He's very clever as to his pro-
fession, and is gentleman through and
through. He isn't much of a ladies;
man, but I should like to give him note
of introduction to you, if you wouldn't
mind"
II should be glad to meet him, of
course" replied Kate; "and mother and
will try to cure him if he is boorish
or bashful. Now I must go up to my
room, Howard, and renovate myself a
little for luncheon" With this she left
the parlor.
About a week after, Edward Kasson
called one evening. He impressed Kate
with sense of squareness. He was tall,
and had square shoulders. His forehead
was square; his eyebrows arched verv
little; his chin and Jaws were squared
OF rather heavily, and his mouttache
stood out quite straight at the ends. in
stead OF dropping over the straioht.
firmly closed lips. Moreover. he haa y
little, straight cleft in his chin n no.
neither boorish nor bashful. however
though he was trife clumsy, and hal
very little idea of dancing school grace.
Kate took fancy to him straight way.
and after he and she had talked together
about little of everything, and he had
gone home, she wrote letter to Howard
cont2a1n1ng the following paragraph: H..
Jour friend, Mr.. Kasson, called this
evening; and both mother and / like,l
him very much. He seems M nlaaaant-
tempered, and is certainly very agree.
And not only was Kate pleased Int
so was Ka1on, and though he Az 80
write many letters to his married &C., +v'
when he did honor her with an e sri ,
he devoted q few lines thereof to- f III.
Reid: ,&aE,.r 4. .2;sl3 : C.'.t''. A@A' @
"she isvery good king and sensihla
and has introduced me to several nles.
ant people. It is she to whom Wlnslo1
is engaged, and he has chosen. with a..
o',lens taste. Hope 4 shall have the
angie OF their New York house. 2s =. a., -.~ Z
90 you see it was all q sort of mutual
aom'lsuon society in the beginning. Il