The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-01

-four, bat she was not at all embarrassed by
Lakes appearance.
aGood afternoon" she said, shaking back
the curls which were dropping over her face,
twill YOU stay out here, Luke? or shall call
Julia to take you into the parlor? It's none
too cool out here"
II came to see you, Kate, and don't mind
the heat
"Well, sit down, and make yourself as
comfortable as you can. / am too busy to
talk, but can listen well enough"
But now Luke did not know how to begin
his tale of love. He had prepared "a neat
speech in his mind as he walked, over the
meadows, but every vestige of it had flown
from his memory at the first sight of Kate.
He therefore twisted his fingers backward and
| forward in an awkward manner, moved his
| chair half a dozen times, and coughed re-
reatedly before he could summon courage to
| speak.
"Kate," he said at length, with a kind of
choked gasp "I've been intending to come
| over here for some time back"
II believe you were here only yesterday"
replied Kate coldly.
"Oh, was II" stammered Luke, ''but I've
come for different purpose to-day
"You came to ask the address of that man
had to crn wheat for last year, believe"
"Yes, / wrote to him yesterday. But, Kate,
don't bluff me off so; I've come to ask you to
accept Bower farm as your own" and he
blushed crimson as he made what he thought
a neat speech.
VERY kind of you, Luke, I'm sure; but it
isn't yours yet, so don't see how I can ac-
cept it from you"
II see you won't understand me, Kate;
and I'd better be plain in my speech. have
had a liking for you for good many years,
and believe I'd make you as good husband
as you would find in the county"
Kate made no reply, and the dropping curls
concealed her laughing face. Encouraged
by her silence, Luke proceeded:
.sYou shall dress equalto any woman round
here, and I'll make you present of that colt
I'm breaking. You know L amt poor, and
you shall live as well as anybody in these
parts"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Luke;
but don't care to marry you. Please don't
begin to argue, for it would answer no pur-
pose"
II made sure you would have me, Kate
but I'll wait, and try again after a spell"
mo, it would be useless to try again." in
terrupted Kate. 1.-The fact is, Luke, 1 am
going to marry lawyer" she added with a
quicker of her rosy lips at Luke's uncon-
cealed amazement at hearing the informal
ton.
"a lawyerl" he exclaimed. well that
does beat ALL And never even knew YOU
were receiving tentions from anybody but
me and the squire. l s'pose you wouldn't
tell his name, Kate?"
time"
| Luke babe her "good afternoon" and went
out, meeting Mrs. Bertram in the garden.
Il took your advice" he said, stopping in
the path, sand asked her to marry me; but
she says she's going to marry some lawyer,
and, without waiting for a reply, walked
rapidly away his heart sore with chagrin
and disappointment.
Julia went into the kitchen and "spoke
her mind" to Kate very freely. To throw
away chance of keeping Bower farm in
the family, was, in her opinion, really crimi-
nal.
"You are crazy, Kate. Haven't warned
you over and over that you will be left PEN
niless, old, and faded at mothers death ?
You will be old maid, no one will have
you then, and-0 good heavens, what do
you expect"
II expect my lawyer" cody answered
Kate. patting the smooth loaves of bread in
the pan.
THAT is the craziest notion of all. / gave
you credit for more common sense Kate,
thon to believe in such trash. 1t is really toe
ridiculous to talk about"
Then don't talk about it." said Kate. 81
am not anxious to hear your eloquent haran-
CUES on my poor daisy's prophecy"
"But you can't mean that you will throw
away good chances for the sake of silly
notion"
al mean that will wait for my lawyer,
SAID Kate, still smiling
"How you cling to that idea! I've no pa
thence with you at all. If Luke had been q
lawyer, would you have married himl
Come, let's see how much you really think Of
that idea"
II didn't say I'd have any lawyer" an
swered Kate. Il mean to choose my lawyer
pulled every leaf off the daisy, and it left
the last one lawyer; SO lawyer it will be-
and l mean to wait for my lawyer until my
lawyer comes"
ssHorrorsr' cried Julia, "don't use that de-
testable word again. am utterly sick of it
1 hope I'll never more see one Of the pro
fession."
Kate laughed out load as her SISTER fed ts
the parlor worsted in the battle.
The first week of July came, and one fint
day when the sun was sinking in the West
Squire Day drove up to the front gate o
Bower farm, hitched bis horses-they wes,
| certainly handsome creafures-aDd entering
the house asked to see Miss Kate. Julia saw
the arrival, ssnd leaning over the railing n
the head of the stairs, heard ths question
knew on what errand the portly squire HAD
come and she prayed that Kate might TO
She knew at oace what was meant by it, an(
throw away this second chance of settling
herself advantageously. Squire Day was asl'
to buy Bower farm three times over and y
more like it, as far as money was concerned
Kate went into the parlor, without even
glance into the glass to see if heJ appearaAc
would be apt to please ker elderly lover. Sh
knew As soon as she saw the shiny appearance
of his boots, the new suit of brOadcloth b.
wore, and the general aspect Of the who'll
man, he had come to ask her a very ixzpor
tant question. And she was not mistaken
In brief but impressive manner SOUR
Day offered her his name end heart.
Julia kept her head out of the windoN
q Il-l ..1 -