River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-20
KATIE FOSTER.

AA IL EOsS In
Here is the wish-bone, girls; VINO
wants lt?" Aunt Kitty said, holding up
the well dried and polished BONE.
Three merry voices answered, and
three bright young faces looked eagerly
into hers, leading to be the favorlte
one.
am have TO give it to the one nearest
10 me, my little Katie; and she is the
nearest to marrying too. guess. Here,
now, pull with Mabel or Jeane, and see
if | am right" Aunt Kitty said, as she
patted her favorite niece's blushing
face.
Katie took the bone, hesitated for a
moment, and then holding it toward
Mabel said:
"Jeane, you can afford to wait until
next time. being the youngest. Pull,
Mabel On! don't take such hold!
Just by the very end. Nowl'
The bone snapped, and Aunt Kitty
cried out. That's all right knew
it. Now, pet, put it over the hall door
and wish.
"The first unmarried man that comes
under the wish-bone is to be her hus-
band" answered Aunt Kitty gravely.
"What nonsense you are putting into
these wild girls heads, Catherine!" said
their mother, who stood unnoticed in
the door for few moments.
Come, Katie, make your wish, and
up with the bone," said Mabel.
Katie followed her sister into the hall.
Mounting the chair placed for her she
put the wishbUne over the door, Jump
ed down laughing, and said: There are
three we may confidently expect,
Squire Ellwood, DR.. Farleigh and
Willie. There, listen He's coming
now, l think. No. there Is some one
coming from the village" Katie an
sWered.
II was too dark to see the look of
disappointment IS she arose, saying:
81 must light the lamp; 1t may be
some one coming here"
She had scarcely done it before the
gate latch was heard; and familiar
step after.
Mabel said, cts Squire Ellwood.'
run quick! pull down the bone
Don't let him come under it." cried
Katie.
Mabel flew to do her bidding. Too
late? The door opened, and without
any ceremony, the squire walked in,
exclaiming in a loud, genial voice:
why, bless me! 1 like to have
knocked down my little lady-love with
my rough entry"
"'Tis not Kate; it's me Mabel" she
answered. in her confusion.
How Mabel ever came to single Ka.
tie out as the one so expressed by the
squire she could not tell herself, except
this connection with the wish-hone then
in her mind.
"Ha, ha, hal what a wise little girl
you arew laughed the squire, patting
the blushing cheeks, and following Ma
bel into the sitting room.
The squire did not stay long that
evening. Scarcely had he got out of
sight when Katie heard another step,
web known and well loved. Willie had
come at last. Surely Kate would be
herself then, her sister thought. She
did her very best to be merry, and Oc-
casionally, during the time of Wlllies
STAY, she would break into musical
little laugh, but as Willie noticed, it
was quickly followed by sigh. Draw
ing her away to himself, he whispered:
"What Is it, darling?"
In an instant her eyes were SWIM
ming in tears; and she shook her head,
saying: "You will laugh at me if | tell
you"
81 may laugh away your tears, | trust,
Katie darling; but I'll promise not to
laugh at you. Now tell me what
troubles my own little grip
l.. \ Il !, ,a4.s of
the bone, her WIS.,, Squire Ellwood
being the first to come Under it; and
concluded by saying: "Oh, Willie,
why did you not come by as you went
to town? Then YOU would have been
the first
"Why, Katie, / went early this morn
ing. But never fear; il you will come
III take you away from a dozen 'sqnires,
You dear, frightened little bird" Willie
said
He went away soon after. Katie &C
companied him, with her sisters, as far
as the garden gate, where the incidents
of the afternoon and evening were talk
ed and laughed over-Mabel giving a
humorous account of her performance
in the hall-until Katie was at last won
from her gloom.
Willie Holden was the only son of an
old an esteemed friend of Katie's moth
er, and their nearest neighbor. The
young folks had grown up together. and
the union of Katie and Willie was look
ed forward to by both mothers with con-
fidence and great pleasure. Still, there
was no engagement; only a sort Of quiet
understanding between all parties.
Squire Ellwood was Captain Fosters
chest friend" as the captain always said
when referring to the squire.
Often this friend had come to the cap
taiu's relief in financial diffiulties.
Many times Mrs Foster ha1 said to
her daughter:
There Is no better man living than
Squire Eilwood But for him we might
have been homeless. Pray Gods bless
ing for him every day, my children!and
love him dearly as though he were
your fathers brother, for he has been
one to him"
The ';quire was a man Of abundant
means, with no nearer kindred than a
distant cousin to share it with.
Some folks wondered that he never
married, and why he did not then.
He was not too Old by any means
only 55-and handsome enough surely
to please anybody.
Others declared that he had been dis
appointed in his young days.
A beautiful woman had Tilted him
and he had no faith in any woman since.
The next day Squire EIlwood came ear
ly and was closeted long time with
Captain Foster.
After he had gone there was another
long conference between the captain and
his wife.
The girls knew nothing of this as they
were off to n picnic.
But aunt kitty's mind was sorely ex-
ercised. At length however, she CON
cluded that her brother-in-law was I'm
ancially uneasy again.
Captain Foster was a very extrava-
CANT man living far beyond his means,
fond Of all the good things of life, aud a
few Of his neighbor's limited, some OF
the bad things, too. st any rate, he
truly lived for the day only, taking no
thought for the future, and, consequent
ly he often needed the 'squire's help.
There was look of pain on Mrs.
Fosters face that no one understood.
At length il ali came out Squire Ell
wood wanted to marry Katie. Aunt
kittie scolded and threatened, coaxed
and cried, but all to no effect. Katie's