Montgomery County sentinel., 1880-12-03

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Squire. You are too young to take the po-
sition of stepmother to his five children"
"But if don't marry him we can't keer
the farm. No one else will lend us the
money to pay off the mortgage. Oh, how ]
hate that Mr.. Arle'
The young man smiled.
Something tells me all will come Out
right in the end,' he said. "Wait little
and see if | am correct in my prophecy"
You are very kind, Pm sure, to take such
an interest in me-" said Katie. 81 thanl,
you very much and now, good bye feel
too badly to stay out in this hot sun any
longer" and picking up her berries she
walked away, the young man watching her
until she was lost to sight over the rising
ground of the clover field
Katie's heart felt lighter, though she could
scarcely tell why, and she crept up the back
stairs to her own room unnotced by Hannah,
and bathed her red eyes. Then, feeling
much refreshed, she threw herself on her
bed and was soon asleep, completely worn
out by the excitement of the day.
She was awakened by the sound of voices
in the parlor, and curious to know who the
visitor could possibly be, she smoothed down
her hair, and went to the parlor
The parlor door stood half open, and she
advanced as far as the threshold, but no
further G,r IN hor inanta o,,,,o,,o.. 81 -
saw seated on the sofa in easy conversation
with her mother, the young man whom she
had left two hours previously by the stone
wall in the clover field.
"Katie, this is Mr.. Arle," said Mrs. Der
went; "and he has been so kind AS to offer
to let us keep the farm at a small rent
Come and thank him"
But Katie did not stir in obedience to her
mothers command. She gazed mt Mr. Arle
a moment as if petriiied with amazement,
and then turning fed, slamming the door
behind her.
Forgive her rudeness, Mr. Arle," muir
INJURED the proper Hannah "She is only II
child, and does not know how to behave"
George Arle smiled, but said nothing, un-
derstanding Katie's strange conduct better
than Hannah.
Katie was standing under the apple tree
by the front garden when George Arc came
out Of the house, and she waited for him.
"Forgive me" said she, as he came close
to her. Il did not know. | thought you
were really"
"The Squires hired man." he interrupted.
"You see, that as you said, appearances
are deceitful sometimes ! borrowed that
old suit from Bob Davis, and | went into
the bayfield, for frolic, but found it less
fun to toss hay than had anticipated, so |
went under that old tree to lie down. l
came yesterday to the Squire's to spend a
few days with my friend Bob"
"What must you have thought of me ?"
Katie taltered al gave you advice and
said"
"That you hated Mr.. Arle. Oh, | don't
bear you any grudge. am very glad you
did not know to whom you were speaking,
for had you known | should not have learn
ed probably what my agent was about.
did not know that the mortgage was due, or,
if he had told me Of it, had forgotten it,
But IL is all right, now and there is no rea-
son whatever that you should marry the
Squire" he said with merry laugh.
Then he went away and left Katie with
light heart, standing by the gate.
When the Squire came the next day for
his answer, he received 1t from Katie herself,
and it was very decidedly in the negative.
Disappointed and chagrined, the elderly
lover went home 10 pour the story of his
sorrows into the ears Of his guest, George
Arle, who sincerely advised him to transfer
his affections from the childish Katie 10 the
practical Hannah, who was in every way
fitted to rule his house with judgment and
The Squire's thoughts were driven into
new channel, and he was not slow 10 see the
soundness of the advice offered him
The result was that three months had
scarcely elapsed before Hannah was install
ed mistress Of the Davis household, she hav-
ing no scrupes on the score Of her admirers
advanced age.
The three months had not proved un-
eyentful to Katie, who received calls from
George Arlc, whenever he could spare day
from his business in the city Standing TO-
gethcr one evening in late October under the
old apple tree by the gate, the young man
took in his, both the small brown
hands of his blushing companion.
"Katie," he said, trying 10 look into the
blue eyes which were persistently ayerted,
'tell me, dearest, do you still hate that Mr..
ArleY
There was no answer, and George raised
with one hand the dimpled chin until he
could sec into the shy blue eyes. What
answer to this question he read there he
could best tell, but il must have been the
one he wanted, for soon after there was n
quiet wedding in the village church were
Katie had worshiped since childhood, and
the blushing girl became the wife Of him
she had once mistaken for the Squire's hired
man. She thought II a blessed mistake now.
Before they left the village George Arle
placed in his brides hands deed Of the old
farm with the remark
"Giye il 10 your mother, Katie. II will be
a gilt which cannot fail 10 remind her pleas.
antly Of the little girl who persuaded the
Squire's hired man 10 help chase the rooster
and in 80 doing sealed her fate forever. That
old gray rooster little knew how he would
help US 10 life together by running into
that clover fcld--bless him"
Two friends from the interior put up at d
Galveston hotel and were given one room
The man in the next room overheard the
following conversation about day break ncxi
morning
III say, are you awake 7"
ave been awake for the last two hours
LEND me g."
"Ivc dozed of again."
IL knew you were lying when you said
you Wero wide aWakeW