Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-06-24
II was going to say it. Why did you

about few letters. lhey were herS,
not yours"
Il think they were mine"
THAT shows a mans honesty in love
matters. The letters We're sent to you
under suppositiOn that you were to
fill certain relationship to Maggie.
You were found incompetent for that
position, and the favors relating to it
ought to have been returned. A dis
missed ambassador might just as well
keep his insignia of office"
''Sit down Kate, and don't put your
selfin passion. Have [ ever done an
unkind thing to either Maggie or you
since were children together"
No, Archie, you have not"
"Do you really think would?'
"You said you would tell Sir John
things about Maggie, and that would
be unkind. Maggie loves Sir John very
much"
II would never hurt Maggie. As your
pastor and your cousin, let me say [
think you have behaved in a very i'm
proper manner"
'tArchier
Every improper indeed. You ought
to have come to me- | would have
given you the poor dear little letters;
and as for telling Sir John anything to
open his eyes, like him far too well.
The only wayto be happy in love is to
| be blind"
''You think this is very satirical,
dare say"
mo, [ do not I am waiting for your
apology, Kate. You know YOU ought to
make me one"
Kate sat, with burning cheeks, tap
ping the floor with her foot, and Archie
stood calmly watching her. At last she
said, "YOu are right, Archie" Then,
putting her hand In her pocket: Here
are the letters Do what you like with
them. thrust you"
He took them tenderly, and throwing
them into the fire mournfully watched
them turn to gray ashes. Rates eyes
were full of painful tears.
"Archie," she said, ''forgive me. I
acted very impulsively and very i'm
prudently. l am ashamed of my
self. There is something else | must
tell you about this miserable affair. |
saw gentleman in your parlor, and |
gave myself a false name to Him."
ooh, Kate, see how one fault leads to
another If you had been doing right
YOU would not have been ashamed to
confess that you were Kate Leslie. Do
you know the lady whose name you
bOrrowed?"
mo, l know nothing about such a
person"
'Then [ will go with you, and you
must make an apology to the family"
''Must do this? ?"
"You must. 1t is the least you can
do"
Every well, Archie, will do it."
But this part of her punishment was
long delayed. The next morning Kate
was very i'll, and a severe attack of
rheumatic fever confined her for weeks
to her room. Then the fatigue and eX-
element consequent to Maggie's mar
riage threw her back into the inertia of
invalidism, and the adventure was al
most forgotten in its painful results
| As the warm weather came on she
improved, and began to go into society
again. One day there was to be a lawn
party at the bishops, and she promised
to meet Archie there. She was sitting
resting under great oak, when she saw
him coming toward her. A gentleman
was with him, whom she recognized at
a glance; she had introduced herself
once to him as Miss Crowther. What
was Archie going to do to her? She
| felt almost like crying; but stood brave
| ly up as they advanced, and in her
white muslin dress, with roses at her
waist and throat, she made very love
ly picture.
"Good afternoon, Cousin Kate"
cousin Archie, good afternoon"
"Kate, this is my friend, Mr.. Henry
CrOWther"
| She blushed violently, but she did
not lose her self-possession. II have
met Mr.. CrOwther before, once, when
[ WAS on little private masquerade,
and assumed the character of his sister
/ hope | am forgiven"
"If | had q sister, she would have
been honored by the presumption
Since the momentary favor [ have
never ceased to regret my want"
They sat long under the pleasant
shade, and in the evening rode slowly
home together under the July moon
Before they parted both had acknowl-
edged to their hearts an interest that
might be q dearer tie than even that
of brother and sister
For a few weeks Harry Crowther was
constantly coming with Archie to call
on the Leslies, either for one pretext or
another. Then he began to come by
himself and without any preteXt at ALL
1t had been long evident to Archie that
Harry and Kate loved each other dear
| ly, and at last even the dim eyes of her
grandfather began to perceive how mat
tiers stood
kitty" he said one night after wait
ing patiently through ''good night"
that lasted an hour and half; kitty
why does Harry Crowther come here so
often?"
Because we do not believe in writing
grandfather. Love-letters once nearly
cost me my life" and leaning fondly on
her grandfather's neck, Kitty told him
the fault which she had been guilty and
the pain and shame it had caused her
"Never pays, Kitty, to do evil that
good may come; the price is too high"
"GOu forgive me, grandfather"
eyes, Kitty, with all my heart"
Harry has forgiven me too. You see
after taking his name in jest, it is right
[ make the Gmende honorable by taking
it in earnest. So, grandfather, if you
will let me, | am going to be Mrs. Crow
Their. May Harry ask you tomorrow
Yes he may ask me. He has asked
you, SUPPOSE"
| ooh yes"