Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-09-22

tumult. Suppose he had turned the ia
bles upon her, and denounced her as
pickpocket, as he might very we'll have
done! She shivered at the mere thought
of it.
Once or twice as they neared the city
the gentleman glanced at her as if he
would speak; but Kathie's resolutely
averted face and downcast eyes gave
him no opportunity, and not another
word was spoken till they reached the
station, where he left her with courte-
GUS bow and "Good morning"
Hateful thingv' said Kathie to her
self, 81 hope 1 shall never set eyes on
him againr' and then she watched him
with admiring eyes as long as she could
distinguish his fine form in the hurry
ing crowd.
Her purse, it is scarcely necessary to
say, was safe in her pocket, and she soon
set about diminishing its contents.
Notwithstanding the inauspicious be-
ginning of her trip, her day proved
! quite Successful and satisfactory. Her
own errands and Aunt Kate's commits
sions were all executed, and there was
still half hour to spare for call to
| Cousin Wills Office, and when the time
| drew near for her train to leave, he
escorted her to the station. The train
was in readiness when they arrived, and
as they walked along to reach the right
car, form approached them from side
entrance, a glance at which sent thrill
| through Kathie's veins, and the hot
blood to her cheeks and brow.
"Ah! here's Harry Thorn going down
on your train, Kathie," said her cousin.
"He will be agreeable company for you,
and will see to your parcels" and then,
before Kathie was at all prepared for it,
came the inevitable introduction.
Kathie could hardly force herself to
meet the glance of the mischievous dark
eyes bent upon her, or to touch the
prohered hand. 1t was utterly impossi-
BILE for her to speak word, but the gem
tleman talked on till Will left them at
tne entrance 10 the car.
"You will take the seat by the window
this time?' questioned Mr.. Thorn, and
kathie silently took it.
After ne had arranged her parcels in
the rack and seated himself, kathie said
with frank smile, II really hoped that
/ should never see you again"
"Did you think l deserved eternal
banishment?" he asked lightly.
"Oh, no! 1t was rather | who merit
ed it." said Kathie. $50 long as you
did not know me it did not matter what
you thought of me, but now, "-ah,
where were kathie's words leading her?
but now, if you should tell Cousin
WILL" she continued quite illogically,
they would tease me numerically, and
should never hear the last of it."
II assure you," was the earnest an
swer, "that will never mention the
mistake to which you refer to Will or TO
anyone else. No one besides ourselves
need ever know aught of it." And then
he skilIfully turned the conversation,
and kathie was soon quite at her ease,
and they were conversing like old
friends.
That memorable ride through the tun-
mel occurred some years ago, and
kathies relations with Mr.. Thorn have
changed SO greatly that now, instead OF
suspecting him of taking her money, she
appropriates with great eoolness funds
from his pocketbook for the shopping.
Mr. Thorn sometimes laughingly de.
clares that instead of his wife waiting
for him to offer his hand, as ladies usual
| ly do, she took possession of it the firs,
time that she ever saw him; but his
most intimate friends ask in vain for an
explanation of his jest.