Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-05-12
KATRINE'S LOVERS.

KATRINE'S LOVERS.
A prettier sight than Katrine Van FL
ten, as she tripped lightly along the
mountain path leading from her father
farm to the Kaaterskill Falls, it would
have been hard to find. Her life had
been spent at the quaint Dutch farm
nestled away in the heart of the Kaat-
skills, and perhaps the mountain air,
and free life, unfettered by convention
alities, had given her that light, spring
ing step, and that wild grace in every
movement, as well as the clear light in
her deep blue eyes, and the brilliant
glow on her cheek. Be this as it may,
between her personal charms and the
more substantial blessings with which a
thrifty father like old Hans Van Elten
would endow his only child, Katrine
was the acknowledged belle of the
neighborhood; and right royalty did
the saucy maiden receive the alteration
of her many suitors.
1t must be confessed that she was
somewhat of a coquette, and had be-
slowed her smiles by turns on half the
youths of her acquaintance. Indeed,
the only one of her admirers to whom
she seemed resolved never to be gra-
cious was the one whom her STEP
mother was equally resolved she should
wed. This was Tjerck Solpaugh, who
had, in some marvellous and unknown
manner, succeeded in making himself
agreeable to Mrs. Van Elten, for the
rest of the inhabitants would not have
contradicted pretty katrine when she
poutingly said to her father:
"What can mother want to marry
me to that man for? He is old, cross
and awkward and ugly. Nobody likes
him but mother. am sure don't"
And poor Mr.. Van Elten, who had
long ago resigned himself in all things
to his busting wife's will, as the only
way of having any peace in life, would
softly stroke the bright waves of Kat
rine's hair, and puff placidly at his pipe,
as he answered:
Zach WELT Never fret, my little one!
All things will go right if you do not
fret
And usually Katrine did not fret, but
danced through life, making the most of
its sunny side, and paying as little heed
as possible to the sudden clouds-per-
haps we might be permitted to say
.squalls-that Dame Van Elten some
times raised about her.
But of late there had been a little
shadow on Katrines's spirits She was
as brisk and busy as ever, and none
among the maidens of the neighboring
farms could compare with her in spin
ming, weaving, churning, or any of their
household duties. No, her bread was
still the whitest and highest, her butter
the most golden, her washing the first
on the line, her milk pans and pals the
brightest, and her kitchen the most
spotless. She was still at every merry
making, and apparently the gayest Of
the gay, and yet there was little change
creeping over Katrine.
Old Hans noticed it as he sat in the
shaded stoop smoking, and watching
Katrine fitting about her work.
81 am afraid the old vrow is not too
kind he soliloquized. "What does
she see to like in Tjerck Solpaugh, with
his big talk of what he has seen and
done in Holland, and how rich he was
there, and all the rest of it? Why did
not he stay in Holland, and not come
here to torment my little Katrine? Sup
pose he has got a big farm. It IS not
paid for, and believe it never will be.
He is no farmer. Now there is Hermann
Schoonmaker, as fine lad as You can
find in all the country. and the dame
don't like.him, just because Katrine and
I do, think, for surely there s no other
reason. To be sure he has no big farm
like Tierck, but he is q real hard-work-
ing farmer, which Tjerck will never be,
and am growing old, and this farm is
big enough-big enough" with COM
placent Glance sweeping over the broad,
well-tilled fields, and resting with par
donable pride on his large, well-stocked
barns and granaries. must be care
fnI or the dame win scold, and be more
AGAINST Hermann than ever; but think
7 will give Katrine one little hint. She
ia n rood girl, and she looks so like my
own Gretchen!n and the old man sighed
as he thus recalled the wife of his youth.
s. Kathrine,n he called softly.
$40 You want your pipe filled fatherp"
asked the girl as she came quickly
toward him.
Yes-no. That is, you might make
believe fill it. !"
And he held out the half-filled pipe
"Might make believe fill itP" repeated
Katrine, with q puzzled look.
uYes.n answered Hans, rather con-
fnsedlv. ssjust while speak to you. You
soc. Katrintje, using the pet name he
had had for her as child-'.Hermann
Schoonmaker is q very fine lad.
MYes. father" murmured Katrine,
now assiduously employed in reiiliing the
P I. yery fine lad" repeated the old
man. with rather comical glance at his
dapphter,s blushing face.