Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-06-19
MISCELLANEOUS.
How He Caught Her.

How Fie Caught Her.
Her name was Katharine-Kath-
arine Hauton- But nobody ever
dreamed of calling her SO. She was
ssKatie'' to all the old men and women
in the village-ssKatie to us young
folks who had been her school mates
from our pinafores, and ''Katie'' to
every little urchin that could toddle
about and lisp her name.
Katie was an orphan and lived with
stately old aunt, whose least word
was enough to frighten any ordinary
child into hysteric fits. But Katie
was afraid of nothing, and treated
Miss Deborah exactly as.she did the
rest of us, that is, she laughed at her
and talked in her half saucy, half
good natured way, till the lady's grim
mouth relaxed and looked quite good
natured. 1 can scarcely remember
having greater fright than when
Miss Deborah caught us in the very
act of trying on her "Sunday-go-to-
meetings before the parlor glass;
But the mischievous, audacious look
Katie cast over her shoulder settled
the business, and I only heard a NUT
tered:
"Good gracioust What is this
world coming to?'' as we scampered
off in dire confusion, and left her
treasured brocade silk and IIoniton
laces lying on the floor.
.s'Te!l me one thing" said; sare
you willing to marry Ned Williams ?''
'-Ain't L though?" she said, look
ing up with face of honest bewildcr-
ment that mademe laugh till choked.
''And is he willing to marry you?'
s'Yes, only he pretends not to be.
But 1 know he loves me-" she added
quickly.
"Then you ought to be ashamed of
yourself, Katie,'' 1 said.
81 know it. And 1 am-just as
ashamed as Lean be,'' she answered
ruefully. ''But L can't help it,
'I'll help you out of the scrape,
Katie,'' 1 said, after moments S
thought, "on condition that you'll
promise never to fiirt again.
'.Pon honor" said Katie, piously,
laying her little brown hand in mine,
and looking very demure. That is
as well as / can.' )
eco and make up with Ned-that
is the first thing necessary
"I cam t." she answered with dole
full sigh, 'for if I come near him, he
calls me a rattlesnake and goes off.
Do talk to him for me, that's a dear,
good girl. viii you, just for my
sake?'' .-sssr,. a
sTake yourself off," L answered,
ssand on your peril; do not let me see
you any more to-day. Tomorrow,
you know, we all go to-your uncie's
farm to celebrate the New Year Sec
that you look your best and are in
good season. Now be off,
= She would have thanked me with
countless kisses but put her out of
the room, and locking the door went
back TO my writing.
n note from me Brought Ned VIII
liams to my room that evening. 1t
was ten o'clock before he left me, and
if my little Katie mad seen the fervor
with whicl, he kissed my hand at part
ing, think she might have had cause
to be Jealous, unless she knew, as /
did, that it was all on her account.
The next morning, bright and early,
I was closeted with Miss Deborah.
The maiden lady looked half destract-
ed when Z told her the result of our
overnight debate, but soon won her
over to my way of thinking. She
looked at Katie, however, as she went
singing around the house, as If she
had been natural phenomenon
Katie's apple pie and dumplings
were the incest things immaginablc,
and Katie herself, with the fun of her
eyes little dimmed and softened by
touch of pensiveness, was a very
agreeable thirg to look at, and 1 began
to think Ned Williams was very en-
yiai5le man.
=, Aiy warning about her dress was
entirely needless, as I found when she
came dancing down stairs after break
fast with pale blue muslin and CO.
quettish white apren on, and killing
little gypsy hat tipped jauntily on one
side of her head.
ssDo you like my dress2" she said,
glancing archly at me.
"You'n do" L answered. ':But
remember the bargain, no fued, no
1irting.''
"E1sot-ly," she answered, drop
ping me mock courtery.
1t was a great affair-Uncle Johns
New Year Celebration! All the coun-
tryfolk had been invited, and the ex-
element and enthusiasm was at an
unusual heighth. 1t had been the