Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-03-27
HOW HE CAUGHT HER.
BY OLIVER BOWER,
CHAPTER I,

CHAPTER
Her name was Observation-Disclosures
Hauton. But nobody ever dreamed of
calling her so. She was Katie" to all
Katie" to US young folks who had been
her schoOlmates from our pinafOres, and
Katie" to every little urchin that could
toddle about and lisp her name.
Katie was an orphan, and lived with
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 she
looked quite good-natured. / can scarce
ly remember having greater fright
than when Miss Deborah caught US in
the very act of trying her Sunday go
to-meetings" before the parlor glass.
But the mischievious look Katie cast
over her shoulder settled the business,
and | only heard muttered:
"Good gracious! What is this world
coming to?" as we scampered off in dire
confusion, leaving her treasured brocade
silks and Honiton laces lying on the
floor.
Katie came to me the morning before
New Year in very unusual mood for
her. Her eyes looked red and heavy,
as If she had been crying. She sat down
with prodigious sigh.
"What, sad on holiday, Katie?" I
asked.
"Oh, dear!" she said, with q very
sober face, II have been at my old tricks
again, and Ned Williams declares he'll
never forgive me as long as he lives"
Katie was an incorrigible fiirt. She
would repent of her flirting. and-flirt
again!
"Go on" said I. quietly.
She stammered and blushed.
why, you see, it was nothing-just
nothing at all. Only George Hearn has
been talking nonsense to me lately, and
/ have listened to him, and this morn
ing he gave me a rosebud, and Ned saw
him kiss my hand when took it-and
-and-oh, dear me feel too bad to tell
you the rest" and she hid her face in
her apron, and cried and sobbed.
"But I don't see that you have done
anything very wicked yet, Katie" said
I consolingly.
"Oh, don't you know" she added.
with a fresh outbreak, "the rosebud
means confession of love- and I took
it, and Ned says I'm cold hearted fiirt,
and hell never overlook it in me-and,
oh, dear, what shall doP"
"You little goose" said /, warmly,
for I was provoked at her coquetry,
"why don't you leave off flirting,
then ?"
II will. I will-I'm going to-" she
sobbed.
"Tell me one thing" I said; "are you
willing to marry Ned Williams ?"
"Ain't I, thought" she said. looking
up with face of honest bewilderment
that made me laugh till I choked.
"And is he willing to marry you?"
"Yes, only he pretends not to be. But
1 know he loves me-" she added quick.
ly.
"Then you ought to be ashamed of
yourself, Katie" / said.
"I know it. And I am-just as
ashamed as 1 can be-" she answered,
ruefully. "But I can't help it,"
"I'n help you out of the scrape,
Katie" 1 said, after a moments
thought, ION condition that you'll
promise never to f1irt again."
"Pon honor" said Katie, piousiy,
laying her little brown hand in mine,
and looking very demure. "That is
as well as / can."
"Go and make up with Ned-that is
the first thing necessary"
II can't" she answered with a dole
full sigh, "for if 1 come near him, he
calls me a rattlesnake and goes off Do
talk to him for me, that's a dear, good
girl. Will you, just for my sake?"
"Take yourself off," answered, land
on your peril do not let me see you any,
more to-day. To morrow, you know,
we all go to your uncle's farm to cele.
brate the New Year See that you look
your best and are in good season. Now
be off"
She would have thanked me with
countless kisses, but I put her out of the
room, and locking the door went back
to my writing.