Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-01-24
MY MISTAKE.

1t was the night before Christmas
bitterly cold and bleak. / was obliged
to draw my chair close to the little
range, for our fuel was low, and unless
Kathie should get the payment for my
last bit of embroidery we could have nc
more for several days.
Kathie was saleswoman at Longman' /
great bazaar, and / sewed at home for
two years before, l had fallen and in.
jured one knee so severely, that since
then | had been confined to the use OF
cane and never attempted to walk any
distance.
We were poor, Kathie and |, but we
had had our little pleasures which
seemed doubly sweet, because of the
economy we were generally obliged t.
practice.
This winter, however, times were
hard, and our good angel seemed to have
forgotten u.s. | found it difficult to OBJ
tain work, and Kathie's pay had beer
decreased.
So | will not deny that my heart was
trife bitter, for poor as we had been
never Christmas had come before with
out some little observance of the day
some gift, however, inexpensive, passing
between us.
None this year, however.
Six months before, my fair youns
sister had had lover who commanded /;
good salary as travelling salesman.
There was no betrothal between them
but affairs were at that interesting
stage when but word was needed tC
bring them to crisis.
Just at this time Charlie Lyford'
employers sent him off at few hours
notice to Europe. He had only time t.
pack his valise and bid Kathie hast,
farewell-looking volumes that he coult
not speak; then he was off, and the next
news we had was that he had beer
washed from the deck of a steamer in
terrific storm when it was impossible t.
rescue him.
My poor, brave Kathie kept up {
show of her old, bright gay manner, but
she was paler and her eyes were tear
stained.
We were all alone together, so you
will not wonder that ] made an idol Of
her, and dreamed impossible things fol-
her future.
We were not at all alike / was pale
and quiet, with thin cheeks and big
gray eyes, while Kathie, although tive
years my junior, was half head taller
and carried herself with the easy grace
of young queen. She had brighter
complexion than |, her eyes were brown
and full of expression, and her hail
chung in little tawny rings over a milk
white forehead, and made desperate eff
forts to break loose from the heavy
braids in which she coiled it about he
head.
DIR. Loring, who frequently visited
one family or another in the blocl
where he lived, would look at her 81
smilingly and approvingly at times, tina
| felt sure he had tender interest il
her.
He got into the way of dropping ii
upon us for an evening. [ found him ;
most congenial companion-well read
intellectual, and quantity humorous.
We had only known him few
months, but already he seemed like al
old friend, and the sight of his broat
shoulders in their well-worn brown I'll
ster was pleasant one to me-hoy
pleasant | was 10th to confess even t,
myself, so sure was | that my siste
Kathie was dear to him.
Kathie herself never seemed to real
ize it.
l wished that she might. In spite O
the little pang that it gave me to con
template such possibility, | knew tina
it would be a grand thing for her to be
come the wife of DIR. Loring, if only sh
could forget Charlie Lyford
A woman would be so sure of com
fort and protection with a man of hi
calm, happy temperament
| was thinking of all this when Kathi
came at last, flushed and breathless from
her swift walk in the piercing wind
Did you get the money, dear?'
queried, anxiously, as | got up to pu
the little brown teapot upon the tabl
where our supper of bread and butte
and apple-sauce was laid.
No, said Kathie, giving her turbal
toss upon the lounge, and unbuttonins
the rough gray coat which Rugged he
little figure so closely, and pulling Of
the red mittens which were darned t.
the last point of responsibility. Madam
Lefarge has gone to New York to spen,
Christmas, and the girls know nothin,
about your embroidery; 50 | made boil,
to ask Mr.. Longman for weeks wages
He was very civil about it, and ordere'
quarter of ton of coal and baske
of kindlings on my way home, which
will be sent day after tomorrow morning
Well have roaring old fire tomorrow
with what fuel we have, Esther, in homo
of Christmas-day.
Kathie laughed little as she pulle'
her chair up to the table. 1t seemed t
me that she looked brighter and happie
than usual, and there was roguish dim
pie in one cheek.
i met Dr. Loring down here on Mai
street, she said dimphng and smiling
more than ever
My heart gave quick throb Wha
had he been saying to Kathie to bright
en- her up so?
He wants us to spend tomorrow
evening at his house, and will send
carriage for us. He was coming u,
here to deliver the invitation to you, bu
begged me to take it, as he was on hi
way to visit dangerously sick patient
Why, Kathie, we cannot gop | gasped
i don't know why we cannot SAT-
] to&I,o -. 600