The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-24

vigorous, blooming plants nlleu the
windows.
When MI. Waring came home, at the
end of the second day, he found aspark-
ling fire in the CRATE, the table drawn
close to the hearth, a dainty meal
ready, and a saucy little girl, with curly
hair, laughing eyes and a tip-tilted
nose, waiting for him at the door with
a kiss.
"Why-why. Cathy. my dear!" he
muttered. at is Cathy! Really, this
is PLEASANT looking about him.
E'Something as as it was when we first
married. "Ill go up and change my
coat, my dear" 1t was long since he
had changed his coat for dinner.
Cathy watched him moving slowly
up the stairs with a great gulp in her
throat. But she was smiling bravely
when he came down, and offered her
his arm to lead her to the table. Some
thing of the old instincts and habits of
the days when he was a gentleman
among gentlemen awoke in him as he
sat facing his daughter.
He had not lost his power of appre-
citation, and he saw that she was bright,
sincere and gentle. He grew more
watchful and more courteous and ten
der. 1t was a gay meal, however.
John Waring had been a famous con
versationalist and a wit; and Cathy, if
she were a Ounce, had that tact which
made her the best of listeners.
'Are you going out, papaP's he said,
after dinner was over.
'1-I generally take a shot or two at
billiards in the evening"
Eyes, l remember" she said, bright
ly. 81 had the old billiard table in the
library cleaned to-day. l thought per-
haps some rainy day you would teach
me-"
'IIl do it now," he said, with sud-
den zeal. The library was already
brilliantly lighted and the cues chalked.
81 have not played at home for years.
Your mother hates the click of the balls.
1 had to go out for a game"
Cathy took up the u
"Why, you little witch! Who taught
youp" cried her father, after he had
watched her for a moment.
''There were all kinds of games at the
college for exercise 1 played them all
fairly well. 1t was the only thing at
which 1 was not hopelessly stupid"
said Cathy, laughing.
AS the week of Mrs. Warnings alb
sence passed, her husband discovered
that his little girl had learned n or
two things well. She was a d%extrous
seamstress. His clothes were put up
in perfect order. The girls had a cook
ing club, and Cathy had shown a posi-
tive genius for compromising dainty,
appetizing dinners day after day.
"Bring some of your friends home
and l will give you a game supper"
she said.
The friends came. The supper was
delicious. The old fellows all fell in
love with the cheerful little girl who
listened to their stories, and untiringly
sang them old ballads and ditties in a
voice which, if unskilled, was sweet as
a birds and full of pathos. They went
home in high good humor-and sober.
Mrs. Waring came home at last, so
Of Martha's our visage, Cathy's rosy
face beamed down on her. Something
the changed appearance of the room
startled her.
"Soyou've been playing housemaidP"
she said. But she soon grew too i'll to
grumble. When after a months
edious suffering she recovered, her
physician said: ''You owe your life to
he care of your daughter as much as
o me. Miss Cathy was born to be a
''She was unfortunately not bern for
.nything BETTER" said her mother.
My ambition has been terribly thwart-
d in that girl, doctor. She is no
''It Is something, after all, to be a
yoman," said the doctor, dryly.
But when the disease returned and
Irs. Warning rapidly sank under it, it
yas to Cathy she turned, and on
breast she leaned while dying.
'ousin George was there, strong, quick
nd kind. He seemed to know by in {
uition all the plans that Cathy wished
D carry out in her little world, and '
helped her in them.
In the year that followed Jane and J
sssor of Greek, the other as a student |
f medicine. They did not come home
gain.
.'What with the habits of their unfor- :
mate father, and poor stupid Cathar- |
they said, ''the atmosphere of
ONE was sitting. All mental life died :
it." I
But home and poor stupid Cathy
rev every day dearer to Mr.. Waring.
lis old tastes and habits, his finer ma
ire, revived under the sunshine of his g
ally life. He sought out old friends r
HON he had avoided for years, and q
them to the house to present d
his daughter. He struggled desper- c
tely during all the winter to break a
'ose from the yoke he had carried so t
ing. v
His property had been largely spent, O
of it lost in poor investments, and
is income had become quite small. O
atherine discharged the two servants, v
nd took the whole management of the Z
ouse. Yet with the sharpest economy a
lie found herself not able to keep it up. $
''If l were not such a dunce!:. she h
lid t o herself. She could not teach. "
ne was not a musician, or an artist. D
ne could write anything but letters, 4
she was very anxious about the s.