Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-22
Gales aud Sketthes.
WHICH SHALL 1T BE?
Continue from yesterday. }

ever Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were settled
there. He would stroll up to the house
and present his handsome face at the
kitchen window, where Kate would be
busy with her cooking or her baking, or
he would walk boldly in and offer to help
her with anything in which she was en-
ployed. On some pretext or other he was
never long absent, and soon my father be-
gan to look grave about it and to say he
feared that Walter Butler was not up to
much good and that the village people
were beginning to talk.
In those DAYS often used to go and see
Kate and always found her busy and in
dusirious, but with a haggard, worried
look in her ewes that ought not to have
been there, for he affairs were looking up
the harvest was good one Jim worked
like two men, fences were repaired, more
hands were taken on, new machinery
bought, and altogether Hawthorn Farm
| began to wear faint resemblance to its
former self Old Mr.. Goldie, too, per-
fectly happy, Jim was an attentive and
respectful son-in-law, and it seemed to
me that, except that her husband was too
! soft, as she once said to me. Kate had
nothing to complain of.
One afternoon when strolled up there
| | found to my annoyance Walter Butler,
with pipe in his mouth. sitting in the
| best parlor, while Kate sat at the window
mending. at once evinced my displeas-
ure by saying. with marked GOODNESS:
81 will not stay. Kate. as | see you are
occupied" and was about to withdraw
when she flung down her work and came
after me.
80 Miss Florence, do stay-do stay ~
There was ring of entreaty in her voice
that struck me, and turned round again
II can't stay" answered. "If Walter
Butler is sitting there smoking
He shan't sit there-he shall 60"
II thought you could not abide lazy
fellows, Kate ?' | continued som ewhat
maliciously.
"No more cam" she answered. flush
ing II hate them 4! Oh, hate them ~
There was passion, fire abont her as
she calculated these words that puzzled
me and made me at once 90 back with
her We found Walter still lounging on
the pretty chintz-covered sofa, but my
presence seemed to make Kate brave, for
she said to him:
Now just you go about your business,
Walter, and take your nasty pipe out of
this room when Miss Florence is coming
into it.
He rose sulkily enough.
Good bye. Kate he said F.; patronizing-
ly made me a surly salute. and was about
to leave the room when Jim came in
fair, red faced, deb0nair as usual. Not so
debonair, though, that he could not shoot
a glance of anger and contempt at Walter
| Butler.
"What be you adding here?" he asked,
and then turned, after greeting me, to
Kate. "My dear" he said gently, II
wants my tea early today"
STAYED and had tea with them, and
was more than ever struck by Jim' S
goodness to his wife, and by his innate
good breeding. | began to think that
Kate had married we'll after all
! Her manner towards him was singular
| ly variable. One minute it was cold, the
next warm; it was contemptuous, yet at
times respectful-altogether riddle.
"What a good husband you have, Kate. "
| remarked, as he left the room to return
to his work.
yes she answered. HE is well
enOugh--he is very good to father and
me- that can't deny-but he's not much
of a man. ''she added with some contempt.
when you marry, Miss Florence. mar
nv man as will look after you.'
"Why, Kate, Jim is always thinking OF
you. should not have thought that you =,
who are so very Independent, cared to be
looked after so much.n
you are not married. Miss Florence
You don't understand" and with this.
for me, rather humiiating remark, the
conversation ceased.
1t was a few weeks after this that Jim
proved himself man in the sense | could
not understand, in so satisfactory a man.
ner that he and Kate have been the happi-
est of couples ever since. Kate herself
told me about it in a moment of expansion,
following Immediately alter the event.
1t seemed that one day when Walter
was lounging about her while she was
busy in her kitchen garden. Jim came in
very quietly-he was always Suiet-at an
hour when he was usually out in the fields,
with a heavy carriers whip in his hand.
He walked up to Walter.
NO" said he. quite calmly. II want
to know what business you always have
here, prowling about my wifep If ever
catch you in this here garden or house
again | will lay this"-holding up the
whip-"about your shoulders; so now you
had better be gone"
Walter stared in amazement at the quiet
fair haired man. You oaf, YOU" he
said.
IAN oaf, am l." said Jim, 'then take
this" and gave him a smart cut with the
whip.
With cry of rage Walter tried to
spring on him, but Jim kept his head and
eluded him.
Don't try that" he said. "or you will
get the worst of it,. and once more he
raised the whip menacingly.
kate 60 in be said" with ring OF
authority in his voice she had never heard
there before, but she did not stir How
could she, when love and admiration for
her husband were surging through her
veins. and her heart was beating so that
she could not move.
For one minute the two men stood eve-
] ing each other. and then 1.-THE and active
Jim seized Walter round the waist
and threw him to the ground. Oh, Jim
am so glad. so glad!'
He looked at hef wonderingly, but did
not answer. for Walter. with an evil white
face, had risen TO his feet, and finding his
despised antagonist too much for him was
DrppariDor IN hoat on mathematical ,a.,oat