Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-09-06
KATHLEEN'S VICTORY.

''Is any one hurt?" asked Mr.. Ger
maine "What has happenedP Can |
be of use?"
He was strolling past Mayfower Cot
tage, as he often did. 1t was habit
into which be had fallen of late, almost
without any definite knowledge or in
tention of his own, and if any one had
told him that Kathleen Connor's fair,
girlish face had anything 10 do with it,
he would doubtless have been much sur
prised.
''Oh, it's only our Kathie, in one of
her tempests" said Nora calmly,
smoothing back the wind-ruffied gold
of her curls She's us wild as the
March wind itselfr'
Nora was like tall, white lily, so
serene, so graceful, and so beautiful.
Her soft locks lay against her brow like
waves of sunshine, her eyes were blue
and clear beneath their curved lashes,
her crimson lips looked as if they never
spoke aught but the sweetest of words.
Mr.. Germaine looked at her as an
artist might survey some peerless work
of art; but his heart never warmed to-
wards her any more than if she were
1t was Kathleen that he liked best
wild, impetuous Kathleen, with the vel
vet hazel eyes, and the shifting roses in
her cheeks, and the bright, disordered
hair-Kathleen who was always being
checked for something. and who was
treated more like child than woman,
although she had passed the rubicon of
her eighteenth birthday.
"Ohr' said Mr.. Germaine.
Nor did he think the less of Kathie to
discover that she was human, like the
rest of womankind, and no passionless
clay goddess.
won't you come in?" said Nora,
with caressing cordially of manner.
mot to-day" said Germaine.
And he walked meditatively past the
lilac-hedged fence, with his eyes cast
downward, as if he were counting the
yellow dandelions that starred the
grassy bank.
Nora bit her lip.
"Tiresome fellowr" she SAID to her.
self 81 do wonder if he ever means to
come to the point? But he must mean
something, or he wouldn't keep coming
here. And he is rich and handsome,
and mamma saws that if mean to set
tie we'll / mustn't wait until | am old
and faded, like Miss Mercy Mainwar-
ing"
So Nora entered the garden-gate, set
Ting the ribbon bows on her dress in a
keisurely sort of way, and following the
tones of a high, excited voice, she stroll
ed along the wide, cool hall to the
strawberries at the back of the house.
''Oh, DEAR" said she, with depre-
eating motion of her hand, what is it
now? | do wish. Kathie, you wouldn't
treat us to SO many Of these scenesi It's
too trying to the nerves!'
Kathie stood in the midst of the flow
er-beds, relentlessly tramping down
verbenas, poppyheads, and clove-scent-
ed clusters of pinks, with something
held tenderly in her hands, while her
sparkling. tear-drenched eyes and the
vivid scarlet Of her cheeks betokened
that some extraordinary emotion had
stirred her soul.
What have you got?" asked Nora.
sharply. Bright bits of color-feath-
ers?n
"Its-it's two beautiful birds!'' sob
bed kathie, II have fed and coaxed
them ever since they were wee bits of vel
vet down in their nestr'
''Such fuss about nothingr' said
Fred. tall lad Of sixteen; land Dick is
waiting to stuff and mount them for me.
told her. Nora, that you said that you'd
give me half-a-crown il I'd shoot the
birds; but she won't believe me-"
'Oh. Nora!' pleaded Kathleen; '.you
didn't-you never couldr'
.'Such fuss TO make about nothingi"
repeated Nora, impatientlv STAMPING