The examiner., 1886-01-23
DEFEATED.

"Maud, I wish you would not say that again. Itel you, once for alls MT. Lee is and cannot be anything more to me than friend; so if you respect my wishes in the least you will not mention his name to me again."
 And Katie Lane flung back her bright, brown curls as she spoke, a little disdain- fully, perhaps, and bent little lower over the piece of crocheting she held in her hands. s.e
 will not stop to tell you that she, my heroine, was handsome; suffice it to say that she was the belle of the pretty village of M; and, as 8 matter of course, was sought after and admired by all the young men of the place, not only because she was witty and accomplished, but because old Guy Lane was the wealthiest man in in the hands of Katie, as the only legal heir.
 Maud Anthony laughed low and tri- umphantly, as she returned:
 'tReal1y, Katie, you need not speak so angrily. Everybody thinks you are going to marry him, and, for my part think he will make someone kind husband"
 "Well, if you see so many good quail ties about him, why don't you marry him? When see fit to get married shall take whom please, despite what everybody says"
 The curls flew again, and the sparkling eyes glanced saucily at the finished CO., quette opposite her.
 "Oh hol so my pretty lady is getting angry, eh? If that's the case I must flee. Only remember have done my duty. I thought you ought to know how people are talking"
 "You need not trouble yourself, Miss Anthony, to look after my affairs; you must have enough of your own to look after. When I need your advice will surely let you know. So bid you good afternoon"
 The qIeenly little head rose proudly erect at this, and with scornfu1 expres- sion on her lips, Katie walked quickly away into the shadow of the shrubbery of the garden.
 AS she walked hastily on, footstep on the other side of the hedge checked her flight, and in a moment Wilkes Lee, the subject of the little conversation under the elms, scrambled up into sight, without seeming to have seen Katie, and hastened away. ...----.
 The strange little heart of Katie gave a sudden start as she recognized her old friend and-lover, and she paused mur- mering:
 sI wonder if he heard what we said? I wouldn't have had him for all the world A plague on Maud Anthony She forced me to say it. I suppose she is glad, too; for now she thinks I don't care for him."
 For moment Katie was silent .as she worked nervously at the pretty diamond ring that encircled that chubby finger. It was gift from Wilkes, betrothal ring.
 'I don't carep' Katie at last broke out, pouting 'tNow, that Pve said it, I'll show Miss Anthony I mean it. There," she said, as she drew the diamond from her finger and cast it away into the bushes, ''there, lie there and rust, for all I care. Much good may it do you, Maud, too. You can catch him, I know, but what do care?'
 More than you think, my pretty heroine; we shall see.
 A moment Katie stood there looking in the direction of the hedge; then clapping her hands to her face she burst into a quiet shower of tears.
 On the other side of the hedge Wilkes Lee strode quickly away, saying sheep ishly:
 "Well we'll, pretty scrape you came near getting into, my boy. Didn't mean to be an eavesdfopper, certainly; accidents will happen, you know. So she don't care for you, eb? We'll see. I'll warrant she don't know her own heart now. I think I'll run away a few days and let her get over her fit."
 And the young man disappeared in the underbrush that lined the road, 1eaped the fence, and was soon lost to view in the distance,
 Katie waited patiently for many days for the visit of her once ardent lover, and then, concluding that he had not only