The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-08-07

think it visitin' of Divine Providence,
for everybody knows that the old Squire
is oyer-fond of drop, as his father was
before him; but seein' as It's girl, why,
it won't make no difference, and Eer
father laughs and says, Let her have it,
but they do say nowadays that hank
erin is inhcritary on somethin', and it
wouldn't be surprisin' but what the lit
tie girl gets it from her grandfather, for
If I'm sure her father likes it quite as
well as ever he did, so she don't take
the likin' from him."
The little girl was named Catherine
Maria. but some kindly friend shortened
| it to kathie, and little Kathie passed
through the various stages Of common
babyhoOd. Had the mumps and meas
els, chickcnpoX, and various other af-
| flictions to which man is heir, in the first
few years of his existence.
At length she reached her eighteenth
birthday, as bright and blooming a
maiden as ever Father Time smiled up
on.
She was pretty and dainty from the
crown of her curly head to the sole Of
her little arched foot. OF course she
had adorcrs by the score, but she was
capricious and fancIful, and not one had
ever been able to tlatteI himself that he
had won her preference.
About this time, too, Kathie began to
exhibit moods and one never knew
what TO expect from her. At times she
would be the life and spirit of the little
rural gatherings, her sparkling wit bub-
bling up and running over in merriment
and then again. she would be as glum
and silent as sphynX.
Aunt Nancy watched her with anXi-
ous eyes. There's somethin' wrong
with that child" she said once to John
Wendell. 'lt amt natural for gal
like her to have sich spells of mopin'."
But the old man looked at his daugh-
ter over his mug of cider and said decid-
edlv: II don't see as she is different
from other gals. Her mother was allus
quiet, and suppose she takes after Eer
little in these spells"
About this time the commun ity was
set all ailoat by the advent into its midst
of Il young man named Ralph Ansell.
/ In uac f1,n # oil IpIuo A nSnll
who lived on the outskirts of the village
not far from the Elms. Young Ansell
was about twenty-five years of age pos
sessed of a fair share of good looks, came
of a good family and was frank and en-.
gaging ia manner. He had an indie
pendent fortune, but from choice, was
studying for the ministry, and he came
to the little village among the hills. tc
recruit and recover from the effects OF
too close application to his chosen
study.
1t was not many days before his eyes
disccrned the particular flower Of tho
place, and from the first, he was attract
ed towards Kalhie His proposed visit
of Two weeks was prolonged to tive
months, and when he returned to hi:
work, if the indisposition which caused
5 him to seek rest, was cured, he hal con
tracted a severe affection OF the heart
which threatened to prove more serious
than the first disease.
He found it convenient at frequen
: intervals to run down to Uncle An
sells" for a few days during the next
year, and one evening he slipped gol
en- ciiclet upon Kathics slender finger
aud carried back with him her promise
at some future time, to be his wife.
The year had brought its changes il
u Kalhie. Ralphs had been prosperou
), woo,ne, and the luckless village swain
had early Withdrawn from the contest
p" Every one said that it was a splendi
y match. Kathie was sole heircss to til
Elms, and although showing the angu
" lar lines of primitive days, it was
> grand old place, aud the villagers a
~ said that she had ''done we'll"
H. But pretty Kathie had not thought {
a, rank, money or position, when she whi'
,n pered yes" She only thought ths
n Ralph loved her. That she was TO hay
:, his love through life, and then throug
"a all eternity.
=, Her own love made her humGl
. and then, she was not the proud, in
- perious Kathie she had once been. Aui
Nancy saw the change and reioiced, fl
the moods had disappeared, al
W Kathie went around the old hous
"' busted with house-wifelY duties, singh
=, like a bird. This lasted nearly a yea
u, but to every argument of Ralph's urgiI
lu an early day for their marriage, 81
'i' gently put him off.
NC 1t was the anniversary of their b
nu trothal. They were returning at Ia
au hour from social gathering, but
lovels will, loitered slowly along in Il
as moonlight.
Inn Ralph had never seen Kathie so 6
no as she had been all evening. He III
IS, been pleased to note how every o.
on yielded to her. lie was proud of h
er, fresh, sweet beauty, and as they walk
of slowly along erlittle hand resting up,
his sleeve, he thought that he had new
i'm loved her half so well as then.
i've "Kathie, dear, you must not think l
ful unreasonable or arrogating, but hay,
in favor to ask of you, VIII you gra
cd it?"
ce' "What is it, please? | can tell y
better them"
by 81 know some people say have o
les notions, some even say fanatical, but
cannot help it, hate Intoxicating
en- quors in any shape, and tonight, de
Ia, ] l .o,,. 500, aLi.,rr .viaa lupt n