The Osceola times., 1886-12-18
y annoying. for you knowwhat lovely

y annoying, for you knowwhat a loyuiy
gown meant TO wear to the party"
90 hate missed one Of the ch eff pleas
ures Of the season, and was missed by
otners as well. Soon after we reached
the brilliantly lighted parlors Mr.. Cath.
cart made his way TO our corner. and
sad that he had heard that Miss Gar.
land was detained by the illness of an
aged friend. and as he believed Mist
Louise was her substitute on such oc.
oaslons, he should beg her to give him
all the dances Miss Garland had prom,
ised MIN. Louise blushed rosily, looking
/ Prettler than ever saw her before, and
sad she was not sure she liked being )
substitute.
"oh, of course, shall expect all the
dances should have begged of yoS
yourself besides, he replied, laughing
and led her away for a gallon. 1t cnded
IN Louise being fairly belle that even,
ing, which was the last thing we had,
as family, expected of her.
Three days after, l met Kate oui
shopping.
"Did you get the pitcher?" l asked.
mot yet, v she replied, with a sombet
look. al read aloud till eleven o'clock,
and then she suddenly dropped asleep;
SO there was no more to be said that
night, and | haven't seen her since. I
want you and Louise to come to my
house this evening to play whist. Mr..
Cathcart will make fourth. Do come
promised for Louise and myself.
and after an early tea we had pleas
ant walk across the town to Cousin
kate's lovely home. She showed US
her collection of old china and pottery,
and it was really quite impressive,
though the shelves were by no means
full.
''When get Madame Burrill's blue
and white pitcher, ! shall set it at the
very top to crown the WHOLE" she said
glancing up with an anticipatory pr de.
MIR. Cathcart came previously, and
we four then established ourselved in
the cosiest corner for game. We were
just fairly launched in it, when the door.
bell rang sharply, and a messenger
entered to say that Madame Burril)
was suddenly taken worse, and must
see Miss Garland at once. Kate flushed,
hesitated, and laying her cards on the
table, arose.
''She thinks she is going to die, and
means to give me the pitcher, "she said,
glancing at us.
| could not help thinking thai
Madame Burrill was like A malicious
old fairy godmother, who knew by some
subtle prescience just when to practice
her tyrannies with the most effect Kate
looked SO bright and pretty that even-
ing. was in such good spirits, and wa
were having such pleasant time, that il
seemed shame to break it all up. |
wanted to say SO, but it would have
sounded hard-hearted in spite of all my
disbelief in Madame Burrills bad symp-
toms.
II will be ready in five minutes TO 90
with you," said Kate TO the messenger.
'l will accompany you myself if you
are going" said Mr.. Cathcart.
"Oh, no." protested Kate; at is not
far, and this person will be sufficient.
want you to amuse yourselves here for
a while, for may come back in an
hour. Ian sorry to 60, but / can't
well refuse"
.'Do you go for love, pity or the pitch.
erp" asked Mr.. Cathcart. SIN ling.
'For the pitcher" replied Kate, hon
estly. 81 can't pretend to love Madame
Burrll; I'm afraid dom t pity her much
either; but do want the pitcher"
And then she was gone, and we were
left to our own resources. Mr.. Cath
cart asked Louise TO play a slumber-
song he had admired, and our broken
whist evening was changed into a mu-
sical. Louise went on from one thing
to another. played exquisitely, as she
always does; and after awhile, Mr..
Cathcart having a fine bass voice, be
and she were singing duets. was audi
ence part of the time, and part of the
time l read novel. Then Aunt Lydia
sent us in delicious little supper of
oysters and chocolate, and looking at
the clock we were surprised to see how
late it was.
II wonder what poor Kate is do
ingp" / said, as | slipped my fragrant
chocolate from a dainty gold and brown
cup.
''Now isn't it a curious study in hui
man nature" said George Cathcart,
ito watch how such thing as this
china craze can so absorb lady's
mind that every thing else in life sinks
into insigni6cance? l value an heir
loom as much as anybody, but for these
crfcked dishes from other peoples fam.
lilies | have no fancy"
"Well, don't know" put in Louise,
in her gentle voice. The other day
my old nurse gave me very pretty
china plate that had belonged to her
grandmother. She told me quite q
story about it, and it really made me
feel little bit like being collector my
self"
Don't, for Heavens saker' ex-
claimed George Cathcart, with an ardor
that made us laugh.
We left the house at last without see-
ing Kate. and she never told me how
late it was when she returned. Mr..
Cathcart accompanied us home. and the
walk seemed unusually short, he was so
pleasant and entertaining.
''lf Kate really loves him." said to
Louise in our room that night, "I won
der that she ventures to neglect him
So"
''She doesn't love him." said Louise,
impetuousIy; ''she is in love with an old
pitcher"
Mother went the next day to call on
Madame Burrill and to carry her some
whipped cream. She found the old LADY
much better, sitting in her rocking chair
as usual. The blue and white pitcher
also was there, for mother saw it her
self up in the cupboard. But about q
week later. as ! was slowly walking over
to my Cousin Kate's to tell her an i'm
portant piece of news. met her coming
out of the street that led fo M.da ma