The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-17

I,WIn plo8Suf3Ol0 cxC1temenC-
1t seemed as if Kate had become sud-
denly possessed of but one idea in life,
that of winning that pitcher. The
Chinese china, the primrose cups and
saucers. the plate that Mrs. Governor
Winthrop had sent cake on to Madame
Burrill's mother-al were pushed aside
and forgotten.
Il wonld give any thing in the world
for it, and would do any thing in the
world" sighed Kate. There was a
moments silence, our call had been
quite long enough and was rising to go.
when Madame Burrill relaxed the hum
dredth part of degree, and said to
Kate:
Come again; l like young COM
pany."
"Then 1 will be your company" said
Kate, catching at straw, 81; you will
let me coax you up to the point of part
ing with your pitcher. Is it bargain ?
Shall come and read aloud TO yOu?'
81 like to hear reading" replied the
old lady, warily.
Then will como. Shall it be Thurs
day afternoon? Ihave an engagement
tomorrow.
Thursday is my poor day." said her
torme 1tOr. Tomorrow l shall be sit
ting up"
every WE'LL" said Kate, recklessly.
''Fll come tomorrow"
When we were fairly away from the
house. my cousin said to me: 'That
pitcher l am determined to have at any
cost. And now am going home with
YOU, for must see Louise a minute.
Louise is my half-sister, a dear little
thing, always ready to I'LL any niche
that other people fly out of. have inn
posed upon her good many times my
self. but love her dearly in spite of it.
We found her at the piano. Louise is a
fairly good musician, and has been
thinking of giving lessons.
go on practicing, dear" exclaimed
| Kate as we entered. ''Oniy let it be
something gayer. more festal, and suit
able for a merrymaking. Little Addie
Cathcart has a birthday party to-mor-
row afternoon, and l promised to play
for the children's dances. But l can
not go. and you must take my place,
Louise. like an angel you are"
"But do not know the Cathcarts,"
protested Louise.
"Never mind that; Mrs. Ben Cathcart
is charming, and will make You feel ut
home in five minutes. will write her
a note tonight and explain matters Be
there at three. I'll do bigger favor
than that for you some time dear child.
And will mix sherbes for you myself
in my big blue and white pitcher when
l have won it.
Then of she went. leaving me to tell
the story to Louise, who is of such an
obliging disposition that she could not
refuse to help the affair along. The
next day at half-past two. as Louise was
putting on her hat and gloves for the
long walk before her, heard wheels
before our door. and look ne from the
window saw George Cathcart, whom l
only knew by sight. alighting from an
elegant little phaeton. In another mo-
ment the bell rang, and Louise was
soon summoned.
Mr.. Cathcart was very easy and in
different in his manner, she told me af-
terward. He came, ne said, at the re-
quest of his sister, who feared the walk
would be fat.guing to Miss Upham. He
assisted her into the phaeton with great
politeness, and when he found she en-
joyed driving, gave her an extra turn
through the park. At the house she
was received cordially by Mrs. Ben
Cathcart. and enjoyed the children's
party extremely. playing all her pref
test and merriest pieces for them.
"And l think" she said. with glad,
shining eyes. .'that l can have little
Addie for music scholar. and maybe
two or three of the others. Mrs. Cath
cart encouraged me so much, and
praised my playing"
ut will have been lucky afternoon.
l said. laughing, ''if it wins Kate the
pitcher and you fortune
But the pitcher was not won in an af-
ternoon; Madame Burril! took good care
of that. At the end of week Kate re-
ported progress.
Il took six different books around for
her to choose FROM she said, land she
would have moth ;ng to do with the Life
of Lincoln. or poems of any kind, or
even Dickens. So began The Woman
in White, and that she enjoys. l have
been there four times to read to her."
And what about the pitcher?" l
asked.
.Oh. 1 carried her a big brown one,
so that they need not mix buckwheats
any more in my glorious beauty, for l
| was afraid Miss Janet would break it.
So now it clean and bright up in the
corner cupboard, and look at it when
ever 60 there. l shall get it at last
Harriet Upham!'
1t was during one of these reading
| visits of Rates that the doctor came in
TO attend Miss Janet, who was far from
well. He told her plainly that her con-
slant confinement to the house, and her
waiting upon her mother by day and
sleeping with her by night. were break
ing down her health, sappng her vital
itv. and if he kept charge of the case he
must insist on her occupying separate
room at night, comfortable and WELL
ventilated one. So Miss Janet. wanting
to live and to get well. exerted herself to
| prepare a small room off the kitchen,
and at night. after establishing Madame
Burrill comfortably in the grand old
high-post bedstead. betook herself to
her own modest couch. There she slept
the sleep of the innocent till near mid
niSnt, SUE was dWaheneu Oy clutcn!nS
at the bedclothes, and heard a trnr,u-
lous voice pleading: Janet Jane; m V
lie down on the floor by your beu:''
And then of course Janet beart melted,
and she threw open her bed to let the
old lady lie down by her warm side.
That ended the prescription.
''And do you think an old lady like
that will give you erpitcher?" 1 asked,
when Kate told me the story.
''Oh. she's coming up to it." said
Kate ''She used to say she never