Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-08-30
Mechacsbwn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday August 80 1885,

,''"' 'He'i ''''.f '''''' ''' 'N''N
she will not need friend when she is
Atherton's $ wife,
But the old man onl y repeated,
"Remembtr. | charge you to be that
friend y
Kate at that instant finished her
song, and came, with Athrrton, into
the room. They were n handsome
couple. His tall, erect figure matched
hers we'll, and the dark eyes were full
OF tenderness as they rest ed on her face.
She looked radiantly beautiful, the ex.
citement of singing had given rich
glow to her cheek, and eyes were full Of
fine and brilliancy.
Without any Of that blushins embar
rasmcnt which love, real love would
have given her, she welcomed Frank,
whom she had not seen before and drew
her chair up beside her uncle's as if,
Atbcrton inwardly observed, Il WAS
her grandfather
Three little weeks later, how chang
ed was the scene in the sittingroom -
Mr.. Cotton, seized with the same dis.
ease which had carried Katcs mother
to the grave, died week after the night
when he penetrated Franks secret
Frank, carrying out long silent wish
was away at the time, making u visit
to Niagara, to be away on Kates we'd
ding day.
A terrible discovery came with Mr..
Colton's death, instead Of leaving large
wealth, it was found that he had been
living. for several years past, not on his
capital, and 1t was all spent, there was
nothing literally nothing for Kate. In
her first grief, Kate had naturally turn
ed TO Athcrton for comfort, and found
his soothing tenderness ineXpressibly
dear to her, but when the state of her
uncle's affairs was told her, her first
thought, dictated by a high sense OF
honor, prompted her to release Mr..
Holmes from his engagement. She
wrote to him, looking upon the note, in
her secret heart, mere form. 10 her
surprise, polite, chilling answer was
returned. Mr.. Holmes, since he could
escape the odium of himself proposing
this measure, accepted Miss Lewis Of
fer to release him from the engagement
1t would be impossible to describe the
sudden rcvulsion of feeling in Kate S
heart. She knew now that she had
never given her whole love to her b.
trothed and the impression of wlthcr-
ing contempt which crme upon her lip
as she read the note, would have sham
ell even Atherton could he haye seen
it. The note. however, WAS last bur
den laid upon heart already oyerlad
en- with grief and anxiety, and Kate E
physical health gave way under the ac'
cumuation of mental trouble. Frank,
on his return, found Mrs Kncass
mourning over his benefactors death.
and Miss Kate illness.
She was not sick many days, but
they were long enough to make her
feel, with strange, deep pleasure, the
kind care of ner uncle $ ward. The
respectful tenderness with which he
treated her; the unrcmlttinl rrofes.
sional care he gave her; the gentl =
heartfelt sympathy he showed IN her
grief were new, and her poor. tired
heart rested with sense Of comfort
upon the love of her friend, her brother,
as she rondly called him.
AS soon as she was we'll enough to
90 out again, she applied for the place
of governcss in IL family with whom she
had been on visiting terms, and her
services were gladly secured. She did
not tell Frank Of this step until it WAS
irrcvocablc. The family were to leave
for Europe in Il few days, and when
made aware of the certainty that, f"r q
time at least, he must lose his idol,
Franks long silent love could be con-
cealed no longer. He told her all, con-
cluding with
"kate, know that your heart is not
tnine yet | do not ask you now to
return my love, but let me hope
Wherever YOU are, write to me on y
one word, Come and will hasten to
you. You will let me be your friend
and brother, until | may fill nearer
place, will you not, katc:'
Trembling with the excitement of II
new JOY; not daring to trust her own
heart yet after its recent mistake;
scorning to uld to his worldly cares by
coming to HIM, pcnnlless, mourning,
and, her heart whispered, rejected by
another, Kate only replied by words OF
Friendships: yet when the earnest plead
ING rose to imprisoned eloQuence, she
did whisper the word he lohged for
"1Iopc.'
Three years later. A group of gen.