Woodville Republican., 1889-12-21
THE TWO KATES.
Mr. Myers Proposes to One and
Marries the Other.

Mdrr1oS the OJn0r.
NJ am sure we shall get along very
nicely. Mrs. Williams says the salary
will be liberal, and that the little girl
is very lovely, though she is so afflicted.
Don't look so doubtful, mother" and
Kate Everett wound her arms round her
mothers waist, sinking down beside her
at the moment with pretty, graceful
attitude all her own.
"You do not appreciate all the diff
sulty, Katie. And-and then to think
that you must teach for our daily food
while sit idly here, tied down by my
ill-health. Oh, Kate, it is very hard
TO bearl"
at is right that it should be so,
mother. If it had not been for your
love, your kind teaching, should not
now be fit for the life before me. You
first taught me, and from my alphabet
to the last sonata l practiced, owe all
] know to you. Is it not just that
should now repay you, my dear, patient
motherr'
Mrs. EYerett's hands passed caressing-
ly over the bright curls that shaded her
child's beautiful face, but she did not
answer. Only in the tender touch of
her small white hand did she give any
token of how her heart was affected.
She had been a widow for fifteen years,
and since Katie was wee baby had let
her affections center in her child's life.
Her marriage had not been happy one.
1t had been made by her parents, and
she shy, timid girl, had let herself be
influenced by their stronger will. Years
before, when she was schoolgirl, her
life had been gilded for the time by the
dream Of love that opens every woman's
life to higher thoughts; but her suitor
was poor and obscure, the son of an
ambitious carpenter, who was spending
his all to educate the boy, and her
father had frowned down the presumpt-
uous youth at his first call. He was
modest, dreamy and poor; she, shy,
timid and obedient: so they separated
with only longing sigh over their
castle-building SO rudely and coldly
ended. And when, as she reached wom-
anhood, Kate Seymour heard of the
proposal of the rich Leigh Everett, she
wondered a little how he learned to love
her in their short acquaintance in social
circles, but quietly submitted to her
mothers wish, her fathers command,
and became his wife. Four years later
he died, and in his grave his widow
tried to bury the memory of bit
ter sorrow, neglect, harshness, cutting
sarcasm, and the unkindly used wit
that had made her married life mar
tyrdom. He left her wealthy, and she
spared no expense in the education of
her only child, the Kate of this story
Every lesson was given in her own
presence, her patient care directed ev-
cry hour of study and practice, while the
recreations were judiciously planned to
give health to the child's graceful form
and animation to her movements
Riding, dancing, and walking were daily
insisted upon, and now, at nineteen,
Kate Everett's sunny face, perfect
health, and graceful manners spoke as
eloquently of her mothers care as her
fluent conversation in French and Ger
man, her brilliant lingering of the
piano-forte keys,or her cultivated tastes
and pursuits. And just as the fond moth
er's health, never strong, began to grow
more feeble, a crash came in business
affairs that swept away her large income,
leaving her mere pittance in place of
her former wealth. She had never
saved, for both from har parents and
husband she had. inherited money, and
che lived fairy up to her income, dis
pensing large sums in charity and living
in luxury. The blow fell heavily upon
her. She was ill-fitted to cope with
poverty, and she sank with a sick shud-
dering from the idea of seeing Kate
working for her living. Always timid
and reserved, she gave up utterly for a
time; while Kate, in every moment of
leisure nursing left her, sought for some
means of earning her bread. One of her
. friends, anxious to aid her told of child
whose father was seeking a governess,
and Kate applied by letter for the situa-
tion. Sho had already sought and found
a small house, which she furnished from
their own large mansion, and there on
the day our story opens we find the two
Hates.
ssThe little girl, said Kate, breaking
long silence, has some disease of the
spine that makes her incurably lame,
and her father wishes her to have a
governess who will teach her orally, and
be careful that she does not undertake
too much mental exertion. shall be
there only five hours every day, 50 we
VIII still have our afternoons and even
iDgs together"
sAnd the na1ne21 asked the mother,
interested at once,
''orace Myers"