Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-11-14
BONNIE KATE.

he was only q clerk In q grocery store.
and neither brilliant nor Rood-lookinp.
yet he seemed TO appropriate my sister
Kate from the first.
He II was who chrlstened her Bonnie
Kate" and used to hang around her like
a faithful dog, aud though she snubbed
him, she could not get rid OF him; she
said she pitied the poor fellow.
was glad enough when she became
engaged to Oswald Gray, a wealthy New
Yorker. Now, said to myself, we shall
be rid Of Dave Lynn. 1t was only a few
days after this that he came 10 bid Kate
goodbye. He was going away TO take q
position where he would have a chance
TO make fortune. How Kate withered
him with her scorn.
"You q gentleman che cried con-
temptuously. THAT would be miracle,
indeed When that happens you may
even be my husband, Tor one is not more
impossible than the other"
"Both are possible, and will come true
as surely as we both live!' he cried, reso.
iuiely. II said TO myself, when the
letter came, I'll put my fortune to the
testp and got some roses-the sweetest
and best could find--and sent them to
you this morning. i wrote on card.
H..
| and said to myself, III see her wear
only enc Of them will take It as q sign
that shall win her, and see, " he pointed
to her heavine. angry bosom, "do you not
wear them now?"
MOP she cried passionately, and tore
the crimson cluster from her breast. 81
never would wear a flower OF yoursl |
Thought they came from Oswald Gray, !"
che added to me, as she iell, sobbing with
rage. upon my bosom.
Whatever you thought you wore
themT cried Dave, triumphantly, "as /
shall wear You some day, my rose OF the
world Until then, may God guard you
for me. Goodbye"
And lie had caught her hand and kissed
It, and was gone, before she could speak
or prevent him.
"Run after him" she gasped. "TeIl
him about Oswald Gray" Then when /
would have obeyed her-"No, no; come
back-it is not worth our whilel He Is
gone, and shall see no more of him,
Ohp' she added, presently, III am glad
that he has gone-I have been afraid that
he really would marry me In spite of my
sell, and that should lose power to re-
sist him."
Meantime the preparations for her we'd
ding went on IN rrily, the expectant
bridegroom having returned TO town. 1t
wanted but short time Of the heppy
day, and we were looking anxiously for
his arrival, when something terrible hap.
pened that turned to bitter mourning all
our Joy.
Bonnie Kate fell sick. For five DAYS
she hal been ailing. At last she took to
her bed, and then we learned the extent
Of our misfortune that dreaded disease,
the smallpox, which had been raging in
a neigh6oring village, had reached our
nome and stricken our beauty down.
Alas poor Kstel Long weeks she lay
on her weary couch OF pain, while what
should have been her wedding day came
and passed away. Heaven was merciful
and spared our darling to us, but the
Bonnie Kate" who had laid down so
YEARLY, arose no more.
Even Dave would not call me bonnie
now, she sighed, as she looked at her
swollen and dsdgured features In the
glass. "Poor Dave"
1t was the first time she had mentioned
her despsed adorer's name since the day
no left us. More than year had passed
since then, but brought no news of Dave.
She had refused to allow Oswald GRAY
to come near her until all danger of any
Infection was PASSED; but now he was
sent for.
He came Immediately from his distant
city home. had my opinion of him for
having stayed away SO obediently, con-
trastlng bis GOODNESS with the devotion of
that poor, foolish lover who had watched
once all night long outside our door. 1
wondered If the came thought ever came
to Kate, but II 1t did she never spoke OF
IL.
Oswald had not been told that tue d.
sease was smallpox. He learned first
from her own looks and lips. | never
saw man so shocked and scared.
There is no danger" she said, gently.
81 would not have you sent for until all
was safe. But | wanted you to see mo as
am. Such beauty as ever had is
gone. l am no mere the Bonnie Kate
whom you wooed. want to say to you
that, II you wish 1t, you are entirely
free"
But he would not say he wished II. He
wished nothing but to escape from the
house and town. He soothed her with a
few sweet words and went away promis-
Ing to write to her.
In few days he did SO. / found her |
With the letter lying open In her lap, her |
eyes gazing llstlessly before her.
HE takes me ut my word and claims |
his Freedom" she said quietly, and laid
ber POOR head on my breast. 81 am not |
30 sorry as you think, she said while ] |
,aressed her, "for this Is not true love.
One loved me truly once"-the tears
'prang to her eyes.
Three years went by. Time had dealt
with our Bonnie Kate" and
'oitened down the ruin OF her beauty.
And one day came stranger 10 our
ioor. A tall, istingulshed-l looking man, I
whose voice and merry blue eyes seemed
70 me oddly familiar. He asked for Kate.
81 bring her news of an old friend,"
aid he.
Kate was at the piano. / rushed In.
Kate" said l, there is somebody"
l didn't say another word, for she |
trose from her seat aud fixed her eyes on |
The stranger, her face growing strangely |
pale. Her hands clasped Ieryously; the |
next minute she muttered n cry, low,
Iull of rapture -"Davei 1t is Divel"-
md fell sobbing on her own true lovers
breast.
81 have worked, studied, toiled for
you through all these years." he said
presently. 81 knew you would be nine
IT last l knew 1t from the hour In which
you kept my roses."
81 keep them STILL" she said.
And they were married. The change
n Hates beauty made no change in