Woodville Republican., 1889-12-21

''Tell me all about it, said Kate, with
girls eager interest in love-story.
''There is very little to tell, dear. The
college where he studied was in the
same Village where / went to school.
One day, in high wind, / lost my vail,
and he caught it. This lead to speak
ing acquaintance, and we met very fire.
quently at little parties given in the
village. One summer we both remained
at school during the holidays, and then
we met every day, for there was but lit
tie restraint in either school. He was
very handsome, with gentle, winning
manners. We were both reserved and
shy among our companions and, having
no associates in school, perhaps made us
happier together out of it. Well, dear,
we fancied then that life would be very
worthless if we could not pass it to-
gether; but, after l left school, my
father was very angry because Horace
was poor and the son of carpenter, and
so, dear, he would not allow him to visit
me, and heard that he went to Cali
fornia when the gold fever broke out.
don't know, because he went from here
years before, and it was only hearing a
friend speak of Mr.. Myers whom she
met in San Francisco, merchant, very
wealthy and very intellectual, highly
respected there, whose name was
Horace. He was married, she said, with
four or five children-perhaps, after all,
it was some one else," and the little
pale invalid smiled as she saw Kate's
interest.
They were very unlike in looks, this
loving mother and child. Mrs. Everett
was delicate blonde, with a slender,
fragile figure, blue eyes and fair curls;
while her daughter was tall, with full,
well-developed figure, large hazel eyes,
and dark chestnut hair. She had in.
herited from her father well-cut fea-
lures, and a firm, though beautiful
mouth, and with her fair, noble brow,
stately manners and dignifled carriage,
she was very unlike her gentle, timid
mother. Yet her respect and love for
the pale invalid was true and earnest,
their two lives bound up together by last
ing tender ties.
Six months later look again at Kate
Everett's life. She is seated in lux
uriously furnished parlor, and in her
arms rests pale, golden-haired child,
whose stunted figure, crooked by dis
ease, is crowned by an angels face.
''That is the last lesson for to-day"
said the child, as, leaving the piano
stool, she climbed into Kate's lap. "Now
tell me a story"
''Not now. Go to Mary and be dressed
for a ride. l want a word with Miss
Everett"
1t was the voice Oracle loved to obey
her fathers, so she went quietly, leav-
ing Kate alone with her employer. Sup
posing he wished some alteration made
in the course of study, or some change
of exercise for Grace, she waited for
him to cross the room, take chair be-
side her and speak. But after seating
himself the silence was so long that she
looked up inquiringly to meet pair of
soft, dark eyes resting on her face with
loving interest.
"Kate Everett, will you be my wife?"
If he had drawn pistol and fired it
in her face she could scarcely have been
more astonish. His wife! This cold,
grave man, who had remained the silent
spectator of Grace's every day studies,
rarely speaking or smiling. His wifel
"You are surprised" he said, gently
''and will woo you not for myself, but
Oracle. have lost four children, Miss
Everett, and this is the only treasure l
have left. She is so lonely when you
are gone, she loves you so tenderly, and
IL will be the kindest truest husband
if you will come to me for my little
girls sake. You have a mother, too
who is ill, and, hear, poor, will be
true son to her, trust me. wait your
answer, Kate"
"Mr. Myers, am so surprised, con-
fused-I-let me think moment You
have been very kind-but-"
"But / am an old man for such fresh,
young heart as yours to love. Yet will
try to make you happy. You love no
one else, Katie?"
'No. respect and esteem you, Mr..
Myers, perhaps l may learn to love you.
Give me time"
'May come tonight to see your
mother?"
Suddenly, like flash Kate's face
lighted. He had been opening and shut
ting book that lay on the table beside
him, and she had looked for the first
time at the name inside of it. He had
been to her before the grave Mr.. Myers,
in the care of whose child her whole az
tention had been absorbed: now he stood
before her in new light.
''Yes, come; come to-nightT she said,
rising.
81 will not fail. In the meantime
speak to your mother"
Speak to her motherl Kate few over
her we'll known road with quick, light
steps, and her face full of bright light.
Some happiness too great for speech
filled her mind, for her greeting to her
mother was only fervent, warm kiss.
'You must be dressed for company to-
night, mother" she said, as late in the
dlbcIHOOu ouS ldAu dSluc hoI oSWlhF
"Mr. Myers is coming to call upon you
l shall fish up the blue silk used tc
like so much from its cozy bed in your
trunk, and curl your hair as used to do
when we went out together"
And you? What will you wear?"
'Oh, he won't look at me when you
are by. He sees me every day, and he
is used to this merino"
Even in her youth Kate Everett, senior,
had never looked lovelier than she die
when her daughters skillful fingers had
arranged her dress. The long curls were
looped in front to fall over her comb, In
a golden mass down on her neck. Tho
dark blue silk made her fair complexion
radiant, and the color given by the little