Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-03-28
KATHARINE'S PARTY.
BY SUSIE VAN WICK HERRIOK.

consented to her inviting a party
of her Young friends to pass the
day with her at her lovely country
home. Mr.. Burton would see that
they were safely driven to town IN
the evening.
Kartharine attended select
school in R, three miles from
where she lived, and drove in With
her father when he went to his
Office. AS she entered the school.
room a few days before her birth.
day. with apackage of notes in her
hand, she could hardly keep back
the verbal explanation which rose
to her lips In reply to the questions
which assailed her when the invita-
tiOns were delivered.
Chow lovely y exclaimed a
chorus of voices when the notes
we're opened.
at will be a glorious treat" +"
said Fanny Wilder, the tallest
girl OF the group. II only wish it
was to- uOrrow.' At that moment
;he door was opened and a young
girl entered the room. An awk-
ward pause eDsued, which was
broken by the ring of the bell call
ing the school to order.
Gertrude Hill was rather small
for her fourteen years, and her
gray eyes seemed almost too large
for her face. Her hair was black
and naturally curly, but as the
aunt with whom she lived did not
approve of modern bangs, every
hair was pulled straight from the
forehead aud was braided in the
back, the end being turned up in.
stead of beng tied with ribbon.
This arrangement made her look
quite plain,
Gertrude,s mOtner had been
dead several years, and since that
time she had lived with her aunt.
Her father was a naval officer, 80
much OF his time was passed on
water. Nothing was known of the
family in R, as they had only
lived there a few months.
The first morning of the Fall
term the lady principal had enter
ed the schoOl-rOom with a new
scholar, whose old.tashioned ap-
pearance did not prepossess her
class mates in her favor. She was
shy and embarrassed when at noon
some of the girls tried to make her
acquaintance, so without consult
ing each other her school, mates
had mentally decided to leave her
alone.
OF course Gertrude felt that she
was banished as to the polar zone,
and the consciousness that she was
not like the other girls made it
impossible for her to break down
the barrier which had arisen be.
tween them.
AS Katharine went to her place
a slight cloud was on her face, for
IN passing Gertrude's seat she had
seer a tear.drOp on the open page
before her. Katharine had kind
heart, and the sight of anyone in
distress called out her earnest
sympathy, so when the noon re.
cess arrived she looked around
for Gertrude; but she had slipped
away, while the others were
still engaged at the board, and
had gone home.
The girls were able to talk OF
nothing for the next few days but
the coming party and the good
time they would have. Katharine's
parents were very indulgent tc
+ their children, and spared no paint
to give them every pleasure whlcl
: would be good tor them.
All of Friday Katharine seemed
T rather i'll at ease. AS the girl
we're having a final talk afte
IS school, Gertrude passed them oil
3 her way home, responding brietl.
= to the "GOod bye, Gertie" which
Fanny called after her.
"Girls," said Katharine, mskia
a sudden resolution. 81 mean
! invite Gertrude to my party.'-
. Without waiting to hear the rathe
: disappointing "Do you 2" whic
/; her companions uttered, she depaI
ted after the slight figure. "Gel
: trude Walt a minute" she called
. as out of breath she reache
) her. 81 want yOu to come
to my party tomorrow. All NJ
class mates are invited, and it wi
= afford mamma and me much pleas
ure if you will come, too"
Gertrude's face had assumed a
expression Of surprise as the inv
tation was delivered, and nov
flushing deeply, she replied,
would love to go, but am afraid
III -