The Delta independent., 1890-07-15
THE TWO KATES.

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 be-
side her at the moment with pretty,
graceful attitude Al, her own.
You do not appreciate all the diff
Guilty, Kate. And-and then TO think
thai Jou must teach for our daily food
While sit idly here, tied down by my
ill-health. Oh! Kate, it is very hard to
bear!'
lit is right that it should be so,
mother. If it had not been for your
love. your kind teaching, I should not
now be fit for the life before me. You
first taught me, and from my alphabet
to the last sonata 1 practiced owe all
know to you. Is it not just that
should now repay you, my dear, patient
mother!'
Mrs. Everett's hands passed cares
singly over the bright curis that shaded
her child's beautiful face, but she did
hot answer. Only in the tender touch
of her small white hand did she give
any token of how her heart was Affect
ed. She had been u widow for fifteen
years, and since Katie was wee baby
had Jet her affections center in her
ehild's life. Her marriage had not
been a happy one. It 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 high
er 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 presumptuous youth
at his first call. He was modest.
dreamy, and poor: she, shy, timid, and
obedient; SO they separated with only
a longing sigh over their castle-build-
ing SO rudely and coldly ended. And
when as she reached womanhood, Kate
Seyn. our 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 cir
cles, but quietly submitted to her moth
er's 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 bitter sorrow,
neglect, harshness, cutting sarcasm,
and the unkindly used wit that had
made her married life a martyrdom.
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 every hour of
stud, and practice, while the recrea-
tions were judiciously planned to give
health to the child's graceful form and
animation to her movements. Riding,
dancing, and walking We're daily in-
sisted upon, and now, ut 10, Kate
Everett's sunny face, perfect health,
and graceful manners spoke as elo-
quently of her mothers care as her
fluent conversation in French and
German, her brilliant lingering of the
pianoforte keys, or her cultivated tastes
and pursuits. And just as the fond
mothers health, never strong, began to
grow more feeble, crash came in
business affairs that swept away her
large income, leaving her mere pit
tance in place of her former wealth.
Size had never saved. for both from, her
parents and husband she had inherited
money, and she lived fully up to her in
come, dispensing large sums in charity
and living in luxury. The blow fell
heavily upon her. She was ill-fittcd to
cope with poverty, and she shrank with
. sick shuddering from tho idea Of see
ing Kate working for her living. Al
ways timid and reserved. she gave up
utterly for time; while Kate, in every
moment of leisure nursing left her,
sought for some means of earning her
bread. One of their friends. anxious
to aid her, told of child whose father
was seeking governess, and Kate ap-
piled by letter for the situation. She
had already sought and found small
house, which she furnished from their
own large mansion, and there on the
day our story opens we find the two
Hates.
The little girl" said Kate, breaking
q 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 UNDER
take too much mental exertion. shall
be there only five hours every day. SO
we will still have our afternoons and
evenings together"
And the nameP" asked tho mother,
Inter. cd at once.
&c &c Myers
"Myers! All, Katie, long. long ago.
when went to boarding-school, l had
lover named Myers-Horace Myers. :"
Tell me 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 Invent to school.
Une day, In high wind, I lost my veil.
and he caught it. This led to speak
ing acquaintance, and we met very fire.
q,ently at little parties given in tho
village. One summer we both re-
manned at school during the holidays,
and then we met every day. for there
was ut little restraint in either school.
He =, ) very handsome, with gentle,
winning manners. We were both re-
served and shy y,among our companions.
and, having no associates in school,
perhaps made us happier together out
of it. Well, dear, we fancicd then that
life would be very worthless ii we could
not pass 1t together; but. after / left
school, my father was very angry be:
cause Horace was poor and the son OF
carpenter, and 50, dear. he would
not allow him to visit me. and I heard
that be went to California when the
gold fever broke out. ] don't know,
because he went from here years be-
fore, and it was only hearing II friend