St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-22
A TRIP POSTPONED.

A TRIP POSTPONED.
HOW IT HAPPENED THAT KATIE DID NOT
GO TO THE CITY.
Mr.. Foster was in the hall gathering his
letters and papers into convenient pack
age as he spoke.
"Be sure you are ready, Katie, when
come. can't tell when it will be, but
shall be certain to be in hurry, and have
no time for waiting so remember, if you
want to go you must be on the watch.
81 will papa" Katie said, positively
ssyou needn't be afraid shall get ready
this morning, and be looking out for you
all the while"
Mr.. Foster smiled on his young daugh-
ter, kissed her, then sprang down the
piazza stairs three steps at time, to catch
a passing car. He was very busy man,
and was nearly always in hurry. On this
particular day business was calling him to
the large city, which was only thirty
miles away from the small one where he
lived. Katie was very fond of going to
the city with her papa, partly because she
had friend living there who was always
glad to see her and did everything imagin-
able to make her have a good time, and
partly because papa was such busy man
he rarely had time to take her with him.
SO when she returned her fathers kiss and
assured him for the second time she would
be sure to bs ready, nobody could have
been more certain than Katie Foster that
she was speaking the truth.
An hour afterward Mrs. Bennett, the
housekeeper, called out to her on the
piazza where she sat teasing the cat, 81
should think you would 60 and get ready,
Katie. How do you know but what your
papa will come soon?"
'.Pm going in a minute" said Katie,
ssbut pa "a will be sure not to come this
morning he can't get away from the
Office in time for morning train"
Ten minutes more and Irish Kate
looked out of the window and spoke good
humoredly:
sMy name is Kate, and I've more sense
than some people of that name that know
of. If certain Kate of my acquaintance
was going to the city some time to- day
you'd see her brushing her hair and put,
ting on her best dress in hurry"
Katie laughed.
"It doesn't take me so long to prink as
it does you, Kate, she said '1'll be ready
in good time ; don't you be afraid. Papa
is always later than he has any idea he
will be-"
Another half hour and Katie had really
made her way upstairs and laid out the
dress and ribbons she meant to wear, and
begun to brush her hair. Then she espied
the Sunday school book she had been
reading the afternoon before
81 declare" she said, stopping short in
her work, 81 forgot all about that book. l
os
do hope he got to be somebody. p1l just
read few pages there will be plenty of
time to dress, after that; papa is sure not
to come before the two O'Clock train. l
know,.as we'll as want to, that we shall not
get back tonight. I'll put up my night
things in bag and have them all ready.
and paps's too, SO he can be comfortable If
he has to stay, but first I'll read just a
little bit.
So saving she pumped herself on to the
white bed which Irish Kate had made up
nicely for the day, and in two minutes
more was SO absorbed in the for
tunes of Susie and Nettie Decker, to say
| nothing of Norm and Jerry, that ali
thong at of dressing or packing was for
| gotten. One more warning she had. Her
cousin Edna, who was young lady and
had charge of her uncle's house, looked
in and said: "Why, Katie, you ought to
be dressed, dear. heard Uncle tell you
he might come at any moment, and it is
nearly lunch time"
epil be ready" said Katie, dreamily
sspapa is sure to be late"
But it is late already, child; the lunch
bell will ring in fifteen minutes"
| "Well, it doesn't take me fifteen min
utes to dress, and papa won't go before the
two o'clock train, feel sure. Edna, you
| ought to read this book; it is real excit-
ing.
| other way before long" was Edna's las
warning, but she shut the door and wen.
| on with her work.
| Five, ten minutes more, and a fam
tinkle of bell about to ring made Katie
| realize that her few minutes had been ma.
ny, and that the morning was gone. sh'
raised herself slowly to sitting posture
still with her eyes on the book. If sh'
could only find out whether the Genera
| was Jerry's father she would be content tt
wait for the rest. Suddenly she threw thu
book from her with such force that i
landed on the floor. kicked off her slipper
and began to button her shoes with anx
ious haste. She was thoroughly aroused
It was not the bell. but her fathers voic
sounding distinctly through the hall:
ssWhere is Katie7 Tell her to com
quick, there is not moment to lose.
want to catch the lib train. Never min
lunch; we will lunch in town. No, tn
two o'clock train will not do; must get I
the lower bank before it closes. Isn't Ia
tie ready2 Where is she?"
"Papa, I'm coming" sounded tIemu
lous voice. 'sI'll be ready in five minutes.
ssThere is not five minutes to wait
daughter. had just time to rush hom
for you. / must be going this instant
Pm sorry, daughter; but you must wa
until next time. Good bYep and Mr.. Eos
ter was gone.
Poor Katie! Do you wonder she bur
led her head in her pillow. and sobbed
But really, do you think anybody was
! blame for her disappointment but her ow
silly self 7-MyrG Spaford IN Ponsg.
Z If ever monarch burned the candle !,
both ends, the Emperor of Germany is tt
man. Not content with getting up at
. | o'clock a. M and breakfasting at 81
o'clock with his family, he has now had
> writing table, such IS is used by invalid
/ placed at the side of his bed, and it is h
/ practice when he cannot sleep, which
/ frequently, to take pencil and paper ar
( 1 Y,Dfos of tho fo11our;nrp dc N