Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-02-06
CHAPTER XIII.

originally belonged to private house. Oh
great extent, 1t had been laid out in excel
lent taste. FlOwerbeds and lawns, hand
some fountain, seats shaded by groups OF
fine trees at their full growth, completed the
pastoral charm of the place. A winding path
led across the garden from the back of thu
house. 1t had been continued by the specu.
lator who purchased the property, until It
reacheda road at the extremity of the grounds
which communicated with the Crystal palace.
Visitors to the hotel had such pleasant as
sociations with the garden that many Of
them returned at future opportunities, in
stead Of trying the attraction Of some other
place. Various tastes and different ages
found their wishes equally consulted here
Children rejOiced In the finest playground
they had ever seen. Remote walks secluded
among strawberries invited persons of reserv-
ed disposition who came as strangers and as
strangers desired to remain. The fountain
and the lawn collected sOciable visitors, who
were always ready to make acquaintance with
each other. Even the amateur artist could
take liberties with nature and find the accom-
modating limits of the garden sufficient for his
purpose. Trees in the foreground sat to him
Tor nkeneSSes that were never recognized,
and hills submitted to unprovoked familiari-
ties on behalf of brushes which were not
daunted by distance.
On the day after the dinner which had so
deplorably failed in respect OF one of the
guests invited to fulfill GATHERINGS anticipa-
lions there was festival at the palace. 1t
had proved so generally attractive to the
guests at the hotel that the grounds were al
most deserted.
AS the sun declined on lovely summer
evening the few invalids feebly wandering
about the aOwer-beds or resting under the
rees began to return to the house in dread
Of the dew. Catherine and her child, with
the nursemaid in attendance. were left alone
In the garden. Kitty found her mother, as
she openly declared, mot such good COM
pany as usual" Since the day when her
grandmother had said the fatal words which
checked all further allusion to her father the
child had shown disposition to complain il
she was not constantly amused. She COM
planned Of Mrs. Presty now.
Il think grandmamma might have taken
me to the Crystal palace" she said.
MY dear, your grandmamma has friends
with her-ladies and gentlemen who don't
care to be troubled with child"
Kitty received this information in q very
unamiable spirit II hate ladies and gentle
men ~ she said.
Even Capt Bennydeckq' her mother ask.
ed"
mo; like my nice captain. And l like
the walters. They would take me to the
Crystal palace only they're always busy.
wish 1t was bedtime; don't know what to
do with myself"
take little walk with Susan"
"Where shall go%'
Catherine looked toward the gate which
opened on the road, and proposed q visit to
the old man who kept the lodge.
Kitty shook her head. There was an OBJ
lection to the old man. ''He asks questions;
he wants to know how l get on with nv |
sums. He's proud of his summing, and he |
finds me out when I'm wrong. don't like
the lodge-keeper."
Catherine looked the other way toward the |
house The pleasant fall of water in the
basin OF the distant fountain was lust audi
bic. 'Go and feed the gold6shes," she sug-
gested.
This was prospect Of amusement which
1t once raised Kitty's spirits. That's the
'hing!' she cried. and ran off to the fountain
With the nursemaid after her.
Catherine seated herself under the trees.
md watched in solitude the decline of the
'un In cloudless sky. The memory of the
Happy years of her marriage had never been
70 sadly and persistently present to her mind
y at this time, when the choice of another
darried life waited her decision b become
n accomplished fact. Remembrance of