The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-11
MISS KATHARINE.

1t was one of the many little beehives of
houses for which the Quaker City is justly
famous that Katharine Kingsley called
home, and a home it certainly was, with all
the wealth of meaning that the old word
suggests clinging to it. How could IL be
otherwise, possessing such a queen as Kath-
arine to scatter the warmth Of her genial
presence as the dancing Sunbeams brighten
the old earth; with such CHEEKY nature
constantly doing little deeds Of kindness, re-
freshing as dewdrOps falling on the thirsty
flowers?
Not that Katharine was wonderful girl,
nor was she a marvelously beautiful one,
either. She was simply natural. ana
that was why everybody liked her and why
every one who desired sympathy IN Tune OF
trouble or congratulatiOn on any streak OF
god lnck ALWAYS went straight to Katharine
Kingsley.
You had but to look into her sweet face.
with its open, white brow and steady blue
eyes, to decide at once that here was gen,
uine heart'S-ease or violet, wIose prlncIpai
duty is TO keep blooming and TO sheu Iorth
its quiet fragrance over other lives.
She was only demure little music mis-
tress. never dreaming that any great event
could ever cast its influence over her pain III
life: and that on this very day the hrstn0IeS
OF her romance SHUulu Ub CulupOSNu was GA
idea which never entered the thoughts oil the
little head carried so dalntlly.
So, all unconsciously, the little figure In
brown looking like some Good-SlZed ROBIN,
trips cheerily along toward Its DESTINATION
and-fate.
May Wilder's lesson heightened out into
one of two hours, for beforehand MISS
Katharine must be told the joyful intelii-
gence that wonderful Uncle Max had at
last returned from Europe and was going TO
make them long visit, and wouldn't that
be nice?
"And Just think, Uncle Max is fond OF
music lust like you, Miss Katharine"
And after the lesson wouldn't Miss Kath-
ariue play her fayorite song;
Let us wander in the sunlight
To the land Of flowers anu soag.
So Miss Katharine played on and was soon
lost in the beautiful land OF melody, while
the notes fell from her finger tips ike little
stream, now dancing gayly in merry cas-
cadeS over step and rocky bed, here muir
muring low a Sadder and sweeter plant
among hauntS of coot and tern, tnen
"spaI King out amid the fern" and ending
with a perfect torrent of jublant harmony,
Katharine declared, Quite sufficient Tor
you to-day, my b!ossom!
With a merry laugh she wheeled around
on the stool only to find that she had had an
other auditor, who must be Uncle MAX, Tor
May Blossom dragged him triumphantly for
ward, crying gleefully:
II knew # all the time. Miss Katharine,
only Uncle Max shook his finger at me and
| wouldn't tell"
The three were soon chatting away with
the ease Of old acquaintances.
That evening as the little figure in brown
sned homeward It's motion seemed more
birdlike than ever, and the pleasant recal-
lection Of tall figure with grave, earnest
face and the friendly glance of Uncle Max 5
warm brown eyes fingered III hatharine's
mind.
After that Uncle Max developed a wonder
full interest in his niece's musical education
Hardly a lesson passed by without his meet
ing (by chance, OF course) the little music
mistress. And Katharine began TO look for
ward to May Blossoms days when after the
lesson Miss Katherine" would play Let US
Wander" and Uncle Max would always
drop in to hear it then would sit quietly
listening to the beautiful harmOE!es born
from the pure soul OF the little music mis-
treSs.
There was never such beautiful spring
time as this TO Katharine. The sun seemed
to shine more brightly in the clear blue sky,
above, and and the carol OF the birds rang
out blithely from the budding tree tops.
Is it a wonder that TO her the earth wore its
gayest and most festive dress?
What did she care if, amid all the bright,
happy days, this one happens to be cold
ana DARK anu uIGdTY lHlU HtE NE HD
''raindrops fall"
So, despite the sullen clouds overhead and
the mud beneath, the little figure, almost
hid by gOssamer and umbrella, trips cheer
lily along to May Blossom, Tor her heart is
singing the gayeSt measures.
But May Wilder's lesson was shorter than
usual. for Miss Katharine must be told the
dreadful news.
Uncle Max is going away! What will we
ever do without Uncle Max? Just think il
too mean, don't you, Miss Katharine?" asks
the doleful little voice.
Afterward May Blossom wondered why
her teacher was 50 qules aud pale. and when
she pleaded for Let Us Wander" why Miss
Katharine said:
mo, dearl not to-day"
'Ah! the day is dark and cold and dreary."
Uncle Max going awayl To see no more
the dark, handsome face, with its grave,
earnest eyes, in which the warm light has
lately grown so tender! To live through
the weary days to come without the sun
shine of his presence She knows now
why the spring time seemed so joyous, now
when the raindrops into her lie are falling,
while the notes IN the romance sound grieved
and broken.
The little figure has forgotten its merry
movement, tho steps grow slower, and the
umbrella sinks lower, when
Good afternoon, KatharineV and Uncle
Max is close beside her. The brown eyes
are gazing persistently under that umbrella
and when the little face is slowly raised to
return his greeting he sees two bright, uu-
lucky tears, which have been gathering in
the sweet eyes, roll down the flushed cheeks
like raindrUps on the crimson heart of a
wild rose. And when at last the blue eyes
meet the brown pair. in which all the tender
love light of the brave heart of Uncle Max
shines undisguised, why, after that-but
katherine could never tell just now it was
nobody ever can; try it and see), but it
cred in big, warm grasp, and under that
umbrella two figures walked very close to-
gether, never needing that behind the
clouds is the sun now shining. "A. S. w,