New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-05
KATHARINE NORTH.
VIII.
A" AUNT KATE"

.pecial province 10 see if other orders wait
ing. she aware that lady sat down at the
nearest table and that SIZE beckoned to her.
She was also aware, with a sudden quickening
interest. that il was the same lady who had asked
her few questions.
She walked up to Mrs. LANDAU and stood with
ore hand on the table, her empty waiter in the
other looking down at her. And the woman
for the first instant, could not speak. She was
possessed by that ridiculous notion that this was her
former self projected the canvas of the present.
and looking at her as if there had been no years
between her youth and now.
Katharine's eyes were on her, clear, unconscious
and with something pathetic in them. 1t is ter
rible TO see pathos in eyes 50 young. 1t has no
right to be there.
Mrs. LANDAU moved uneasily.
Some one at the next table tapped tumbler
nnperativey Katharine turned. took order
and hurried away to obey it,
The elder woman sat there. She was saying
to herself:
1T is absurd that she should be Roxy's child.
She shoad have been mine. How I could have
understood her, She should have shared her very
soul with me. Rows child, What was God
thinking Of TO give the child to her"
Katharine came back again with her tray laden.
She glanced with slight deprecatins srnfls 1t
Mrs. LANDAU as if to apologize for neglect. In
Il want" the lady paused, bring me some
thing-anything.
Katharine smiled again. She hesitated slightly,
lien she said:
Everything has tin spoon in It here"
She laughed little, meeting the strangers
understanding glance.
Il know it, l really came to SEQ you" The
girl flushed deeply But bring cake
and tell me when you will be at liberty. want
you to come up 10 the Atlantic. No, will take
you out driving; that will be better Tell me
when You have spare hour. want long talk
with you. l can't say anything here. Oh, that
woman wants something. You must 60"
The girl turned away. She mechanically went
back and forth for the next Eve minutes obcying
calls. She jostlcd against Joanna at the order
window.
Amt it funny" said Joanna, there's the
public speaker again. Did you know it?"
"Yes. know it, answered Katharine.
II thought she had enough Of It here last time.
She couldn't eat thing What does she want
nowp'
Some calye,- In low voice.
oh dear; I'm CHAD amt got to wait upon
her, Take her all kinds. But she won't want
any. sh'd think she'd stay away. Where's the
young manp"
"What young maap"
lfle 0Be that was WIN her tnf ou1er uuc
"Oh, don't know"
The two hurriedly separated.
when are you at hberty?' Immediately re-
peated Mrs LANDAU as the girl came again.
Katharine could hardly put from her the feeling
that this stranger making a mistake: that
she would soon discover the mistake and that
would be the end Of the matter.
But she answered with shy promptnese:
This week I have from eight until nine IN the
morning / might be at liberty some other times
but should not be sure Of it. That Is very
early
Mrs. LANDAU acknewledged that it was very
early. She was rarely at her breakfast before
nine But she ceuld always be governed by an
impu]ee. provided the impulse were strong enough.
And in this case it was.
al will call for you at eight, she said.
Then she walked out and came forgetting
to pay for her order
Joanna, half running by the empty chair and
the untouched plate Of cake: had occasion TO say
II declare!n again, and more strongly than ever
She confided to Emma Taft and also to katha-
rine at the first opportunity. that she guessed
public speal1in wasn't good for women III seemed
to take away their wits, somehow Aud soc
wondered if that LANDAU woman was going TO
keep coming and oreering thlngs. "has ""e '"e
up TO any way?
Katharine looked at Joanna she talked. She
wondered what q person must be made Of who
could speak Of that lady as that Llandsn
woman" She controlled the impulse she had 1e'
10 tell Joanna every word which had been saio 10
her And besides deep In the girls nina, "as
a strong doubt as TO whether any one wouid cali
for her to drive in the morning.
Everything was too strange. She tried 10 pun
the whole affair away from her; and as result
of thi. endeavor she thought OF it more than
before, il possible.
She could not sleep. save by little unrestful
spatohes, during which she oreaHeu oi MI "io''
and her mother.
She was surprised that In her waking moments
she could think Of Mr.. Grove so little. She
had supposed she should never stop thinking OF
him. And be hardly came into her mind, save
when some tall man suddenly entered the restiu-
rant
Then her pulses would give sickenins jump
and se.r 10 st1p. until she knew beyond doubt
that the tall man was not Marcellus Grove.
He had said that he wasn't going 10 plague the
life out of her.
II had been hard for him TO consent thao sne
,bould come down here with Joanna. Stu
when he was convinced that she would come
whether he gave his consent or not, he gave H.
There was a maddening sense Of helplessness III
his heart when he walked away from Mr.. Norths
after that interview
lie had only remained in Ncw-fOrk two days
Contrary TO Katharne's expectations her
mother had wished her to stay at home. Inc
shrewd woman saw very well that If the gri
remained at homo she would BIS under her own
eve and would be where Mr. Grove might visit
her
But Mrs. North announced openly that she
didn't pretend to have any right now to tell As'e
what she must do or mustn't
When o woman had husband she must look
to him for guidance.