Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-11-05
HIS AUNT KNEW.


and death
And Kate Raymond was forgotten, too,
as she sat by herself in the big, sounding
rooms, with her black dress, and her pale
cheeks, and the unshed tears making her
poor eyes heavy
People had pitied her at first, but they
took it for granted she would do some
thing''-at all events it was none of their
business,
well, my dear, have You made up your
mindy said old DR.. Smith as he came
orcaking into the room and sat down beside
her
Kate looked up through the gathering
tears.
doctor, I want your advice. Tell me
what had better do"
advice, CHI Well, it isn't easy to ad-
wise under some circumstances, child. The
only two places that seem at all eligible to
me are Nine Pellair's and the situation as
companion TO old Miss Beverley. l should
advise you to go to Miss Beverley, my
dear, II you eau be sure OF patience and self
control"
~ am not thewild, impetuous girl once
was | can be patient now, doctor"
well, shall tell Miss Beverley to ex-
pect you"
ayes, but, doctor''-
"WcllY"
"How many members are there in Miss
Beyerley's iamilyW
"OnlY herself and fussy old bachelor
brother-ten times as old maidish as she IL
herself You may bless your stars you're
not going as companion to the old man"
Kate smiled little absently.
aupbora YYunl Ia, napha,,.s ,,sb,N
"Yes, / know-Carl Beverley-but he
went to Florida year ago At 10 tomor-
row, my dear, will call for you"
DR.. Smith creaked away In those noisy
boots OF his and Kate Raymond went up
stairs to pack her trunk and think.
So Carl Beverley was in Floridal She
had known that before, yet somehow She
wanted the DOCTORS testimony to make as
surauce doubly sure.
She was glad. Yes, upon the whole she
was very glad. She knew she had treated
the honest, loving young fellow like a self
ish, heartless coquette. She knew she had
half broken his fond, faithful heart with her
airs and graees and false smiles once upon
a time.
Her first day rs companion" was in
effably wearisome. Patiently she trudged
mp and down stairs with Miss Beverley's
Cruel and the old bachelors mufflers
The next day was harder still Nothing
went right. Miss Beverley seemed deter
mined to he suited with nothing that was
done for her and the old bachelor from his
corner growled chorus 10 all her fault
findings
Day after day passed by in very much the
same style, and Kate Raymond grew paler
and quieter with each revolving sun. At
first her proud spirit had rebelled.
81 cannot endure IL, =" she thought.
But then came the bitter remembrance
that she must endure IL; that she had
neither home nor friends to fee to.
And when, at the weeks end Miss Pris-
ella Beverley paid the astounding sum Of
s. into Miss Raymunds shrinking palm
she felt that it had indeed been hardly
earned.
There's one good thing about you, Miss
Raymond said the spinster parenthetic-
ally as she counted out the bills, zone
quality that none of my other COMPANIONS
could ever suit me in-you never get out OF
temper You've never ouce lost your patience
the whole time YOU We're here, and yet |
used to hear u year or so ago, when my
nephew Carl was at home, what change.
able, fickle, impatient little thing Squire
raymond daughter was"
Kate colored, and the sears started quick
ly to her deep brown eyes.
Mo- said the old bachelor in the corner.
no, Miss Raymond never gets out Of TEN.
per nOw.h
How old arc you nowi" asked Miss Bey-
erley searchingly
81 WAS 20 last month"
"Humph' only 90! Well, l suppose You'll
hN fF..fF FIftrr f.s4. d.
lose my companion.n
But Kate gently shook her head without
even looking up.
II shall never marry, she said. ''Nobodv
cares for me now"
There, james, told you you'd knock
that vase on the window seat il You iusist.
ed on leaving it there, lamented Miss
Beverley ms sudden crash of breaking
china interrupted Kate's voice. Run. Mis-
Raymond, and. don't let the water soal,
into the carpet. don't see how mon can
be so carcle3s,n
And for once the old bachelor had M
Wort of excuse to plead for himself
Miss Raymond, l- said in a low hur-
ried voice, when his sisters temporary alb.
senee had chanced to leave them alone to.
gether half an hour later, you said little
while ago that nobody cared for YOU. That
was a mistake
Kate Raymond looked up in surprise.
My nephew, Carl Beverley, cares for
you. He has never left oil caring for YOU.
If he thought you would ever look kindly
upon him 0gain"--
But Kate shook her head
1T 10 too late now to say these things.
and yeti
II it isn't too late9n interrupted the old
bachelor solemuly, rising out Of his chair,
taking OF the blue spectables. behind
which sparklvd a pair OF brilliant black
eyes removing the rusty wig from profu.
sion OF chestnut brown eurls and spurnina
ihe wadded iunnel dressing gown from
MN with eontemptuous motion.
Kate rose to her feet with hysterical
scream:
''Carlri
is it too late, Katies Tell mel This last
week has taught me how good, how gentle
and how patient you have grown, and /
love you better than | ever did before. Can
you forgive me- for the ruse / practiced 70
learn whether | might indeed aspire once
more to your handfn
Kate Raymond said mo- al first. but
she said Yes afterward, when Cad had
convinced her Of the propriety Of his con.
duct
And did your aunt knowfr
III was she who IN sted upon Il, KITE.
She wished To nroVe tha frr,,,., ri,. l.ad