The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1893-10-14

gan, there's dreadful mixture OF people
In this house. with whom I have nothfns
70 do, and they In turn hate me tor t. One
under this roof Il an unpleasant looking
man, whom my father Wishes me to marry
on account Of his business prospects, and
suppose, his attachment for me. He has
annoyed me so with his attentions that
almost hate him. and he knows IL. He Is
jealous and has very mean disposition.
dare not go out at any time without his
knowing 1t and speaking Of the fact In
such a way that my father, who Is dread.
fully strict, hears him and gives me leo
ture. II no sees me walking home with a
young man. or sees me get letter or hand
one TO the postman, he tells IL; then, Of
course, father wants to know all about Il.
The rest Of these delig htful people are
forever spying too The conseq uence Is !
am forever in hot water. Now ON Lehigh
street. $50, there's man whom | like very
much Robert Baring Is his name lie
knows you quite well by sight. will
thank you exceedingly il you will give him
this note and stop there when you're on
your way here, SO il he has any message
for me he will give it to you You see,
father doesn't allow him to visit me, so we
don't see each other very often-only when
can slip out for an hour or SO, when he
joins me and We take walk II you'll be
our letter carrier we'll get along much
better. Then by being u little careful
George Birch will be 50 nicely outwitted.
When he has no more tales to tell l won
der what he will do. Well. suppose you
are willing to be our mutual friend, aren't
your
she was standing there and had laid her
hand In mine. lpromised to serve her. then
left her by the way I'D come In the
months that followed | saw her many
times and carried to and fro many mes.
sages between the sweetheartA had been
their mail carrier for six months and had
given her start up the pole almost as
many times, when her father died. or
course her lover went to see her then As
often as he liked. 50 there was no more
need OF me. One morning about two
months after her fathers death she ran
down stairs and overlook me as | turned
the corner She told me she WAS to be mar
ried that night at the minister's residence
and that she and Robert wanted me to be-
one Of the witnesses
Il consented. though wondered II she
didn't know what hard request she'd
made OF me. | stood up there bravely,
though it took all my power to do SO, and
saw Katie Allen give herself to Robert Bar
ing. and wondered il he did then or ever
would love her as devotedly as did Short
ly afterward doubted IL very much. He
was not overly kind to her. staid out at
clubs late and was not a. considerable for
her feelings ~ he should have been saw
her just often enough to know she was
very unhappy. though only bride Of ten
months
"ts,aprpx Hir,h
never spoke To Barring except to tantalize.
and when he'd been married one year Birch
so grossly insulted him that there was An
alteration in which both were wounded.
Barring died within twenty four hours but
Birch lived to suffer awhile.
He had a lingering spell, then improved
only To get worse later. Katie had been 4
widow Tor year, when she sent for rne To
tell me that George was dying and wanted
to see her. She was very nervous and mis-,
cradle; she dreaded going. yet had no wish
TO refuse. advised her To 90 and went
also, at least ~ far ~ the steps. | wouldn't
go IN the room. When sh. came out th.r,.
were tears In her eyes and she looked pale.
and frightened She told me in low voic.
almost in whisper, that he was dead.
walked with her to her door. then left her
alone with her unhappy thoughts. Her
husband left her but little wealth. 40 ,h,.
went back To the northwest room OF Tn.
red tenement, The one in which I'd first
seen her, which she rented quite cheapIy
and managed very we'll, with her baby
girl for company and small hired girl
for help.
Il visited her only occasionally until ,L.
left of her garb OF mourning. then | went
there more frequently. IN time she prom
tsed to BIZ my wife, but tire. years went by
without her setting our wedding day. Sh.
told me that George Birch had <aid that II
she married me or any one else he'd give
her no peace, but haunt her day and night.
she did not want to believe that ne coIlhI
but weeks before the day set for our mar
rage she WAS in a terribly nervous state
anal declared she'd seen George In her door
every night for n month
The evening before we were To b.. mar
RED was sitting in the room holding her
child on my knee and thinking Of the bright
morrow when the buck door opened sud
denly and she screamed: Look a. C-orv,
Birch! 1t il not his ghost, but him, him
self See how he looks at me! Ny Col /
can't stand it! | cant marry YOU. simon
can't can't Save my child, don, lot
her see that face" She moaned wruns her
hands and looked mad
i went two blocks for \ physician. but
when returned Katie WAS gone | looked
Tor her, and Others too, but we never found
her or heard any tidings bearing on the
subject. The general opinion was that In
her fright and excitement abe hui destroy
ed herself But how. without there being
some evidence afterwari. I am puzzled to
know.
Il sold my new home. or the place that
was to have been our home, and taking her
child | took up my abode in my same old
lodging hous. and there I've lived ever
since for this child. who will be a second
Katie Allen in beauty God gran. her a
happier life.
Il gave up my position ~ a lineman. |
could not climb pole without thinking Of
her. Since then I've been Knocking
around, doing anything that came to my
hand. until today. when WA called into /
service through necessity.
The red tenement il sold and Ia to br 7
taken down. Hearing this I've been com
ing here now and then. each time think /
ing twas the last, to look at the house
where first met and loved my beauti
fur'-
Simon passed. looked foudly a. little
Katie, then gathered her in his arms,
tucked her feet within the front Of hi.
coat, bowed silently. crossed the street and
walked slowly, with eyes full TO the brim
and quirering lips, to the room 10 which
he lived with every crevice Of his heart
open to admit the light from baby eye. and
the music OF childish prnttie, hoping Il
would In time overcome the som Der dreams
OF blasted hope Virginia Payne Hen
rchs in Philadelphia Times