The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-29
CHAPTER Ill.


who was pre-eminent for beauty wit
and the thousand little accomplishments
which serve TO make woman more love-
ly and to win them the attentions OF the
genus homo.
Kate Lincoln was a born beauty
none of your die away fairies-pale,
hectic, consumptive looking creatures,
whose chief ambition is to be thought
in ar interesting decline-nor, on the
other hand, was she one~Of those bounc-
ing country girls of the milkmaid order,
who
Walk in the morning
And are shod like mountaineers.
but refined and perfect lady in every
respect. Bright and beautiful was she
and Justly admired by the whole circle
of society in which she moved. She was
a genuine lover of fun, provided IL did
not border on rudeness, and her repair
tees were provefbial for the delicacy OF
their satire. which the most fastidious
,ould not construe into anything over
stepping the bounds of strictest cour-
tesy. She was enyied by not few tor
her many personal attractions and yet
beloved by all. Her natural warm
heartedness won her sincere friends
among all classes, and while her dignity
of character always commanded respect
there was nothing forbidding in her
manner, but a certain indescribable
something which always made you feel
at your ease in her presence.
OF course Augustus in his triumphal
progress was brought in contact with
the fair Kate. and after having obtained
an introduction was completely under
the spell of her influence.
Rumor had previously whispered TO
him that she was the heiress of all her
fathers wealth, and it required little
forethought on his part TO decide that
she was at least worth an effort of at
tainment. Not capable of keeping his
intentions a secret TO himself, he conhd-
ed them to friend of Kate's, who per-
ceiving at once the object of his designs
communicated the fact to her. Kate
was no mean reader of human nature,
and no very deep scrutiny was necessary
on her part to ascertain the depths of
our hero s intellect. She discovered that
a
how to be, unprincipled and by no
means as sapient as many people Of ac-
knowledged discernment imagined him.
His foppery, his senseless chitchat and
above all his unbounded pride disgusted
her, and she resolved to bring down the
latter.
But how could she effect the desired
h,,,, II lfatt
dignity of her character as a ladyp A
plan soon suggested itself For the sue
cessful furtherance of ii she accepted his
attentions with the utmost grace at ev-
cry party where both were present,
danced, waltzed and conversed with
him upon every festive occasion, to the
great surprise and some little envy on
the part of the feminine portion of the
community, TO say nothing of the 'ndig-
nant looks and speeches of the beaux.
The gossips decided that it was most
reprehensive case of Irritation and a
downright infringement of the laws of
! propriety, of which the fair Kate ought
| to be heartily ashamed, and they even
| deputed a committee to wait upon the
| good natured judge, her father, TO re-
| port the "disgraceful conduct of his
daughter. But then they only received
their trouble for their pains, inasmuch
as the Judge gave them to understand
! that Kate was but exercising the pre-
rogative of her sex and intimated that
the institution of home mission would
appear far less quixotic than this volun-
tary and unsolicited interference with
the affairs of others.
Poor, inconsistent womenl They never
called to mind the ancient fable of the
fox and the unattanable fruit of the
vine, never reflected how much ii would
have ministered TO their vanity could
their Sallies and Nancy james have been
the happy recipients Of Augustus fiat
tering attentions. But no such good for
tune awaited them. Kate, and Kate
only, WAS the chosen object Of Angus
tus' imperial predictions.
Induced by these fattering indications
Of success 10 believe that he should en-
counter no obstacles TO his suit. he soon
became a frequent isitor at her father s
house and was received with distin-
vuished consideration by the Judge,
who was in the secret and used his in
ventive faculties to aid Kate in the ac-
complishment of her plans.
He proposed little social rides and
picnics and was 80 extremely conde-
tcending and polite that Augustus, who
considered these opportunities most IA
vorable to the furtherance Of his suit.
accepted their invitations with delight
and entered into the spirit Of them with
1 -.