The Washington times., 1894-10-31
What Kati6 GaUqht.

so, dear, am so tired, SO very tired toll.
! ing all day, and often half the night. fol
barely enough to keep soul and body TO.
gether. 1 must endeavor to find something
! that pays better than this ceaseless stitching
But here comes mother; must chase away
this weary look"
Mr.. Ashley had been government clerk
and lived up to every cent of his income
just managing to keep up a genteel appear
ance and send Katie to an excellent school.
But Mr.. Ashley died suddenly, and the lit.
tie family was left entirely destitute. Mrs.
Ashley was an invalid; she could help in no
way to support her little family. So Katie,
when only sixteen, was forced 10 leave her
studies and put her shoulder to the wheel A
sewing-machine was purchased and bravely
she went to work.
Katie, love, this will never do. You must
not work so constantly. Get your hat and 90
take walk. And, my child, --" She hesi-
tated. well, I've been thinking that posi-
bly, if you would try yourself, and not de-
pend on friends, you might get position. |
should think Gen. Looms, if he knew you,
would give you work. Go and ask him,
Katie
what about the general. mother? know
him by sight, and to speak 10 little. And
he is a fine old gentleman, l think" said
Walter Ashley a boy of ten years, who had
entered the room and caught the last part OF
his mothers remark.
How or rather where, did you meet him,
Walter?' asked Katie
why, l see him most every afternoon up
where we go fishing. Well, it would do you
good 10 see him when he has fine luck. / be-
lieve he would sooner draw up black bass
than greenbacks," +" Walter answered.
20, Walter, sometime when he is in such a
good humor could you not tell him who you
are and ask him TO give me something to do?"
Katie asked. in a tone and manner half seri-
/ Gus, half in fun.
Now, as if he would mind what boy
I said No. Katie, you come and so with me.
1 Ladies often come up TO the fishing ground.
| Then. when he looks pleasant enough, you
ask him yourself. am going now
| They were soon after on their way to the
| fishing grounds. When in sight of the place.
/ Walter said; 1.-The general IS not there. but
he will come by and by, guess. m glad we
are first. I'll get good position.
/ Soon his line was dropped, and few min
/ utes after Katie saw him draw it up with a
/ triumphant exclamation.
What a beauty o. there comes the gen.
/ eral. Amt glad he didn't get here before.
He would have caught this. Now, watch
| him, Katie. I'm going to have brisk time
/ l think"
Katie raised her eyes to the approaching
form timidly for an instant-but an instant
/ only. for surely there she found nothing tC
encourage u longer gaze.
Gen. Looms looked decidedly cross. And
| the expression changed not for the better dur
/ ing the two hours the girl sat and watched.
Then at last, tired and disheartened, she
| coaxed Walter to return home.
/ asWbpf lupEy'' asked Mrs Ashley nearing
| them at the door.
| splendid! See what feastr' exclaimed
/ Walter. He had quite forgotten the real pur-
! pose of Katie's gong.
"0h, Waiter, mother means something ot
| more Importance than your fish, Katie said
adding. mo luck for me- mamma. L could not
dare to speak to him. He looked so awiully
cross
"Well. that's so. He did. never saw him
so before. But the fish did not bite for him
guess that was the reason, said Walter.
Day after day, when Waiter returned
( from school, she would pat aside her work
and accompany him, returning TO the anxious
mother ever with the respondent look on hel
pale face.
Twelve days passed thus. To Walter it was
beyond comprehension. He declared thai
always before the general looked pleasant
sometimes he was really jovial, and on two ol
three occasions had spoken with much kind.
ness to him.
Il declare. Katie, il is the strangest thing
ever knew. From the time he Genes in sight
be looks cross, and grows more so until he oI
we leave" Walter said.
''Then l viii not 90 any more. l believe
must have something to do with his changed
humor."
"Oh, nonsense, Kate. I never meant tc
imply anything of that kind. OF course, as
told you before, neither you nor l have any.
thing to do with it. Come on"
Again they arrived in time TO secure the
place for Walters sport. And Katie began
her. watchful, wistful gaze
1t was not long before the familiar form
came in sight, nearer and nearer, until the
poor girl could plainly see the same old look.
And it really seemed to her he uttered an an
CRY, impatient exclamation.
Gen. Looms stopped not at his accustomed
place. but came right up to where they sat.
Planting his rod into the soil in the vicinity oi
Katie, he looked at her few seconds, and
then said, in very amiable tone:
Il did think you would have stayed home
such an afternoon. Can't you find anything
more profitable to be about?"
Poor Katie, trembling with fright, stam-
mered:
mo. SIR"
Before she could control her emotion sufff-
ciently to say anything more the general e2-
claimed :
''Then I can. Do you write fair handf
Can you count rapidly? But you can learn,
if you do not already. Listen to me. Come
to me tomorrow and I'll put you to work
and keep you so busy you will be glad to rest
and not come here every afternoon"
lyon are very kind, so very kindr' Katie,
who found her voice. exclaimed. How can
thank You?'
''By keeping off my fishing ground. Don't
you know, ever since you have been coming
here you have occupied my place? And, be-
ing young lady, 1 couldn't very well ask you
to remove. And so I'll give you an Office to
get rid of you
Katie was so overioyed and reassured by
the pleasant tone and manner OF the general
that she told him about the object of her CON-
ing, and the general exclaimed:
And so you came fishing for an officel But
you used the worst kind of bait. my little
girl"
''At any rate. you looked as if you would
bite every time, Katie answered, her eyes
dancing merrily.
"Ha. ha. har' laughed the general: 81
really have felt so. Well. 1 am truly glad to
help the daughter of Mr.. Ashley, and de-
lighted to get her off my fishing ground
That Bread Question Again.
The tendency is most certainly toward