Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-11-28
WHAT KATIE CAUGHT

WHAT KAIlECAUGHT
ooh, dear, am SO tired, so very tired,
toiling all day, and often half the night,
for barely enough to keep soul and body
together! must endeavor to find some
thing 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 genteel ap-
pearance and send Katie to an excellent
school,
But Mr.. Ashley died suddenly, and the
little family was left entirely destitute.
Mrs. Ashley was an invalid. She could
help in no way to support her little fam
lily. So Katie, when only 16, was forced
to 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 40 constantly. Get your
hat and go take walk, and, my child
She hesitated well, I've been thinking
that possibly, if you would try yourself
and not depend on friends you might get
a position. should think General Looms,
if he knew you, would give you work. Go
and ask him, Katie"
What about the general, mother9
know him by sight and to speak to lit
tie, and he is fine old gentleman,
think" said Walter Ashley, boy of 10
years, who had entered the room and
caught the last part of his mothers re-
mark.
"How, or rather where, did you meet
him, Walter?" asked Katie.
why, see him most every afternoon
up where we go fishing. Well, it would
do you good to see him when he has fine
luck. believe he would sooner draw up
black bass than greenbacks, Walter an
swered
"Oh, Walter, sometimes when he Is in
such good humor, could you not tell
him who you are and ask him to give me
something to dot" Katie asked In tone
and manner half serious, half in fun.
NOW, as II he would mind what boy
said No, Katie, you come and go with
me. Ladies often come up to the fishing
ground. Then, when he looks pleasant
enough, you ask him yourself. 1 am 60
ing 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
I'm glad we are first. I'll get a good po-
stion."
Soon his line was dropped, and few
minutes after Katie saw him draw it up
with triumphant exclamation.
what beauty! Oh, there comes the
general Amt glad he didn't get here
before. He would have caught this. Now,
watch him, Katie. Pm going to have a
brisk time, think"
Kate raised her eyes to the approaching
form timidly for an instant, but an in
slant only for surely there she found moth
ing to encourage longer gaze.
General Looms looked decidedly cross,
and the expression changed not for the
better during the two hours the girl sat
and watched.
Then at last, tired and disheartened, she
coaxed Walter to return home.
What luck?" asked Mrs. Ashley, meet
ing them at the door.
Splendid See what a feast'' ex-
claimed Walter. He had quite forgotten
the real purpose Of Katies going.
"Oh, Walter, mother means something
of more Importance than your fish, Katie
said, adding: mo luck for me, mamma. I
could not dare to speak to him. He looked
awfully 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 Walter returned
from school, she would put aside her work
and accompany him, returning to the anx-
ious mother ever with the respondent look
on her pale face.
Twelve days passed thus. To Walter 1t
was beyond comprehension. He declared
that always before the general looked
pleasant. Sometimes he was really jovial
and on two or three occasions had spoken
with much kindness to him.
II declare, Katie, 1t is the strangest
thing l ever knew. From the time he
comes in sight he looks cross and grows
more SO until he or we leave" Walter
said.
"Then I will not go any more. be.
lieve l must have something to do with
his changed humor."
"Oh, nonsense, Kate! l never meant
to imply anything of that kind OF course,
as told you before, neither you nor
have anything to do with It, Come on"
Again they arrived in time to secure the
place for Walters sport. And Katie be-
gan her watchful, wistful gaze.
twas 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 ut
tered an angry, impatient exclamation.
General Looms stopped not at his ac-
place, but came right up to
where they sat. Planting his rod into the
soil in the vicinity of Katie. he looked at
her few seconds and then said in very
amiable tone:
II did think you would have staid
home such an afternoon. Can't you find
anything more profitable to be aboutf"
Poor Katie, trembling with fright,
mo, SIR"
Before she could control her emotion suf- 1
1ciently to say anything more the general
exclaimed:
tThen can. Do you write fair handS
Can you count rapidly But you can
earn, If you do not already. Listen to /
ne. Come to me tomorrow, and I'll put |
,ou to work and keep you so busy you will
be glad to rest and ut come here every |
afternoon"
"You are so kind, SO very kind" Katie,
Who found her voice, exclaimed. "How |
IAN thank your"
"By keeping of my fishing ground.
Don't you know, ever since you have been
coming here you've occupied my place,
md being young lady couldn't very
veil ask you to remove, and 70 I'll give
'ou an office to get rid Of you"
Katie was SO overjoyed and treasured
" the pleasant tone and manner Of the