Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-11-21
KATE'S ESCAPAOE.

If you have ever been jolted two or
three hours over country roads in a
country coach to connect with a
railroad train that stops precisely for
ty-fye seconds among the lonely hills
and then whizzes away like demon,
and if you have ever found yourself
too late therefor, you can perhaps ap-
preciate the dismay that oyerspread
the countenances Of the little party of
travellers as they stood on the steps of
the solitary station. If Frank West
port had been alone he would proba-
bly, have sworn-as it was, not even
the presence of his sister and wife
could repress the muttered "Confound
it" whioh contained the essence Of a
half dozen naughty words.
"And the next train don't pass un-
der three hours-how provoking
calculated Mrs. Westport. "How on
earth are we to while away the time
"There's middlin good tavern a
piece up the road, said the agent.
"a country inn" exclaimed Kate
Westport, a pretty girl of seventeen.
"No, indeed, Frank, we've had enough
of that sort of thing. Isn't there any
pretty place within walking distance?'
she said, turning to the man. "We
might Just scramble around until the
train is due -
The man scratched his head with a
puzzled air.
There's DR.. Jones's Seminary fol
Young Ladies, jest over the hill-and
there's Smart's grist mill-and there S
a picnic ground"
Frank Westport interrupted him
with:
THANK you, but I fear none Of
these places will prove. interesting to
the ladies'"
"Well, there's Ashley Hall just on
the east road-you can see the tops OF
the chimneys from here It's the
prettiest place in the county"
"Can we not 90 in?' asked West
port.
"No, sir, was the emphatic re-
sponse. "They don't never allow no.
body to go over the grounds; they're
dreadful particular about it, now Mr.
Ashley is in Europe"
"Does nobody reside there
Nobody bat the housekeeper and
the gardener folks
Frank said Kate, mischieveously'
81 feel an irresistible desire to pene-
trate those Bluebesrd fastnesses-let' 5
try"
my dear, not if it is against the
rules
But Kate tossed her head defantly
Lets try, at all events.
How tempting those grounds looked
to the three weary travellers as they
plodded along the dusty road that
.kirted the iron fence inclosing them
The cool glitter Of fountain here and
there, seen dimly through feathery
boughs; the white CLEAN Of marble
groups of Fauns and Maids; masses o.
flowers glowing wildly on velvet
slopes of lawn, and the cool winding'
of a brook over-arched by rustic
bridges-Kate Westport had an eye
for the picturesque and she longed t(
be within the forbidden domains.
Frank had gone on to the porter
lodge, to request permission to walk
over the grounds, but he presently re
turned shaking his head.
"No use, girls. The man says h'
has positive orders. Even bribe wa
in vain.
How churlish," exclaimed Mrs
Westport, painting.
"I don't see that's it'sso very unrea
sonable after all, said Frank. "Th
fellow says they would be over
whelmed with sight-seers-why, wher'
is Kate ?"
Where, indeed The little lady ha'
discovered a wicket gate, half hiddel
among the laurels, with tbs key TEN
porarily left in the Lockout untor
tunately it was inside, and no reach
ing or twisting of Kate's arm throug
the ironwork could get at 1t.
"Where's the harm?" said sauc
Kate to herself. at would be sue
fun to climb over that fence. Iv
done it many a time when | was
school girl. What hurt can 1t possl
bly, do the Grand Mogul of Ashle
Hall for us to look at his grounds
He can't shut us up in prison tor 1t.
She was one of those impulSlve gar
who never stop long to thlnk-an
she slid nm the iron bars, squirrel-lk