The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-08

while on the tomahawk was tho awe-in-
spring inscription: "Kat.e's little hatchet
"A dealy weapon" -
1t might be expected that kaue wouiu
be unpopular In school, but this was ho'
the case. She was an excellent scnoiar'
thorough, accurate. and thouSntIui' anu
this. togethet with her independence.
certain originality and freedom iroiii
petty spite and jealousy made ncr
leader among her schoolmases. and won
the regard OF her teachers. Mrs. Powers
sometimes regretted this popularity, ana
wished that she had more help from out
side criticism in REFRESHING kaues iah,ts
and developing the traits In which she
was so deficient: and Ray expressed the
Same feeling in his odd. boyish way:
you get along very well now, Katie
he would say, for here at home we are
used TO you. and at school you are
among school girls. and they are in
half-savage state. feeding on nuts and
candy. and scorning the restraints of
civilization; but it will be far otherwise
when you are young lady and are in
troduced into society. There you Will
meet with conventions which must be re-
spected. There. IL things are not what
they seem. everyone pretends they are;
and If You hurl disagreeable truths right
and left like so many hand-grenades do
You'll be mo5bed Katie; slain by an in
ruriated mob OF dowagers. damsels. and
dudes; and !, your brother, will be I'M
able - protect you"
Whether this dire prophecy would ever
have been fulfilled must remain IN
known; for an event occurred which
brought about that change in Kates
views and differences that ncr mother
and brother had so long vainly tried to
effect
A new scholar came to rchoo, her
parents having just become residents of
the village. Sarah Ellis was cordially re-
cciycd by her schoolmates, and before
week was out she was quite at home In
Ter surroundings, and exerteI a stroas
influence in the school She was not
pretty girl She was thin and angular,
and her features were too sharp; but she
dressed well. and had style" so the
schools girls averrod. and she was a
quick, bright schoar-rlvalling Katie In
that regard-a keen observer and a flu
ent talller. Her lively sallies were much
| relished by the school girls, though her
keen criticisms and satire sometimes
made them vince Katie when appeal
ed to for her opinion of the new conner
said she seemed rather conceited, but
she liked her well enough; nut il aD-
peared not improbable that some antag-
said. They're exact opposites: Katie's
terribly blunt, and Sarahs fearlully
sharp"
IL was o'clock ono Wednesday after
noon. School had been dismissed for
nearly half an hour, but a group Of girls
were still in the school-room talking in
shrill tones that penetrated into the adj
joining room, whore Katie was work.
ing over a narrowing problem in algebra.
Again and again she began: Let
equal the whole state, and let equal
what the oldest son receives; then di-
yided by 49," etc, all through the bewil-
doring intricacies OF a labyrinthine puz-
zle. whore and appeared and reap
pcared in protcan forms. but always re-
fUsing 20 emerge at last with the values
attributed to them by the figures follow
ing the fateful Ans"
Fatie scowled, she clutched a lock OF
hair and twisted it fercely, she dug her
pencil into the paper. she groaned and
thUmped her book; but no magic spell
was wrought by these incantatiOns, and
ana were as refractory as ever. At
intervals fragments of the talk In the
school-room drfted TO her ears, Sarah's
voice usually the leading one, but though
heard. the words were unheeded, until
suddenly, some one asked. How do you
like Katie Powers. SARAH"
II don't Ike her at ALL" came the
prompt reply in Sarahs incisive tones.
Il don't like girl that can't be depend
ed on, and she can't be at all. When
Miss Carter said to-day, Katie is al
ways reliable / said to myself, Reliable.
yes, she is; for she's able to tell a lie,
and that's liable. and then she's able
TO lie again, and so she is reliable for
fact q"
Katies head was raised now, her
breath came quickly, and her cheeks
burned. Anything else-any other accu-
sation she could have borne calmly. but
lyingi She. Katie Powers. who loathed
the very thought of deceit Down went
her algebra, X and were forgotten.
and in another moment Katie would
have rushed into the school-room 10 con-
front her accuser, but her feelings were
relieved by hearing a chorus Of school
girls voices raised to affirm positively
that Sarah was entirely mistaken, that
Katie Powers never failed to speak the
exact truth; but Sarah was undaunted,
and maintained her ground
'Oh, yes" she said, II know all that,
girls, Katie Powers is ready enough 10
say hateful things. II that is what you
mean by telling the truth. | heard her,
myself. tell Ida Gldden she was sallow.
Eva Brown that her essay was silly. and
Clara Wells that she sang out of tune.
Such truth-telling as that Is easy enough
for the teller. But did you hear her an
swcr Miss Carter to-day, when she ask
ed for katie's Tenny son. that she hadn't
brought it?"
"Oh. yes. Sarah; but Katie forgot the
book"
"Forgotw echoed Sarah, with a deri-
sive laugh. What right had she TO for
setY Shed promised to bring il. and
-tiss Carter depended on her and Katie
didn't keep her promise and hadn't cared
from the first whether she kept 1t or
not. II isn't an Unusual thing with her
either. She told Clara, yesterday, when IL
rained, that she would wait for her after
school; but the rlii.ute school was dis
| missed, away went Katie with her UNI
brella, and Clara had TO go home in the
rain. and got dreadful cold for trust
ing to thae reliable girl and all Katie
had to say was L forgot d"
We'll. SARAH" said Ida Glilden, 'Katie
does really forget. she is always Study.
irg and thirAng. and gets absent-mind-
cd, like-like-Sir Isaac Newton, and such
people"
Il don't doubt that's the way Katie
excuses it," said Sarah; "but | telAou.
girls. when any one mikes such a boast
Of telling the truth as she does, she
ought always 10 tell it. and not sneak
oUt OF keeping her promises by pretend
Ing 10 be absent-minded. she does not
try 10 be otherwise. When she is think
ing about anything, and doesn't want 10
be bothered and any one asks her to do
anything. she will say. Yes WILL and
never give another thought 10 1t. | tell
you it isn't right III Katie Powers was
such lover Of truth as she pretends to
be. she would hold a promise sacred"
ended Sarah, in tone of deep solcmni-