Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-15
WHAT KATIECAUGHT

| together! must endeaVOr TO IND some
thing that pays better than this ceaseloss
! stitching. But here comes mother.
must chase away this weary look"
Mr.. Ashley had been a government clerk
and lived up to every cent of his income,
just managing to keep up a genteel APP
pearance and send Katie to an excellent
school
But Mr. Ashley died suddenly, and tho
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 Is, 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 so constantly. Get your
hat and so take walk, and, my child
She hCsitatCd. well, I've been thinking
that possibly, if you would try yourself
and not depend on friends, you might get
position. l should think General LOOMS
if he knew you, would give you work. Go
and ask him, Katie"
What about the general, mOtherP 1
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, Waltcr?" asked Katie.
why, l see him most every afternoon
up where we go fishing. Well, it would
do you good to see him when he has fine
luck. l believe he would sooner draw up
hlnpl. hoc than nnpbonl-r, - NTnlto.
swered.
"Oh, Walter, sometimes when he is in
such good humor, could you not tell
him who you are and ask him to give mo
something to do?" Katie asked in tono
and manner half serious, half in fun.
Now, ms if 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. am go
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 como by and by, l guess
I'm glad we are first. I'll get IL good po-
sition."
Soon his line was dropped, and few
minutes after Katie saw him draw it up
with triumphant exclamation.
What beauty! Oh, there comes tho
general Amt glad he didn't get here
before. He would have caught this Now,
watch him. KG-ie. I'm going to have a
brisk time, l 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 dishcartened, she
coaxCd Walter to return home.
What luck?" asked Mrs. Ashley, meet
ing them at the door.
Splendid See what feast!" ex-
claimed Walter. He had quite forgotten
the real purpose of Katie's going.
Oh Walter, mother means something
of more Importance than your fish, " Katie
said adding: "No luck for me, mamma. 1
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. l 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 it
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.
81 declare, Katie, it is the strangest
thing l ever knew. From tho time he
comes in sight he looks cross and grows
more SO until he or we leave" Walter
said.
"Thcn 1 will not go any more. be-
lieve l must have something to do with
his changed humor."
, oh, nonsense, Katel l never meant
to imply anything of that kind. Ofcourse,
as l 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.
1t was not long before the familiar form
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 &C
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 a very
lmiable tone:
Il did think you would have staid
home such an afternoon. Can't you find
anything moro profitable to be about"
Poor Katie, trembling with fright,
mo, sir"
Before she could control her emotion suf-
lciently to say anything more the general
,xclaimed:
Then l can. Do you write a fair hand?
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 not come here every
You are so kind, so very kind" Katie,
Who found her voice, exclaimed. "How
an thank youg'
by keeping off my fishing ground.
DON'T you know, ever since you have been
oming here you've occupied my place,
nd being a young lady l couldn't very
veil ask you to remove, and SO I'll give
ou an office to get rid of you"
Kntf nr-aI nd