The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-21
WHAT KATIE CAUGHT

OScSuer! must onQeayOr TO unQ some
thing that pays better than this ceaseles6
stitching. But here comes mother. l
must chase away this weary look"
Mr.. Ashley had been government clerk
snd lived up to every cent of his income,
lust managing to keep up genteel ap-
poarance and send Katie TO an excelleHs
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
lly. So Katie, when only Is, was forced
70 leave her studies and put her shoulder
70 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 go take walk, and, my child
She hesitated We'll, I've been thinking
that possibly, if you would try yourself
and not depend on friends, you might get
q position. / should think General 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 to lit
tie, and he is a fine old gentleman,
think said Walter Ashley, a 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, 1 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 a good humor, could you not tell
him who you are and ask him TO give me
something TO do:' Katie asked in tone
and manner half serious, half in fun.
Now, as IL he would mind what boy
said. No. Katie, you come aud go with
me. Ladies often come up to the fishing
ground. Then, when he looks pleasant
enough, you ask him yourself. l 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 come by and by, guess.
I'm glad we are first. I'll get good po-
sition"
Soon his line was dropped, and few
minutes after Katie saw him draw il up
with triumphant exclamation
What u beauty, Oh, there comes the
general! Amt glad ne didn't get here
before. He would have caught this. Now,
watch him, Katie. I'm going to have
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 a 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 digheartened, she
coaxed Walter TO return home.
What luck;" asked Mrs. Ashley, meet
ing them 1T the door.
Splendid! See what a feast!" e1-
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: mo luck for me, mamma. I
could not dare TO speak 10 him. He looked
awfully cross.
well, that's SO. He did. ! never saw
him so before. But the fish did not bite
Tor him. 1 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 an1-
ious mother ever with the respondent look
on her pale face.
Twelve DAYS passed thus. To Walter ID
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.
Il declare, Katie it is the strangest
thing l ever Fnew. From the time he
comes in sight he looks cross and grows
more so until he or we leave, F" Walter
said
''Then will not go any more. l 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,
rs l told you before neither you nor
have anything to do with it. Come on"
Again they arrived il time to secure the
place for Walters sport. And Katie be-
gan 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 1t really seemed TO her he ut
tered an angry, impatient exclamation.
General Looms stepped not at his &C
custonod 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:
i did think you would have staid
home such an afternoon. Can't you find
more profitable TO be about"
Poor Katie, trembling with fright,
stammeod:
No, sir
Before she could control her emotion suf- 4
fciently 10 say anything more the general .
exclaimed:
Then l can. Do you write fair hand' .
Can you count rapidly But you can .
learn, ii 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 4
be glad 10 rest and not come here every
afternoon
You are so kind, so very kind" Katie,
who found her voice, exclaimed. How
can / thank you:''
by keeping of my fishing ground.
Dom you know, ever since you have been
coming here you've occupied my place,
and being a young lady couldn't very
we'll ask you TO remove. and so I'll give
you an Office 10 get rid Of you
Katie was so overjoyed and treasured
BIZ the pleasant tone and manner OF the
general that she told him about the object
+ her coming, 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.