New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11

top of his voice. Isaac could speak the English
Of education. If not Of refinement, well enouSh
when he liked; just now 1t was his hunlor 'o DC
a rough and ready YOrkshireman. and Kate per-
ceived a significance in the mood. .,-
We've had our teas and a bit o summaa WIN h
it. We got home at o'clock, tina knaws ana
felt hungry after [ journey. Happen us
same vi thee. Well, and who's this
Standing at the far end of the room, in snao9m'
was young woman whose dress might ne ue
scribed in the terms as the furniture ana
decorations about her; she wore a garb doupt-
less costly and we'll enough made but not IN
the true sense becoming: plainly. she dlo NOT
feel at her ease in it, She had good thoush
slight figure, trine taller than Kate s; FEATURES
in no way remarkable; complexion mnc ,
fIeckled. But her look expressed aSreeapie
Qualties-sweetness Of temper and a READY uii-
derstanding. She seemed to be about eight-and-
twenty
AS soon as her eyes fell upon this person. Kate
stood still; the forced smile all but faded from
her counter ance: an agitation she could not mae
caused her head TO fall and to turn away. as
though. If possible, she would have escaped
But at her fathers phrase of familiar lntroduc-
tion-"Tha hasn't forgotten Emma. my lass!
she commanded herself. stepped quickly across
the floor. and held out her hand. speaking in a
gentle voice though with slight insistence on
the tone of cultivation which Isaac Nrpy so
violently discarded.
How do you do, Mrs Kirby? We shall he a
little strange to each other at first; but that will
pass away very soon. no doubt
Il hope so. Miss Kate. I'm sure do. was
the others reply as she shook hands. bluShinS
over face and neck The voice, only just audi.
bic, had much more or Kirby accent tndn Oh
his daughters
"And what more could either of you say?"
shouted the man delghtedly. Kate, tha's
good lass. and think better Of thee nor ever be.
fore. Shake hands there's a good lass. And
get her summat to eat. Emma: it's 100 long
for her to wait till supper.
Late in the evening. when Mr.. Kirby sat alone
in his little room. smoking the familiar long
clay, Kate joined him. He nodded with smile.
and pointed to the chair ready placed; but Kate
did not seat herself. She glanced about the
n linking hands
hind her. looked down al him from her position
by the empty fireplace.
Now; father. I'm going TO have II out With
Isaac did not move muscle. He read the
girls face. and every line Of 1t was intellisihe
to him. Not in vain had these two lived for so
many years together
Fire away. my lass" he made answer, cross
ing his legs and blowing cloud;
why have you treated me In this way? what
do you mean by II. father"
I've done nowt but what I'd right to do.
You've done nothing you ought to have done.
Do you think 1t your right TO put servant
over my head IN this house without as much as
asking me If ! should like 1t? Is 1t your right
to alter everything in my life. now and for the
future, without word Of warning?'
"How's that. Kate? What harm have done
to your future?"
might have been? You suppose a girls father
can do a thing like this without making it very
unpleasant !7e a:.i for her among her friends ~
sooner YOU get rid of them the better"
I'm no fonder of fools than you are Kate
rejoined warmly: And if you wish to know
what think. 1t doesn't seem to me the part Of
a very wise man to take such a step this"
I've gone my own gait. lass. for something
like fifty years. and shall do t same till they
bury me. Now here. Your brother mar
ried. and went away. Your sister married. and
went away When you get wed. and 1t won't
be long. I should feel bit lonely. found
to find with herr?
That's not the question. lis what other peo-
Co,, ,t,,l III.
sneered at by the whole town. but It's not quite
easy for me to put up with"
Who's going 10 laugh and sneer?' shouted
Isaac. iercely. clenchng his fist. They'll laugh
at L wrong side o { mouth
The explosion Gained him.
"Now listen TO me: Kate. didn't tell you
beforehand. because knew We should have a
row. Look, now Who is there you care that
about"-he snapped his fingers-"thatI think
and try. EN-. Kate. that's my advice. know
somebody that'll stand the test"
"Of course I know who mean said the
girl averting her look.
"Well?"
III you thought" she continued with ner-
haste. that this would make me more
made great mistake. When l refused Mr.
Lnacre meant it. And is 1t likely l should
have him now?'
She gave a scornful little laugh Isaac still
looked uneasy; he stole glance at her before
speaking.
Kate"
That's very considerate: but what 1 am try
ing to show you is that, for all you know, y>2
have r"neS my CHANCES Of mryhs at
! might look little higher than such man as
Tom Linacre?"
No. no. That's how the land lies and who
is 1t, my lass?'
81 didn't say there was any one at an she
answered irritably. TITS only that there might
talk any more about it, I've told you what
think, and I'm easier in mind for it. You took
no thought Of me: you just pleased yourself.
well. / shall do the same. That's fair isn't t."
She gave nod and left the room
| On Sunday morning Kate went TO church. az
usual. Her father. as usual. stayed at home.
| Mrs Kirby would accompany her. but she was
reminded that Emma went to chapel" Emma
did not. in fact. leave home that day. preferring
| privacy until she had grown a little more ac-
customed to the novelty Of her position
! At church Kate perceived that good many
eyes were turned upon her with unusual In
| terest She was prepared for this. and braced
| herself to endure 1t. and went through the or
| deal unfinchngy. The pleasure she found In
defying curious scrutiny enabled her To look
| as bthe ever. On coming forth she chatted
| in the ordinary way with friends and acquaint-
| ances. careful to walk at slow pace. ready to
! return every smile. No one dropped the most
distant allusion 10 Isaac Kirby's marriage.
! That Yves the worst Of 1t. for certainly the
event had been talked about all over the town
! within an hour two after its discovery by
! Samuel Vickers Kate herself ignored the mat
ter She was glad that certain families were
away at the seaside: by when they returned she
would have outlived this acute misery.
Next morning the post brought her two let
| tiers. She IN early enough TO receive them
| at the garden gate. one Of them mattered moth
| ing; her father any one else. might see Il.
| But the other envelope she slipped at once into
| her pocket. and did not open it til she was Sc
| cure in her room after breakfast
| The letter dame from Leeds and was signed
| Horace T. FastOn" love letter. pure and
| simple long. ardent, phrascd with some literary
skill. the production Of an educated man IT
| began by reminding Kate that whole week
| had now elapsed since they took leave OF each
other at Moreca!nbe. The writer had heard %
her return home on Saturday, and he could