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

soaa1, ~. ,nanv PEOPLE saw in Mr. Kirbys mar
rage something worse than an infatuated iony
there whisperings against Emma c v.'
acter Happily. she found it Impossible 10 creat
such scandal The more she knew OF Etlina Tue
more convinced she was Of her hones.g; nne
woman lacked force ofcharaeter Ihssuillo s,,nh
~ exclaimed her yielding in every point 10 such
a masterfu wooer as Isaac Kirby: ne nau N
sisted secrecy. and she obeyed. ha'e ,,,oh
lieyed every word Of the fearful confession "h''"
Emma one day made to her. 49, A..
1--WE brought nothing but troupie ih'o '"0
house" Mrs. Kirby lamented. o,,,.
TN stand by YOU" Kate made answer Oii'y
keep quiet. and do what say ~
In fortnight's time Horace sent ano'ne, 'e ~
ter 1t not 50 long, and again IL pu. o.. a.,
definite question. Not 'Wil YOU marry r m,e
was it's tenor but Are you sure that you realy
care for me at a!l?" This arrived on Gay VIZ
Kate making the most Of small triumph.
Mrs. Harrop and both her dausnters a aira,o
good, homey of their intimate circc
came to have tea with Mrs. kirby Inc o.
sion went off very WELL Emma In no way u's
Gracing herself Isaac who had k report 1u With
growls of qualification. strengthened ny tmls'
Kate sat down and answered her 'ot ,h.
She told him in simple words OIL 1n5
whether her fathers marriage was TO lhVolNe
him in domestic misery or to become souIcc
of comort for his old age. she was Hlah,n3
Roadway: she saw reasonable hope. You WISH
to know II l really for you. Yes. DO but
won't let you quarrel with your parents aarr,od
won't be desrised by people who. II married
you would be my relations" She wecomeo
his letters, but wa. glad-here her hand treni-
bled--that he did not come to see her. !, ~
believed in the effect OF time, she aISo "ou'u 10
to have faith in it. ,.
Winter came down upon the moorlands; storms
ragged along the VALLEY over the gray e soEme
houses and the mills: smoke of the high cnliil-
neys flew fast amid ragged clouds, or hung IN
the cold rain or sprinkled with inquiry ,i.e
surface Of new fallen snow. Kate was SUN ngnt-
ing her battle and now she had an invisible ally,
something shapeless and voiceless that mao
appeal for Mrs. Kirby to the better-heartsd
| opr1 of L
end of January the Kirbys' friendly doctor was
requested to call. Isaac went about rejuvenated'
his checks dashed b, the frosty wlnd 10 nue.
like that Of hearty boyhOod. Mrs. Harrop began
to come frequently ard to make herself quite at
home with Isaac's wife. The majority or Kate -
acquaintance still held aloof but malicious talk
about her stepnothor was growing thin for lack
of nourishment \ genuine scandal. or CouIse'
had by this time supplied the sossips win mat
one a victory Of sclf-restraint for which his
daughter great" to thank.
Kate had not seen Horace Easton After her
encouraging reply To him he wrote three times
at intervals Of fortnight and in the last OF
these three letters. which was short. he asked
the definite question. but in terms OF much pru-
dcnce: Twill you give me your promise. 10 ne
fulfilled when you feel able? WIZ you let me
consider myself bound nv p distinct engagement
to be made known or kept private, as you wish!
I can't pretend that my people grow easier 10
manage but know II ev will come round II they
find me seriously engaged DO say Yes ! WI
marry YOU some day But the tone OF TINS
writing was so very different from that in which
Horace began his suit that Kate's heart sank
, as she read. Moreover, his studious Observance
of her request tina, he would not come to see h"r
IN reques, she had not repeated) made her colby
critical of all he snid
1t CHANGED that Isaac KIRBY saw TINS letter
uhe envelope. that is to say before II came INTO
his daughters hands. Kate knew that h. had
it. and vas not surprised when he asked
her n question. .,.,
WHO Is il ut writes to you from Leeds Kate?
She looked him In the face.
I don't think that's any business OF YOURS
father" .
For a moment he seemed likely to explode in
wrath The girls tone was neither piaytul nor
his the very thing to exasperate Isaac. She
awaited whatever he had 10 say. and something
In her look suhdued his temper
IL don't know that 1t is h. answered coIdiy'
ard turned away.
That evening they were alone together for a
shor, lime Kate. harassed by doubts as 10 the
answer she should make to Horaccs letter. couid
not converse and her father kept moody
silence OF n sudden lac began to talk about the
Eastons II was tho first time that he had re-
ferred to the cstrangement OF these neighbors;
now he broke into violent abuse Of them, ridicul-
Ing their pretensons. raking up Old stories
against them. nnding racy epithet for every
member OF the family Kate grew pale as she
listened. Not long ago this would have led 70
self-command. when her suffering became intol-
cradle she rose and silently left the room
Half an hour later she went out to post re-
ply 10 Horace Easton. The lines were these;
MY father would hate the thought OF our
| a
would. You said when last saw you that You
were prepared to act independently So am l.
I VII, marry you AT cree. or not NJ all
Scarcely was the thins done when Kate fell into
An anguish Of shame. Shs passed 50 miserable
a NTH; that her excus" Of Illness for not ap
nearing nj breakfast had JUSTIFICATION enowrh.
Mrs Kirbys anxious inquiries met with reply
Of small courtesy; for two days Kate shut her
self against every one. nibhllnS only crust of
bread, ard feeling IN angry delight In her SUI
feringr The second evening brought her a let
oh 10 a. In mel
/ II contained TWO or three sheets Of paper-omi-
nous amplitude When she read 1t. her fore
j boding turned 10 evaporation Horace began
with phrases of delight. and passed on to elabo
rate argument. OF course he was prepared to
marry al once; but--but-in short, would II he
prudent? His parents were coming round;
n few months more
She tore the letter across. and lay with her
hands pressed against her ears. as though Ia
deafcn herself against voice TINT torture"
In a weeks time she living as usual. Az
ter that interval. Horace wrote to entrcat an an
swer He received II on postcard:
THANKS Don't trouble any morc.-K. X"
Evidently this sufTiced. Horace Easton gave
no more trouble either 10 himself or To Kate.
| When Mrs. Kirbys child was born Kate took
long holiday in Wales. accompanied by Lizzie
Harrop. The girls had been ENJOYING themselves
| for nearly month. ard Hates health was per-
! fcctiy restored, when one day as they ranbled
on tho beach a friend encountered them; 1t was
! Tom L.nacre. quietly gool-humored as ever.
WITH only n sparkle in his eye TO show that the
meeting gave him any particular satisfaction.
Tom fingered about the nciEhborhood FOR DAY
or two and at length found his opponunlty or
! speaking alone with Kate. He had something
10 say to her which he had said twice before
; at twelve months interval-a brief interroSa-
! tive
! ION one condition" was Rates thoughtful
reply.
And what's that?
The man shook with unexpected delight. but
| Kate was unmoved: she smiled as If talking or
! the most ordinary things.
Behave rudcly to my stepmother.
| .Vhat do you mean? | thought you were so
| friendly with her You're Joking
| I'm not That's the best way can imagine
| of getting father to quarrel with you