Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-01-16

up tnat ne had married her five years
before somewhere, where his regiment
was stationed; 1 forget where. There
was terrible scene, which ended by
Kate leaving the hotel. No one knew
whers she went. My friend, an Eng
Iishman, who told me just what I have
told you, tried to follow her and offered
to do what he could for her in a none
tary way. He was a gentleman, and
meant well by her. She refused all Of
fers OF assistance, and disappeared as
II the Mediterranean had swallowed her
up. He heard of her again at Mar
settles; she had been singing in cafe
there; she always had passable voice,
and played the banjo well. Poor Kate,
her pride was dragged in the dust, her
heart was broken"
Cholly paused to wipe the perspira-
ton from his face and take few sips
from tumbler beside him. The old
major, for wonder, kept silence, from
time to time shaking his head sorrow
fully.
Il suppose that is the first part of the
story" broke in Andy Wears. TT is
deuced sad; hope the little girl got
back to her uncle"
''Uncle!" growled Mai Poole. poor
child, he didn't want her. He was a
cruel-hearted, mean old scoundrel, was
Peter Donovan; he never treated the
girl right when he had her"
Cholly nodded his head affirmatively
to Maj. Poole's assertion, and continued
his story:
This all happened four years ago;
no one heard anything during that time
Of pretty Kate Donovan, for you see
she wasn't Mrs. Gordon, after all. An
aunt of hers did have the grace to
write to me making inquiries; she had
heard that Kate was in the United
States, in place called Pennsylvania,
and would make inquiries, as lived,
no doubt, near there? You know, these
old country people, as they call them
selves, think that the United States are
about as large as an English colony"
"Do I know it?'' interrupted the
major. "Why, a lady in London once
asked me to personally deliver small
parcel of china to her daughter, because
lived in New York, near where her
daughter was settled. I took the par
eel, thinking to see the address of some
street here. Where do you think the
fair creature lived?"
New Jersey?" hazarded Wears.
"Maine?" queried another.
"No!" roared the major; "Idaho!"
"Guess you didn't accept the commits
sion, major" said Cholly.
"Well, no. I relieved my mind by
reciting sundry words not in Wcbster's
dictionary. Go on, my boy. Tell us
all you know of pretty Kate Donovan"
"I came through Canada on my way
from the west, few days ago." con-
tinued Cholly. eve changed cars at a
some hours to wait for connection.
Stroning around, I came to place
where a circus was in full swing.
Double tent. side shows, all complete.
Consulting my watch, I found had
time to see the performance. An Eng
lish steeplechase was advertised as
the chief attraction. 1t had just COM
menced when took my seat in the
first row close to the ring. I can hard
ly tell you my feelings when 1 recog-
nized the first lady rider who entered
it was Kate Donovan"
"Good heayens!" calculated the ma
jor. "Come to that?"
Eyes, it was Kate. Graceful, 1.-THE,
nervy as ever, looking like a queen
among those painted judys and rough
men"
GLOW could you sit there and see it?"
groaned Maj. Poole.
81 hadn't to sit long. I recognized
her instantly-and, poor girl, she saw
me-"
"Knew your" gasped the major.
"Yes, she turned pale unded the hor-
rible paint and rouge she was daubed
with; somehow she seemed to lose her
nerve all of sudden. The horse, a
vicious black beast, swerved to one side
jor-fcllows, I cannot tell
it. 1t was too horrible"
"Kate Donovan to lose her nerve on
horseback? l cannot credit it" said
the major, in an awed tone.
81 was in the ring and by her side in
n moment" Cholly continued, not no.
ticing the majors interruption. "She
knew me, poor girl, when her eyes
opened for the first time. She died with
her hands tightly clasped in NINE
Did she sa-ay anything?" asked
Andy Wears; 'did she tell you any
thing?"
eff she did, you're not the one I'd re-
peat it to- said Cholly, fiercely. 1.-THE
last words of n poor dying girl are hard
Iy club talk, not if know it."
So saying, Cholly seized his coat and
STROBE angrily from the room.
The other men looked at each other
significantly.
Hes hit hard" said the major; poor
fellow. If you had seen Kate you'd not
blame him. always thought he liked
her"
And Cholly, as he strobe along the
street homeward, cursed his own folly
in telling the story of pretty Kate to
such an audience. "As if they cared"
he muttered. They were set Of hard
hearted, cold, cynical men, and he,