Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-03-26
DAFTY KATE.

stands rough looking house built
among the sand dunes in such way
that only it's roof and small portions Of
its walls are visible.
1t is made up of wreckage that has
been picked up on the shore, with here
and there stick Of lumber that looks
as if it might have come fresh from the
sawmill. The structure has the appear
ance of huge ships cabin. Outside the
door stands bench, well worn by fish
ermen, who have for more than dozen
years looked after the welfare of the oc-
cupant of this modest dwelling, who
goes by the name Of Dafty Kate.
Dafty Kate is a woman about 40
years old, tall, strong and healthy. For
10 years she has lived in the house ON
the beach, and many times has she
helped the fishermen row through the
breakers to some foundered vessel and
save the crew. She is rational enough
on most subjects, but she is constant
watcher of the sea, and whenever per-
son comes to her door the first thing she
says is:
willie is coming in tonight. The
freight is due here a little past s
O'Clock "
Every night for 10 years Dafty Kate
has set on a stand built for the pur-
pose in front Of the door of her hut a
lantern, which she says will guide Will
lie safely in if the freight should hap
pen to sail in while she is asleep.
The woman's story is an extremely
interesting and pathetic one. Fifteen
years ago she was called the belle of
Cape May. She was the daughter of
prosperous dealer in oysters, who owned
number of sloops and was considered
rich.
Kate's parents were very proud Of her.
She was an only child, and they in
dulged her in everything that would add
to her pleasure There were two suitors
for her hand. One was thrifty young
merchant in small town near Cape
May, the other was the SON Of an old sea
captain whose days of activity were
over and who lived quiet life with his
only son and daughter. A strong at
tachment sprung up between Kate and
the fisherman's S daughter, and when the
fisherman Is son came home from voy-
age to the western islands he promptly
fell in love with Kate.
Kate's parents were ambitious for her
to marry money, and they insisted that
she should give the fisherman's son
cold shoulder and encourage the young
merchant, but the girl refused to do so.
! The name Of the man to whom Kate
had given her heart was William King,
and when he sailed away one day on a
trip as mate of the brigantine Sea Foam
she was his promised wife.
Kate's father and mother were glad to
see William go, for that would give the
young merchant an opportunity to press
his suit, and he did, but Kate was true
to the fisherman's son and would have
nothing to do with the man Of her par
ents choice.
William Kings voyage took him to
China, and he was to be gone something
like Is months When Kate's parents
found that she would not marry the
man, they had chosen for her, they be-
came very angry and turned her out Of
doors, expecting no doubt that she would
repent and do as they wanted her to.
But the girl was not made of that sort
of stuff. She went to live with the cap
tain's family and remained there for
nearly two years, waiting for her sailor
lover to return, but he didn't come.
One day a report reached Cape May
that the brigantine Sea Foam had foun-
dered somewhere in the vicinity of the
Falkland islands, and that all on board
were lost. The story had the effect Of
prostrating Kate, who lay for several
months at the point of death, but she
finally recovered.
1t was noticed that the girls mind
had been seriously affected She appear
ed to be rational enough ON all subjects
but that Of her lovers return. She in
sisted that he would return and insisted
upon setting light on stand on the
beach every night SO that it would be a
guide to him.
/ With their daughters s misfortune the
hearts of Kate's parents softened, and
they insisted on her coming home with
them to live, but she refused to do so,
protesting that she must stay ON the
beach, where she could watch for
Willie all the time She refused an
offer made by her father TO build her a
nice cottage ON the sands. She said she
didn't want any comforts that Willie
couldn't enjoy, and SO one day the fish
ermen built rough structure, and Kate
took up her residence there.
The captains daughter spent good
ieal Of time with her for two or three
years, but she finally got married and
went at distance to live. The old cap
tain died. Kate's parents crossed the
dark river and the young woman was
left alone.
Kate's parents left an estate valued
at several thousand dollars, and she was
the only heir, but she refused to touch