Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-09-18
DAFTY KATE.

stands a rough looking house bullt
among the sand dunes in such a
way that only it's root 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 a stick OF
lumber that looks as if it might
have come fresh from the sawmlll
The structure has the appearance
of a huge ships cabin. Outside
the door stands a bench, well wOrr
by fishermen, who have for more
than a dozen years looked after
the welfare of the occupant of this
modest dwelling, who goes by the
name of DAfty Kate.
Dafty Kate Is woman about 40
years old, tail, strong aud healthy.
For le years she has lived in tue
house on the beach, and many
times has she helped the fisher
men row through the breakers to
some foundered vessel and save
the crew. She iS rational enough
on most SUBJECTS, but she is 4 con-
stant watcher of the sea. and
whenever a person comes to her
door the first thing she says is:
"Nillle is coming Ia tonight.
The freight is due hers a little
past s o'clock"
Every night for ID years Daily
Kate has set on stand built for
the purpose in front OF the door OF
her hut lantern, which she says
will guide Willie safely in If the
Flrelight should happen to sail III
while she Is asleep.
The woman's story is an extreme
" interesting aud pathetic one.
T fteen years ago she was called
the belle of Cape May. She was
the daughter OF prosperous deal
or ia ONsters, who owned NUN brr
Of SloOps and was considered rich.
Kate's parents were very proud
of her. She was an only child, and
they lndulged her in everything
that would add to her pleasure
There were two suitors for htr
hand. Que was thrifty young
merchant in a small town near
Cape May, the other was lhe son
of all old sea captain whose days
of activity were over and who lived
qniet life with bis only son aud a
QauGnl eTs y SNiOpS 81
sprung up between Kate and the
tisherman's daughter, and when
the hshermap's son caue home
from voyage 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
6sherman's son o cold shoulder aud
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, aud when he sailed
away one day on trip as mate Of
the brlgsntlne Sea Foam she wal
his promised wife.
Kate's father and mother were
glad to see William 60, for tba
would give the yosug merchant al
opportunity to press his suit, an(
hs did, but Kate was true to th'
fshrrmau's son and would have
nothing to do with the man ct bel
parents choice.
William Kings voyage took hin
TO China, aud he was to be gon'
0 nethiug like 10 months. Whel
Kate's parents found that sh
would not marry the mau, they hat
chosen for her, they became yer.
angry and turned her out of doors
expecting no doubt that she woul'
repent and do as tbsy wanted he
to. But the girl was not made u
that sort of stu1. She went to llv
with the captains family aud re
NAMED there for nearly two Year,
waiting for her sailor lover 10 re
turn, bat be didn't come.
One day a report reached Gap
May that the brIgautine Sea FosI
had foundered somewhere in th
vicinity of the Falkland Islaudi
. aud that all on board were los
The story had the effect OF pro
tratlng Kate, who lay for sewers
= months at the point OF death, bI
she finally recovered.
IL was noticed that the girl
mlDd had been seriously affected
She appeared to be rational enouG
on all subjects but that OF h'
lovers return. She insisted th'
% he would return aud insisted upC
setting 8 light on a stand on Il