Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-02-19
A STRANGE WOOING.

tiful but one day nurse dropped me from
her arms down the whole length of the
oak staircase There Is no need to say
more Yet l was a happy child. AS !
grew up 1 built such castles in the air as
other youths build, and in my castle 1 be-
gan to see Kate Norman's figure, Katie's
dark eyed, crimson checked face smiling
on me from visionary flresides there and
hear her voice singing lullabies in the far.
off future. We met often. She was al
ways kind and friendly. 1 had fancied
something more.
One day l went in the heat Of the after.
noon to a shady spot by the river side, my
own ground. l lay upon the grass, read.
ing book, when behind the glossy leaves
of the plants which the little ones called
"bread and butter bushes" 1 heard the
sparrowlike twittcr of girls voices
"Shell have him, said one
Clancy such bridegroom" said the
other. "All his money couldn't buy me. "
"He don't want you, but Kate" said
the first
zone must be at ones last prayer &c
want such an admirer No one could like
Casper Athwold. -
"Of course not" said the first. "But
then he's rich and Kate poor enough"
"You are right No woman could love
him. But money will marry anybody"
There was rustic, sound of feet on
the grass. The chirping voices died away
in the distance.
Just for ten minutes / hated the world
hated the jolly, broad shouldered farmer
tramping alone the bride path, hated the
red faced boatman on the river, hated the
yellow haired child in the bottom of the
boat at his feet, hated all who lived and
breathed and walked erect under the
sky. Then my heart softened, and l wept
/ had loved Kate, and l loved her still
The girls chatter had awakened me to
the truth Just as lived now, alone in
the old homestead among the marbles,
so 1 must live unless l bought a wife with
my gold-a wife who could not love me.
Such had been my brief wooing time.
went no more to the cottage in the lane.
1 met Kate no more "by chance" in quiet
places. l did no more of those foolish
things
1 shut myself up in the old house among
my books and Stunned the sight of faces
and the sound of voices. 1t was the best
thing that "A man whom no one could love
could do
So the months wore away. Sometimes
had met her, but l always looked anoth-
er way, and our pleasant greetings had
come TO an end. l had seen hurt flush
on her face and taken no heed of it. l had
even been discourtcous-but l loved hel
just ms l had loved her all along.
One day | went to the ca lawyer who
had had charge of our estate for 40 years
and babe him draw me up will in which
left all that | possessed 10 Kate Norman,
with letter which only her hands We're to
unseal, only her eyes to read, after l had
gone.
This was the letter:
Kate Norman:
You never cared for me. You could not.
Once | heard woman say no woman could,
but loved you Had cherished one faint ray
of hope l would have striven to win your
heart. but learned liz time what folly it was
and in pity for myself held aloof from you.
As it is, it gives me some pleasure to think
that you will dwell under this roof. When
you read this, you will pity, not deride, the
love of CASPER ALHwoIp
This note lay unsealed and directed, "To
be given TO Kate Norman after my death, ~
and the will was also signed and sealed,
and walked home.
AT my door the elm shadows lay thick,
and in them stood bent, crooked figure
clothed in rags, bcggar, who began his
dolorous whine as l came up:
"A little helps just little I'm not q
strong man, sir l can't work like the
same Yer isn't strong yerself. Yen be
known what that is A wakely Guild cray
ter that would be thankful for onything-
Il penny or an oUld coat, or a sup or bite
yes, sir
tossed him Il coin.
GO, l said Don't loiter here "
The man looked at me curiously, a,
though he had expected more pity from
me The coin had fallen at his feet. HI
stopped and picked it up.
Xnc it'll bu,- a bitn bo eoid
luck to ye. It's not always ate before
Shape.
turned and looked at the beggar. HI
was miserable also.
Come in, l said. "I'll give you some
clothes You need them sadly"
Its nothing but needing with me, sir, >
said he. 1.-The likes of me can't work 4"
"You have had an accident?"
My father threw me out of window
for joke when lie was not sober"
l took from my wardrobe garments
had worn and babe him put them on. Aft
erward gave him food. / called no serv
ant in. No one saw him come or go save
myself. He departed, blessing me.
watched him out of sight Then 1 burs
out in a laugh.
lie had best go and offer his hand tC
Kate Norman" l said. "They would
make a well matched couple. Does h,
look like me in my clothes, wonder
They fit him we'll"
Then l remembered going out of the
door and down toward the waters edge
A boat lay there with the oars in it.
stepped in and rowed up the river. The
twilight faded night came on-a dark
moonless night l had dropped the oari
and was drifting seward lying at the bot
tom Of the boat l knew that / was II
danger, but the knowledge did not affec
me.
Suddenly glare of red light flashed
over my face, heard a heavy throb of ma
chinery, then a shrieking whistle and
steamer was hard upon my little boat.
After that knew nothing until 1 cam
to myself in a strange room, in a strang
hotel at Albany. The captain of tn
steamer which had run my boat down fan