Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-08-12

form timidly for an instant, but an in
slant only, for surely there she found
nothing to encourage q longer gaze.
General Looms looked decidedly cross,
and the expression changed not for the
better during the two hours the girl sat
and watched.
Then at last, tired ard disheartened,
she coaxed Walter to return home.
"What luck?' asked Mrs. Ashley, meet
ing them at the door.
"Splendid. See what a feastH' ex-
claimed Walter He had quite forgotten
the real purpose Of Katie's going.
ooh, Walter, mother means something
of more Importance than your fish" Katie
said, adding: "No luck for me, mamma.
1 could not dare to speak to him. He
looked awfully cross. "
"Well, that's SO. He did. 1 never saw
him so before. But the fish did not bite
for him. 1 guess that was the reason, 3"
said Walter.
Dav after day, when Walter returned
from school, she would put aside her work
and accompany him, returning TO the anx-
ious mother ever with the respondent
look on her pale face.
Twelve days passed thus. To Walter it
was beyond comprehension He declared
that always before the general looked
pleasant. Sometimes he was really joyial
and on two or three occasions had spoken
with much kindness to him.
81 declare, Katie, 1t is the strangest
thing l ever knew. From the time he
comes in sight he looks cross and grows
more so until he or we leave" Walter
said.
"Then l will not go any more. l be-
lieye l must have something to do With
his changed humor.'
"Oh, nonsense, Kate! 1 never meant to
IMPLY anything of that kind. OF course,
as / told you before, neither of US has
anything to do with it, Come or"
Again they arrived In time To secure the
place for Walters sport, and Katie began
her watchful, wistful gaze.
1t was not long before the familiar
form came I'm sight, nearer and nearer,
until the poor girl could plainly see the
same old look, and i5yreally seemed to her
he uttered an angry, impatient exclama-
ton.
General Looms stopped not at his ac-
customed place, but came right up to
where they sat. Planting his rod into the
soil in the vicinity of Katie, he looked at
her "a few seconds and then said in a very
amiable tone:
81 did think you would have staid home
such an afternoon. Can't you find any
thing more profitable to be about?"
Poor Katie, trembling with fright,
stammered:
ono, sir"
Before she could control her emotion
sufficiently to say anything more the gem
eral exclaimed:
"Then l can. Do you write fair handY
Can you count rapidly? But you can learn,
If you do not already. Listen to me. Come
b me tomorrow, and I'll put you to work
and Keep you SO busy you Will be glad TO
rest and not come here every afternoon.
''You are so kind, so very kind!" Katie,
who found her voice, exclaimed. How
can thank you?"
"By keeping off my fishing ground
Don't you know, ever since you have been
coming here you've occupied my place,
and, being a young lady, couldn't very
well ask you to remove, and so III give
you an Office to get rid of you"
Katie was so overjoyed and rcassured by
the pleasant tone and manner Of the gem
eral that she told him about the object Of
her coming, and the general exclaimed:
"And so you came fishing for an office!
But you used the worst kind Of bait my
little girl.
cat any rate, you looked as If you
would bite every time, Katie answered,
her eyes dancing merrily.
"Ha, ha, hal" laughed the general. Il
really have felt so. Well, l am truly glad
to help the daughter of Mr. Ashley and
delighted to get hor off my fishing
ground. "-Exchange.