St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-12-16

One evening, week subsequent, q
e his return from town. Mr.. Pillin
brought her an answer to the all.il
portant missive.
lr As soon as the letter was i'm her hand
Kate made sign to her mother to TO
a, low her, and then ran into the parlo
to read her epistle undisturbed.
Mother, mother. isn't this sFleT
v did?' she cried, when Mrs. Hawle
came into the parlor few minute
n later. THE agency writes me that
teacher of music is wanted in a schoo
d at Camden. Mo. The salary is $500
year and a home. Isn't it good?"
But perhaps you won't be able I,
r get il. Kate. Don't be too sanguine."
''Oh, feel sure I'll get it; somethin,
r seems to tell me l WILL" cried happ,
Kate. MY diploma makes me as com
petent an applicant as they'll be ikel,
to have. Won't dear Jack be surprised
when l tell him to get ready for col
lege? i can let him have at least $4Ol
. of my salary. l shall need to spend S,
little. you know"
= But are you willing to go SO far from
home, daughter?"
"Yes; since 1 will be working in sucf
r a good cause. And l will be better in
every way for having some regular, sys
tematic employment. mother"
my dear. brave girl" and Mrs. Haw.
ley folded her daughter in warm en-
brace. Il am proud of you, Kate"
Don't be proud yet. Wait until get
to teaching" said honest Kate. Il will
write my application at once. for ever.
day is precious. now that September
is so close at hand"
Her anxiety to get the mail was re-
doubled during the next week; but she
tried not to show it, for fear Jack would
suspect the cause, and she wanted to
give him genuine surprise.
But as day after day passed withou,
bringing the reply to her application.
she began to look pale and worried.
Il can't understand why don't get
letter" she said, over and over again.
to her mother. ..It seems so strange
Probably the place was filled before
your application arrived" said Mrs.
Hawley.
Then they ought to apprise me OF
the fact said Kate. 1T is SO late now
that it would be useless for me to ap-
ply to the agency again. The schools
all over the country will begin in less
than two weeks. Poor Jack! lam glat
we didn't tell him about it. If it is such
terrible disappointment to me, wha,
would ii have hoeu m hin, -,
And at that very moment ''poor Jack
was carrying about with him in the
cornfield the letter his sister wanted sc
much. 1t had been given to him by Mr..
Filling several days before, and he had
thrust it carelessly into his coat pocket.
and straightaway forgotten all about il
in the excitement of hearing his neigh
Dor tell of lucky haul Of black bass
which had been made in the river tha,
morning.
Kate wrote again to Camden, and on |
the day when an answer was due she
walked all the way to the village, dis
tance of two miles. to get her mail her
self. feeling that in the present state
of her mind she could not trust thai
She returned at dusk. looking so pale.
languid and distressed that her mother
was really frightened.
What is the matter. Kate? Are YOU
ill?" she cried.
Kate made no answer, but silently
drew from her pocket a crushed anf
tear-stained letter. and threw ii on the
table; then. throwing herself on the
sofa. she covered her face with heI
hands and began to cry silently.
Mrs Hawley opened the letter and
read it aloud. 1t ran as follows:
Miss Kate Haw!ey:
Your note of inquiry is at hand, and. IL
reply, 1 would state that 1 returned
favorable answer to your application three
weeks ago. and requested you to inform
me II you would be ready to enter upo,
your duties September l. After waiting
time to hear from you, and re-
ceivlng neither letter nor telegram 1 sup
)oseo You did not desire the position s( |
onered it to another lady. who is now witt
IS Regret:ing that my letter failed tt
each you. remain:
CHARLES HARTLAND."
Don't cry; please don't cry, Kate
,
ears were streaming. '.It wasn't your
ault, DEAR
What's all this fuss about?" asked
lack. coming in with a milk pail in
ach hand. Whats gone wrong,
kate?"
Kate felt too wretched to care to keeuI
he secret any longer. and so sobbed out
ne whole story from beginning to end.
We can't understand how the letter
vas lost she said, il conclusion. "Mr. !,
illing is the only one outside the fam ;
y who ever brings our mail. and he is /,
iways very careful Of it,
Jacks face turned suddenly white
ie put his hand in his pocket. hesitate6
moment. then drew it out again will i.
in it,
is that the letter." he asked. hold
ng out the one Mr.. Pilling had cive1
I'M in the cornfield. three weeks ago.
There was no need to ask questions
aek's face told them all they wanted te
now. and they let him leave the room;
lthout a word, and when he did not Z
ppear at supper time they did not re- :
lark upon his absence {
But when supper was over. and the 3
lmps had been lighted in the sitting :
,om. and still he did not come in. Kate u
-ept upstairs to his room. and. enter q
e softly. found him lying on the sofa =
the dark, his face hidden on his q
rms Il
Jack. dear jack" she whispered
never mind. Early next summer will u
'ply to the agency again, and am G
ire to get place then"
For moment Jack did not answer. al
hen suddenly he sat up an4 let his sis n
r see his white, haggard face. II
Il deserve it ALL" he said. in a low. Il
nse voice. Its just punishment, X
It, oh, Kate, it is such hard one, 81
I'd even if you do get place mex, ei
ar. and | go to college then, 1 can q
yer forget that l have lost a whole is
arr" pI
He never did forget it. b!
The wear Of vaitinr vras lourv ,r-3 b(