Evening star., 1907-11-09
ON APPROVAL.
BY KATE BAlDEN.

1t all happened just like a story and
when Katharine told of it afterward she
always said it was the most interesting
tale she could recall.
Katharine was sixteen, and when her
father and mother died way down in the
southern part of California there was no
one but Uncle Mark, her fathers part
ner. to look after her. At least, there
was no one else but Grandma Martin in
New York, and a grandmother who had
never taken any interest in you since you
were born, and at that distance, too,
could hardly be called anybody. But I'm
Gle Mark decided differently
You can come back here. child he
said, "and heaven knows you will be well
tune in my hands: but think your grand
mother should know all about you and
have q chance to look upon you, should
she so desire"
Katharine knew that her grandmother
had dsapproved of her father and moth
ers marriage, but she did not ask Uncle
Mark anything; unless some one Of the
family told her. she concluded, she would
So Uncle Mark wrote to the stern
grandmother and told all Katharine's pit
iful little story, and in due time came
this letter in reply:
but understand it is only upon approval
Her mother displeased me by her mar
riage, and l shall not keep the girl un-
less like her. l am glad she has plenty
of money for 1 do not feel In any way
responsible for her"
Uncle Mark and Katharine laughed
good deal over this letter and katharine
called herself merchandise and declared
that she did not approve OF her grand
mother at all and would make her visit
extremely brief.
Well Uncle Mark accepted the strange
invitation and everything was made ready
,s-I& owl,
ing was plain, but rich in texture, and
had a pretty old-time look that neither
Uncle Mark nor the girl herself realized
Katharine was to travel from San Fran
cisco alone, and Uncle Mark had only
been able to procure her whole COM
partment on the train as far as st. Louis;
further on she must share 1t. as the tide
of travel from that point was setting due
east -
1t was a great event in the girls life.
Conductors porters and passengers were
all so kind that the days flew by ana
were really as interesting as could pc.
Often Katharine thought of the terrible
grandmother who was to meet her In New
York and wondered just how terrible she
would be- but the young girl enjoyed her
self very much and quite forgot the COM
Then came St. Louis, and while the
train made the long stop Katharine went
out upon the platform to takesthe ar;
When she came back very peau'liui
lady sat in her compartment
Dear me-" sighed Katharine, Il hao
quite forgotten, my room mate"
The old lady eyed her critically i
suppose" she smiled so sweetly that her
sharp words were forgotten, you are as
sorry to see me as l am to be here; pus
comfort yourself that you were fortunat
enough to obtain the lower berth. |
must gasp and trembe in the upper oner'
Not at ALI" Katharine replied. Il IN
sist upon your taking the lower
Ia conn u
point then the two settled down as COM
sortably as could be. OF course on the
long trip it was natural that the two
should chat by the hour. but it was
strange that it was the older woman VINO
grew confidential-and the girl who be-
came the confidant.
you see" the old lady said one day.
Il must get into New York in time
have very unpleasant duty awaiting me.
There has been delay in letters and
shall only Just be there in time, if rush
right through" Then came the story OF
the visit of the unloved granddaughter.
and the old ladys apprehensions.
Perhaps she will not be such trial!
Katharine timidly suggested.
II am sure she will be:' sighed the
old lady II dare say she is dreadful.
all bone and muscle, with voice like
fog horn and manners OF the Wild pear.
only wish she could be gentle and re-
fined-like, well, like you, my DEAR"
out of the window.
II have a great curiosity to see her.
the old voice went on. Il dare say l
shall shudder at the memory ever after;
1 was wise enough to say 1 wound only
look upon her with the understanding
that If l did not like her l should send
her back
perhaps she may not want to stay
Katharine's voice had ring in it that
made the fine old lady stare. This was
a new thought. You know" the girl
went on, you may really like her. but
her heaxt may be true to those who have
loved and cared for her all these years.
| knew one Of those wild eastern girls
who was really the most faithful creature
l ever saw
That night there was a sudden awful
crash as the train was tearing on: shrieks
filled the air. and people were hurled
hither and yon. Surprised al-d shocked,
Katharine found herself among a lot of
debris on the roadside. with an excited
crowd pressing around and calling out
orders. Fearful as the collision had been
there was less loss of life than one might
have expected, but many were injured.
and great excitement prevailed. For
tuuately Katharine had escaped any
thing worse than bad shaking up. and
with the knowledge came desire to know
how her companion had Jared. She began
to hunt around among the groups await
ing carriages to bear them away, and
soon she found her former seatmate. The