Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-11-20
THE QUEST OF KATE,
The Result of the Search In
Which Rena Assisted.
BY MARIAN w. wILpMAN.

nc StoOpeu uhu picheu ~ uP-d uSc
edged cobweb handkerchief. elusively
fragrant and marked with a daintily
embroidered Kate"
Harper watched the couples gliding
by him. -Gladys-Anne," he
murmured Dorothy - Isabel = Ruth.
Now, which Of the hundred don't
know is Kate? Katew he repeated
musingly.
The music stopped with crash,
and the young lawyer mingled with
the promenading throng, a frowning.
preoccupied expression in his eyes.
Look at that coat of Ted Harper's,
Miss Cavanaugh," drawied a gilded
youth to his companion. HE cares
as little for clothes that DIT as ~
''For anything else, Reggie" she
completed. Hes too good looking to
need to care. He's like the lilies-not
that he doesn't toll and spin." che
added quickly. Hes worth a dozen
of you lazy society boys-is Theodore
Harperw
owner of the name turned suddenly
and came back with outstretched hand.
"Rena! was afraid you hadn't
come. Can't l have this dancer
81 saved it for you, Ted. And well
talk know you'd rather"
GOOD girl!' he replied gratefully as
he escorted her to the moonlit piazza
There, with the music softened by dis
lance, he was content. He even for
got the mystery of Kate while he and
Rena laughed and chatted.
Now that you are getting rich and
famous, Teddy, you ought to marry
You're plenty old enough. I know your
age to a minute"
"And l yours. my dear. haven't
forgotten being dragged to see you
when you were three weeks old nor
how / cried when our mothers made
me kiss you"
Poor boy! 1t has been long friend
ship, Ted. 1t would have broken my
heart IL you had taken whitfield fin
gers and love affairs to any other
girl"
"Oh, by Jove, that reminds me-pm
III rove dBalu, heud.
Rena's silvery laugh was anything
but credulous.
81 am honestly. Aren't you inter
ested this timer
Profoundly! Who is the happy
lady?"
Her name is Kate"
"Kate whatT'
81 don't know"
well. really. Teddy, what do you
know about herT'
"Thisv' said Harper. laying some
thing in her soft hand. Rena held the
handkerchief up to the moonlight.
"You always were susceptible, Ted,
but to fall In love with a bit of linen
and lace!'
81 haven't It's the suggestion, the
atmosphere. the-the"-
"The violet perfumeT" suggested
Rena helpfully. I'VE all use 1t, you
know"
.Rena, you're heartless! I'd counted
on your help"
"Teddy. what is 1t you want me to
doT'
ITO tell me all the Hates who may
possibly have been in this jam to-
night Then I'll devote myself be-
tween briefs to narrowing the in
quiry."
kate Simpson. Kate Ray. Kate
Hold on. Rena! One at a time,
please"
every well. Kate Simpson you ought
to know. You went to dancing school
with her. She has dimples."
She's not the Kate Pm after. re-
member her now. Dimples In a baby
are all right, but how about Kate
Ray?"
Engaged to Reggy Van Dyke. You
knew that, of course"
"Of course / didn't. Who nextT
Kate Delemater, a new girl in town.
handsome. tall. black eyes, awfully
clever. Shall 1 take you in and in
troduce you"
one of the fellows get permission to
take me around for call. If she
doesn't prove to be the real Kate I'll
come to you, say, Friday for more
clews."
"You might come in any case.
shall be wild to know. Yes. really" in
reply TO his protest as she arose. ~
must 80 I'm now"
Harrer offered a reluctant arm. and
they passed from the freshness of the
Junc night to the glare and gayety
within.
The October evening was cool, and
Harper found Rena by fire of snap
ping Hickory.
"I'm too delightfully."- weary TO rise"
she said ave been in the country all
day. "Look" with comprehensive
wave Of her hand. The library was
aglow with lavish masses of color
the orange and scarlet of maple. the
crimson Of sumac. the purple and rus
set OF oak and beech. "This is my
October carnival. I always celebrate
when the autumn gets into my blood.
oh. the glory of the woods today.
Teddy" She leaned forward to lay a
fagot on the Goals. The seasoned wood
bursr into a whirl of blue and yellow
fame. Harper watched her face curl
ously as she talked. "All summer
these leaves have been quiet. content
I'd little dreamers. Today they are
new creatures. glorious. It's the trans