Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-12-12
WEEKLY SHORT STORY /
THE INDEPENDENCE OF CATH.
ERNIE.
By James Osborne.

Helen: IL you ever see me letting any I
man take my arm, you can Just know /
I'm engaged TO am So said inde- \
Dedeut Catherine Potter 70 her chum. I
Helen Wild. Il know We live In a
sleepy. backwoods, old-fashiOned town, /
but the way the girls here let the men
pilot them from one end OF tho town
20 the other, just as II they cOuldn'
walk quite as well By themselves,
think is ridiculous, And now you. OF
AL people. l followed you for eleven
blocks on my way up here today, and
10 believe Billey Lands nad his hand
on your elbow half the way. / think
it's awful!y silly"
But I can't help H." Helen defended
herself III a nl9n says May - when
YOU come 20 a Gro ~ded crossing, and
then fOrgets TO take his hand away,
what can 1 do. l don's know"
"Wel. / do" said Catherine.
straigh tening herself up TO the full
ness OF her feet .. You can say
that YOU don't Ike 10 b. led about
like baby You can sayl Please
don't"
But ! done like being disagreed
ble." Helen went Gu.
I'm not disagreeable. I've just got
some sense.
inwardly Helen Acknowledged the
truth C the statement. Certainly men
a. :ct find Gather az disagreea5le.
Tacy seemed % iHs he independence.
a. although ,isr din justice Go
GATHERINGS powers OF attraction. she
would not admit openly the right OF
GATHERINGS point OF view.
Anyway, Catherine Potter" she
conteIded. "Ill wager you a pound OF
chocolates that within a week you'll
forget yourself and some Of US Will
see you calmly letting a man steer
you about this old town OF Warren
NO, indeed" reiterated Catherine
"Tf you, or anybody else, ever sees
me letting any man pilot me around
by the arm unless, OF course, It's Nigh
in a big crowd, where I just can't &c
along by myself. YOU can just know
I'm engaged 10 him. And then, even
won't ike it."
Helen chuckled 70 herself over he
friends explosive declaration OF he
beliefs and privileges. And before tn
day was over she had passed on IN
story Of Cauherine's declaration .
many Of the young people who mad
up what was called the younger Sc
Of Warren's socially elect. These.
turn, mad passed II on 70 their elder
and soon all Warren was smiling {
itself at CatheriRe's expense.
50 IL was that William lands. on
Of the men who found GATHERINGS IL
dependence irresistible, hit upon
plan.
Il know that Catherine likes me. &;
least" he unused 20 himself. thinln
Of the time, a week or so ago, whe
the spirited Catherine had refused
listen ms plea OF love on the grour
that he was talking nonsense. Isl
is Just afraid to let herself so. she
so used 20 being independent she do
hot know how 10 be anything els
l may be mean. but l'll put her in
position where she has TO expla
things, and then we'll see what W
happen"
William kept his plans 20 himse
not even conhding Dc 20 his go
friend Helen Wild. who had told hi
Of GATHERINGS declaration.
Warren boosted one business srC
Of importance calledd Main Street.
was necessary that all the town, wh
IL went shopping or visiting or 90
work, should nc some time or Otl
Cross or traverse this ChorOughfare
One day, a few days afetr Cath'
ines call upon Helen, William Land
returning TO his office afer unche,
suddenly saw catherine coming unsl
Pecingly toward him down Main sire
He quickly prepared 20 put his ca
fully formed plans into practice.
Just as Catherine caught sight
hdm, when she was only a few (
away, William skillfully shook his e
glasses from his nose. Both len
shattered themselves on the stone 81
walk. In apparent CONSERVATION
stopped and gnoped about the 81
walk. finally picking up and pocket
the gold nOsenece. He sQuinted
eyes and stared az Catherine as
stopped in front OF him
"Oh, that Is you. Catherine
couldn't quite make YOU out. i
in an awful hole" ne lied eli
Glasses broken and l can't see n
feet away / suppose j viii hav,