Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-26
THE LAST WORD

(Written Specially for The Bulletin.)
 How many of us are familiar with someone who must always have the last word! Not infrequently the last
 word is not an agreeable thing to
 hear, especially if the speaker be one governed by prejudice or self-will and 1t seldom occurs that one or Welding or amiable disposition demands or ob- tainS the last word.
 Miss Catharine Copeland was wo
 man of strong character and was noted for her desire to furnish the last word in all discussion or contro- versy, and expected her decision to be the final one not for herself alone, but for all who heard her announce her opinion. Her friends, who were many, recognized this fact and made all due allowance ''Catharine is so positive, they often said in excuse for her.
 Even her name was an illustration of this peculiarity. Her parents spelled her name Katherine, and called her Katie, but she liked a1liter- ative names and as she reached ma ture years, transformed the spelling to suit her preference. and Katharine be- came Catharine Her friends were many, I said, and truly so, for as the years rolled on, and she was left alone in her stately home she never lacked a friend to receive her gladly for the season, and we heard of Miss Cope lands spending the winter with her friends in some large city, or Miss Copeland is summering at the lovely residence of her former Schoolmate at the seaside"
 A delightful addition she made to any household, for her accomplish ments were many, her culture increas- ed by travel abroad and at home, and her ready wit and engaging manner added zest to any group to which She attached herself. Much wonder was often expressed that Catharine re- mained unwed. She had many ad- mirers among the opposite sex, and was perhaps as popular with them as with her women acquaintances.
 Possibly, were she willing to recall the circumstances to mind, her ten dency for the last word may have had something to do with her remaining single A few of her most intimate friends of previous years said among themselves occasionally "I wonder where Stacey Reynolds is now. Don't you remember how devoted he was to Catharine in the old days at her home?
 '-Yes,2 would be the reply, at one time I certainly expected they would make 8 match of it. and they seemed exactly suited to each other, but noth- ing came of it, and he has lived abroad for years now, with no apparent de- sire to return.
 Let me go back to those ld-time days and look into the matter. Even Catharine often thought of them as the happiest time of her life. The idol of indulgent parents, every wish was t1OS1AC'C way, and a happier girlhood then hers it would be hard to find.
 Of all her attendants Stacey Key holds was evidently the favored one, and everything indicated a successful ending of his wooing. But there was a slight point of difference in their affection for each other. While Stacey was unreservedly sincere in his love for Catharine her love for him was blend ed with selfshnesS which led her into suspicion and jealousy, and she ire quently accused him of failure in his to her. She felt that she should be all in all to him, at the same time that she demanded freedom for herself which she denied to her lover. At last it came to an open quarrel now and then, after which Stacey would be reinstateo in favor, when her fit of petulance had passed off. Her fond ness for the final word left many a sharp speech ranking in Stacey's memory after Catharine had forgotten the episode. so unconscious was she of her unreasonable demands.
 But finally even his patience was worn theadbare, and at the close of one of their disputes he said to her:
 You know Catharine, that I love you sincerely, but I am convinced