Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1913-02-20
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
THE INDEPENDENCE or
CATHRINE.
By Jane Osborne.

Helen: IL you ever see me letting any
man take my arm, you can just know
I'm engaged 10 him" So said inde-
pendent Catherine Potter 10 her chum.
Helen Wild. II know We live IN
sleepy. back-voods. old fashioned .
town. but the way the girls here let \
the men pilot them from one end OF .
the town 70 the other. just as II they 4
couldn't walk quite as well BY them .
selves. think II Is ridiculous, And .
now you. or all people. followed you
for evelen blocks on my way up here
to-day, and do believe Billey lands
had his hand on your elbow hall the
way. l think it's 2wfuily silly"
But / can't help a." Helen defend
ed herself If a man says May IL
when you come TO a crowded crossing.
and then forgets 10 take bis hand
away. what can do? l don't know"
well. do" said Catherine,
Strengthening herself up TO The full
ness OF her feet ?. You can say
that you don't Ike 10 be led about like
a baby. You can say. Place don't"
But don't like being disagreeable,
Helen went on.
I'm not disagreeable. I've Just got
some sense"
Inwardly Helen Acknowledged the
truth Of the statement Certainly men
did not find Catherine Potter disagree
able. They seemed 70 like her indie
Dendence. But although Helen did
justice 10 GATHERINGS powers OF at
traction. she would not admit openly
the right OF GATHERINGS point o. view.
Anyway, Catherine Potter" she
contended. "Ill wager you a pound Of
chocolates that within a week yOu'l
forget yourself and some OF Us will
see you camly letting man steer you
about this old town OF Warren
mo. indeed" reiterated Catherine.
II you. or anybody else, ever sees me
letting any man pilot me around By
the arm unless, OF course, it's night tn
a big crowd. where I just can't set
along By myself, you can just know
I'm engaged 10 hiul- And then. even,
won't ike t."
Helen chuckled 10 herself over her
friends explosive declaration OF hei
beliefs and privileges. And before the
day was over she had passed on the
story of GATHERINGS declaration e
many OF the young people who made
Up what was called the younger set o
Warren's socially elect. These. In turf
had passed It on 70 their elders, an'
soon all Warren was smiling TO itsel
at GATHERINGS expense.
So Il was that William lands, on
O. the men who found GATHERINGS In
dependence irresistible. hit upon
plan.
81 knox that Catherine likes me. a
least" he unused 10 himself, thinkin
OF the time, a week or SO ago. when n
spirited Catherine had refused {
listen 20 his plea of love on the groun
that he was talking nonsense. She
Just afraid 20 let herself 90. She's s
used 10 being independent she dOesn
know how 20 be anything else. IL ma
be mean. but I'll put her in pOsitio
where she has 20 explain things. an
then well see what will happen"
william kept his plans 70 htnsel
not even conhdlng II 70 his goo
friend, Helen Wild, who had told hi
OF GATHERINGS declaration.
Warren boosted one business sire
Of importance called Main Street
was necessary that al the town, whe
II went shopping or visiting OF 20
work, should at some time or 9th
cross or traverse this thoroughfare.
one day, q few days after Cathe
ines call upon Helen, William Land
returning 10 bis Office after luncheo
suddenly saw Catherine coming u
suspectngly toward him down Ma
Street He quickly prepared 70 p
his carefully formed plan into pra
tee.
Just as Catherine caught sight
him. when she was only a few Il
away. William skillfully shook his ey
glasses from his nose. Both lens
shattered themselves on the stone SIX
walk. In apparent CONSERVATION
stopped and CROPPED about the sidewa
finally picking up and pOcketing I
gold nosepiece. lie sQuinted his ey
up and stared at Catherine ns
stopped in front OF him
"Oh that IA you, Catherine cou
Mt quite make you out / am in
awful hole" he lied ghbly. elias.
broken and can't see three feet aw
I suppose ] will have 10 stagger no
the best way can" William smil
sighed. lifted his hat. and started
walk away. He carefully collided "
lamp post.
= Billy" said Catherine. forgot
her prejudlces IN a moment. II
can't let you go running into thi
like that Here" she said. putting
hand on his arm, couldn't ] gu
you?"
why. you are awfully good. II
don't mind. just TO my Office door;
inst tlll we see some little boy
would take a poor old beggar like
for q quarter
exc. indeed" said Catherine