The Washington herald., 1914-04-18
DAILY SHORT STORY.
KATE'S PLEASURES.
BY LOL, AVIS kERNOCHAN.

CopYright Isli
IF / only were like Kate said Meg
sadly to herself. If only had Der sacri-
! fetal nature, Id be content to marry Ed
ward and bury myself for life on a farm.
as she has done with John.
But I'm not lik. Kate. ! Couldn' I
give up art and music and theaters for
/ ever-I just couldn't And | might as
well answer Edwards letter right now.
and tell him so; what good will waiting
do?''
/ Yet she did not write TO Edward at
once. Suddenly the thought came to her
that a day spent with Kate on her New
Jersey farm would make the plan Of re-
fusing Edward easier TO bear: with the
horrors OF farm life wildly in mind. she
would be able to convince her stubborn
! heart Of what Fer mind already was sure.
that she could never he happy with Ed
ward Yes. lay spent with Kate would
bring resignation.
BY noon she had left New York and
was breathing the clearer air of New
Jersey. Two hours later she stepped
from the stage before Hates farm. She
slipped around 10 the kitchen door. where
she felt sure sIt" would find Kate, and
tried to shake off her depression With
the tricks:
Got a penny for poor beggar LADY,
she whined. concealinG herself.
! An exclamation. a rush, and Kate was
in her arms.
oh Meg daring" she cried; I'm 50
terribly glad to sec you. And you couldn' I
/ have come on a better day
/ Meg kissed he- with pity in her eyes.
! Couldn't have come on a better day
she repeated. taking her words as a
I confession that she had reached the
limits of loneliness.
To her surprise. kate's answer was not
| at all Of the nature of confession.
| had to help me rhurn: il you'd come the
day before. you5d have had to pack eggs
with me: day before that-oh. Meg,
! live such a gloriously full life, You can't
( imagine how many things | have TO do.
Meg sank Imply on the steps. Surely
Kate was acting? Surely she was put
ting on a brave face-makinG the best OF
things? II couldn't he possible that Kate.
musical Kate. was sincere in her CnthU-
siasm over churning and egg packing?
But Kate did not look like one who has
a disappointment to defend. She looked
like one who lives buoyantly. vibrantly.
Her cheeks had a color Meg had never
seen in them before. Her voice had a
new ring
But not SO much TO do that You can't
keep up your music" Meg asked before
Z she was able to stop herself.
She was relieved when Kate threw
back her head and laughed. Music
Why. Id forgotten there was such a
thing. Why. Meg. I'm progressing now:
I'm not standing still any more. Good
ness. couldn't waste my time at 4
piano.
No" said Meg. staring. Unless you
enjoyed it"
Enjoyed it," Kate's voice was toler-
to a child well. dear. you see. I have
bigger enioymerts nOw-the joy of get
ting ahead with John-of feeling that |
am his partner Oh. you cant under
stand. Meggie. until you have a John
Dazedly. Meg followed her as she started
toward the barnyard to exhibit her
treasures.
Now, these white leshorns.'' she ex-
planned. are the finest in the country.
They ought to yield US good profit. Our
Plymouth Rocks are the envy of the
township. And as for our piss
But Meg was not listening. Miserably,
she turned away. = moment before.
when Kate he'd spoken of the joys OF
partnership. she had felt that perhaps
perhaps-she. too. could school herself 10
a farm existence: but-pigs.
NO. I wasn't made for it, she broke
out miserably. to Kate's astSpishmCnt
flBS COulu never tame tile plt'' VI MUSIC
for me- She flung the words desperate
ly hoping that somehow her tears would
make amends for her frankness.
They did. Kindly. Katie's arms folded
about her. Why. dearie'' came softly
into her ear. Il didn't know you were
thinking of farm life You don't mean
to say that you have a John. too-that
you are so lucky
Lucky walled Meg. "Oh. why did I
have to fall in love with the very type of
man least wanted? l should die on a
farm"
Wisely. Kate said nothing. Instead,
she led the younger girl around to the
front porch. and coaXed her into the great
canvas hammock which hung behind the