The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-10-18
Cheating
Catherine
0NO
BY INES MACDONALD
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure NewBpa
per Syndicate)

The last of her line was Catherine
Van Wye, who lived with two maiden
aunts In the old colonial mansion
that had been the home of the Van
Wyes for hundred and forty years.
/ Stiir and prlm had been her upbrlng'
ing, and not for single instant had
she been permitted to forget that she
was a Van Wye-sOmethiDg raCer,
something fairer, something so much
closer to heaven than any one Of the
common people"
After Fashion Catherine was pret-
ty, but n IItlC too slim, II little too wan.
Her blood may have been blue, but also
IL wa' thin. She was delicate, but
Catherine had wealth, was cultured in
the ,norance of life as her Grnndmoth-
er had been-thls showed in her shy,
rather wondering eyes-but she did
have one redeeming trait which might
save her from barren life of old
maid gentllity-and that trait was
curiosity.
The only man Catherine knew who
was anywhere near her own age was
Johd, the chauffeur. She used to sit
prinly behind John in the car and
study the back Of his well-set head
and sturdy shoulders, and wonder
ubOut men in general as represented by
John, IL it had ever occurred to him,
John might have encouraged Catherine
20 thiuk about him in particular. He
nigh. have even done this SO success
fully that she would have elOped with
him. f)r John was gOOd-looking boy,
but he had never once given Catherine
Il thought. A certain little maid in
the stOuc front over in the next block
completely filled Johns head and
heart. Poor Catherine could never
have competed with Adele, the little
maid, for Adele had blOOd-red lips end
daring eyes-she was all curves and
lash and vitality--and John was mad
about her.
However, Johns presence always
set GATHERINGS curious mind to Won
dering about men in general. 1t wasn't
nice, of course, for to wonder about
men was quite vulgar, she knew that
her aunts had said so. They had i'm
pressed upon Catherine that she was n
Van Wye and sacred thing, and she
believed ii. The idea of u mans even
so much as touching her gave her Shiv-
ers Of hOrrOr-Cspecially an ordinary
man of the PeOpIe-fOr the People
were terribly common, and Catherine
was patrician, very patrician, indeed.
Then ono afternoon it so happened
that Adele had occupied so much Of
Johns time and thought that he hau
neglected his job and the car, so much
50 that that neglected piece Of mechan-
ism stalled right on a busy crossing on
the avenue. 1t certainly was embar-
RAISING for the traffic policeman was
as sore as Il wounded rhinOcaros. He
called John 81 mutt" and would prob
ably have said worse things than that
If IL hadn't been for GATHERINGS patri-
clan presence. But the engine would
not start and the traffic was piling up
DtlAllANl liiCbi AiiC II alAAlI lNS hiNtNA
became more and more angry.
"Here I" he rOared. "Swing her down
the middle of the block next the curb!'
And as Ne heaved his massive weight
car one Jim Brand detached himself
from the passing thrOng and joined In
pushing the heavy car out Of the way.
you oughta be on the force, with
them shoulders" The policeman
grinned his thanks to Jim Brand as
hey rolled the big car up to the curb.
But Jim only laughed and waved his
hand in half salute as the other went
lack to his job.
"Thank you very much indeed" said
'atherine primly as Jim Brand turned
o her with his hat in his hand, and
her eyes as she sat in the car were al
most on level with his own. His first
thought was that she would have been
pretty if she had a little more life to
YER.
"SheIl have to 20 to the garage,
Miss" offered John meekIy.
"Tll get you a taxi" smiled John
Brand. He did 50, and handed her into
It most naturally by taking firm hold
of her arm. AND no young man had
over before taken hold of GATHERINGS
arm. From the taxi she leaned out
and thanked him again. smiling just n
little excitedly, for this was an ad-
venture. Then summOning all her |
courage, she said: 'Were you going |
downtown? Perhaps | could drop you |
So Jim Bran1 got in beside her and |
hey rolled down the avenue, at length |
,topping In front of GATHERINGS home.
"I-I was really on my way up
own," confessed Jim Brand, humor-
,usly. ''but wanted to ride with
'Ou."
Catherine didn't know what to say to
hat, so she just looked-and then |
oOked away, wondering If either of her !
iunts was observing the tableau as she
md the strange young man stood there |
m the walk.
you're not offended, are yOu?" he
lsked.
IL should be"-she entered the |
,ate and turned to him for a fleeting !
art-"but I'm not" And with
title laugh she ran up the steps.
The very next Sunday morning quite
'arly Catherine crossed the street to
he park opposite the house. The aris-
Ocracy of the square only use the park
Turing the early hours, before the rab-
lie of the city fills the benches, so
he sat herself down in the early morn
ng sunlight and wondered about Jim |