Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-07-18
Why Kate
Remained
Single
By JANE OSBORN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:


&c, 1924. Mcclure Newspaper syndieate)
No newcomer in college circles of
Clearhaven ever passed many days
without hearing Of Kate Dawson. For
Kate Dawson seemed to be as much an
institution of the college community
as the dlscordant old bell that peeled
out the hour for chapel every morning,
or the freshman cane rush every
autumn.
Lester Henderson saw Kate before
he had heard Of her. He had come
to Clearhaven as head Of the depart
ment Of mathematlcs-the youngest
man who had ever held that position
and had already lived there for four
days, sleeping and eating In the Cam
pus inn and leeturing and studying in
Old Dawson hall.
Shortly after twelve on the fifth day
Lester was going toward the inn when
he sDied trinity dressed young wom-
an holding In leash an enormous Great
Dane.
Glasses had just been dismissed and
the campus was overlooking with
streams OF young students that some
times came six and eight abreast.
Lester Henderson was looking with
ill-concealed admiration at the young
woman. He would not have admitted
that he especially admired her-he sim
ply admired her type, very neatly tall
ored, with clothes a little "mannish"
without being In the least masculine.
Within a few feet Of the oncoming
stream Of students pouring out Of the
campus onto the main road beyond,
the girl turned aside. She tugged on
the leash against the weight Of the
dog, that apparently wanted to en-
counter the students.
"This way, Don" she was saying to
the dog. There come all the students.
We don't want to pass them. Come,
Don, come" And the well-bred dog,
torn between his desire for adventure
and his desire to do his mistress bid
| ding, chose the latter course. So Kate
Dawson went down the highway and
Lester Henderson sauntered on toward
the Campus inn.
The next day at almost precisely the
same time Lester Henderson encount-
cred the same attractive young wom-
an at almost precisely the same spot,
and again she urged her faithful dog
dents.
Each time Lester observed that more
than one Of the students was conscious
Of Hates presence. Several turned to
look with unfelgned admiration.
Then Lester heard of Kate Dawson
from one of his associates, and dis
covered that she was none other than
the girl with the Great Dane.
II suppose you'd call her college
widow" the other professor was saying.
you see, Dawson hall, where your
classroom and offices are located, was
given by her grandfather. The Daw-
Sons helped found the college and
until quite recently there have always
been Dawsons in the student body. I
fancy there is quite BIT Of money still
in the family. Kate Dawson has been
brought up here within a stones throw
Of the campus, A good-looking sort Of
woman"
And she-she never married." sug-
gested Lester. That's funny. She
looks like the kind of girl men would
admire"
The other professor laughed. all
say she is," he said. $50 long as Kate
Dawson went to the college dances
barely a freshman ever escaped falling
in love with her, and they often con.
tinued In love with her till senior
year, But she wouldn't have any OF
them. Now she must be about thirty
or very near there. That doesn't seem
old to us, but, Of course to college
student 1t is getting on. SO Kate
doesn't go to the dances any more
though I'm willing to bet she'd like to
She's still fond Of freshmen She hal
way Of walking down toward the
campus with her dog just as the boys
are leaving at noon. suppose, In 9
way, II is funny she never married
1t isn't as II she had any great bis
interest in llfe-music, or art, or any
thing like that. But girls are funny
that way"
Almost everywhere Lester Hender
son went he heard some reference tc
Kate Dawson. Kate was so original. II
was really too bad she had never beer
willing to marry. Look at the men she
might have Misunderstanding lawyers
doctors, novelist or two, two or three
boys who had inherited millions more
or less, others who had gone into bust
ness. They were all her followers II
the days when she went to the college
dances. Once, in her gala days. Kate
had had an afternoon dancing class fol-
freshmen. She was twenty then. They
were eighteen or nineteen, and they
came to the old Dawson home near tn,
campus and she taught them single
handed how to dance the new dances
OF course they were all In love will
her, and somehow 1t seemed all RICH
because Kate Dawson had done II
Even Mrs Grundy seemed to approx,
perfectly of everything that Kate Daw
son did. And on Thanksgiving da,
and Christmas students in the colleg,
who had no home to go to always Ia,
cordial invitation to spend the DAY
at the Dawsons' Kate had persuaded
her widower father and grandmothei
to undertake the good work. An,
many student refrnined from golnj
to a perfectly good home on his holl
days so that he with dozen NOR,
might go and bask in the much divide,
radiance Of Kate Dawson. 1t reall,