200 Kate Osborne. [April, 



frontdoor — and on the front steps: and just the moment before the 

 front door closed, the widow, standing very still in the parlor, thought 



she heard something that sounded like Well, Kate returned to the 



parlor with the reddest lips that man ever kissed, or that beauty ever 

 pouted ! As she entered the parlor Kate's quick glance caught the eye 

 of her aunt fixed on her face, and saw that a faiot, funny smile was 

 dimpling the widow's handsome chin — wherefore, she knew not. But 

 the widow, without speaking, opened wide her arms, and Kate, moved 

 by an impulse that she could neither define nor resist, ran within their 

 embrace, and hid her blushing face on her aunt's kind and sympathizing 

 bosom. Soon seating themselves, a long conversation ensued, deep- 

 toned, tender, and absorbing. What the theme, you may guess ; but we 

 will not tell, and would not if we knew. 



Sure enough, the next Monday morning, Kate left the Hudson for 

 'Prairie Land.' 'Her aunt accompanied her — I presume, to protect 

 her ?' Well, possibly ; but we rather think not, inasmuch as that good 

 lady was seen the same afternoon taking an airing, in her modest little 

 carriage, on the banks of the Hudson : besides, Kate had both sense and 

 spirit, and could, therefore, protect herself. ' What, Kate travel alone ? ' 

 exclaims our immaculate catechist. Well, we don't know — can't tell 

 positively — rather think not. We only know this much about it : i. e. 

 to wit, namely, v. i. z. — that on Tuesday, the morning after, a portly, 

 ■well dressed, old gent., with "spotless vest, and snowy frill — we do 

 dearly love to see old men wear clean linen — whose gold headed cane, 

 gold ' specs,' and ponderous gold watch-seals, betokened him one of the 

 * solid men ' of the city — a very Hector, perhapa, .among these modern 

 Trojans — was seen entering the law office of H. Clinton, Esq., and 

 anxiously inquired for the presence of that young jurist. But he could 

 not be found ; and the sable guardian of the outer portal of that legal 

 Banctuary, could " only inform de gemman dat Mister Squar Clinton he 

 went away yesterday, dat's Monday mornin', to Chicago ; — 'tink he went 

 to buy water-lots in dat town, or to ketch prairie-hens — don't know, 

 zackly, which : — say he be back dis week. Any 'ting I shall tell de 

 Squar for dis gemman ? " 



"Nol" was the curt response of the Trojan Hector to this African 

 Ajax ; and the portly gent., muttering everything but benedictions 

 against young lawyers in general, and young Clinton in particular, who, 

 he muttered, has now lost a ' fat fee,' by leaving his office to go kiting 

 off to the West, after water-lots and ' prairie-birds ; ' " (take care, old 



