Part 1 (1/2)
The Life and A Kate Percival
by Kate Percival
VOLUME ONE
Chapter I
CHILDHOOD
I aive to the world the particulars of a life fraught with incident and adventure I am about to lift the veil fro, conceal nothing, but shall relate everything that has happened to me just as it occurred I am what is called a wos I have the h I shall place everything before the reader in the e, I shall be careful not to wound his or her sense of decency by the use of coarse words, feeling satisfied there is more char use of terht never to sully a woe in the state of Pennsylvania, situated on the banks of the Delaware, and about thirty miles from Philadelphia My father's house was most romantically situated within a few yards of the river It was supported as it were, at the back by a high hill, which, in sureen trees and bushes On each side of the dwelling was a wood so dense and thick that a stranger un-acquainted with the paths through it could not enter In front of the house, the river on sunshi+ny days glealistened in the rays of the sun, and the white sails passing and repassing forht, however, especially in the winter time, the scene was different Then the ould howl and ainst the rocks in a most mournful cadence
To this day I can remember the effect it had onat night, it always recalls, to my memory my birth place
My father was a stern, austere man, usually very silent and reserved I only re him excited once or twice My mother had died in my infancy--(I was but fifteen months at the time) and my father's sister became his housekeeper I had but one brother a year older than myself Hoell I remember him, a fine noble-hearted boy full of love and affection We were neglected by our father and aunt, and left to get through our childhood's days as best we could We would wander together hand in hand by the river side or in the woods, and often cry ourselves to sleep in each other's arms at our father's want of affection for us We enjoyed none of the gayeties, none of the sports of youth The chill of our home appeared to folloherever ent, and no htly the sun shone, it could not dissipate the chill around our hearts I never reloo over him, and he usually kept himself locked in his room except at meal tie, when one day o to Philadelphia to a boarding school At first I was glad to hear it, for any change froreeable one to arden to tell my brother; but thein my arms
”Will you leave one, I shall be so lonely--so very lonely without you?”
”But Harry, darling,” I returned, ”I shall be back again in a few months, and then I shall have so ether”
I succeeded in cal him, especially as our father inforo to a boarding school in the city of Baltiether before we left home It was the ayest apparel It was a beautiful rant with the odor of June roses, of which there were a large nuarden We wandered by the side of the river and watched the entle breezewe settled our future life It was arranged between us that when Harry grew up to be atime on the pleasures of such life At last it was time for us to return to the house, we embraced each other tenderly and separated
The nextI left very early, and in a few hours reachedthe pupils of B Seh I irl in the school--I was too cold, too reserved, and soirlish sports, butI would retire to a corner of the school rooed in the mysteries of Mrs Radcliffs novels, or some other work of the same character Frequently the Principal insisted onout to play, but I would creep back when she had left the schoolroom, and resume my favorite occupation I re that tireement that I was to spendthe prominent part I had played in the Court of Venus, that up to the age of seventeen, not a single thought concerning the relation of the sexes ever entered htest longing or desire and looked on all men with the utmost indifference And yet I knew that I was called beautiful and was the envy of all iven a description of ht that I should do so At the age of seventeen h they had not attained the ripe fullness which a few years later was the adht of all nia of woht,in massive bands on a white neck My eyes were a deep blue and possessed a languishi+ng voluptuous expression; they were fringed with long silky eyelashes and arched with brows so finely pencilled that I have often been accused of using art to give theraceful appearance My features were classically regular, racefully rounded and my bust faultless in its contours My more secret charms I shall describe at some future tiaze
I have said that up to the age of seventeen I had never experienced the slightest sexual desire The spark of voluptuousness which has ever since burnt so fiercely in hted up by one of ht hts and joys of love; it was you who first kindled that flame of desire that has caused me to experience twelve years of delirious bliss; it was to your gentle teaching, sweet friend, that I owe my initiation in all the mysteries of the Court of Venus; it was your soft hand that pointed out to ht shown on the wayside The incident happened in this manner:
About threethat a new music and French teacher would take her abode in B-- Seminary the next day We were all extremely anxious to see her, and at the expected hour she made her appearance Her name was Laura Castleton, and her father lived in St Mary's County, Maryland She was a brunette, about twenty years of age, and one of the irls I ever saw
She was nearly as tall as myself, but considerably stouter, and her body was h her eyes were very black and her hair like the raven's pluular as if they had been cut of a solid piece of ivory, and her hands and feet were fairylike in their proportions I was the eldest girl in the school and Laura ient, well educated, and well read I was soon attracted to her and we became inseparable
We would pass all our spare ti to each other or in conversation on literary subjects I agreed to love her with my whole heart, and was never happy outside of her company
”Laura,” I said to her one day ere walking on the playground with our arether?”
”Would you like it, Kate?” she asked, bending her black eyes upon loo to my cheeks--but why and wherefore I did not know