Catherine

Beams of the setting sun were tenderly caressing the gold rye. It was slowly reeling in the warm summer wind. The sky was flame-coloured and in some places it was pink and yellow. The air was suffocating and it was very sultry.
A young lady in a dark-blue velvet dress, that was very tight in the waist and very wide in the end, was looking into the distance. She had a wide-brimmed hat on her head that uncovered the woman`s eyes a little bit. But her eyes were not happy. They were filled with strange sadness and melancholy. The woman stood still for a moment, but suddenly there was a very strong gust, which blew off her hat. Amazingly chestnut long wavy hair scattered over the lady`s shoulder. The woman did not even try to catch her hat. She kept standing motionless. All of a sudden a big tear ran down her cheek. Her chin began to tremble and she fell on the ground. Emotions swept over and she could not stop crying.

It began to rain. Catherine, all wet, went home.
- Mrs. Walter, should I bring supper to your room or would you come down to the dining room?
- No, Robert. I am not hungry. Just bring me a cup of tea to my room. You know, I got wet and I want to change my clothes. Call Jenny, please.
- I`ll do what you have ordered. Catherine went upstairs and opened the door.
- Poor girl. She`ll never get over her husbandЎЇs death. Mr. Walter was a lovely man. She heard that from the kitchen downstairs. That was the last straw. Slamming the door, she fell on the floor and sobbed.

The hot sun of the praire woke Catherine up. She found herself in bed. The door was closed. She could not think of anything. All things were mixed up in her head. All of a sudden there was a knock on the door.
- Who`s that? - Oh, come in, Annie.
- Oh! - That was all what she could say at of the sight of her poor sister.
- You shouldn`t mourn so much over your husband. He wasn`t worth you. He didn`t even care about you.
- No, no, no! Don`t tell me that. I have realized now that I loved him and he was a part, the biggest part, of my life.
- You`re wrong. That`s what you think now and not then. I remember how you hated him. He always left you alone at nights. Remember that?
- Yes, I am sure I will never marry again. I`ll become a nun.
- Don`t make me laugh, sister. You are not that type of women, who stay pious all their life. Come on, stand up, wash your hands and face, have breakfast. I`ll come when you finish eating. We`ll go shopping, Cathy. And don`t be late, darling. Stores open at nine.
Anne closed the door, went downstairs and said loudly afterwards: "Dear Cathy, you are the happiest girl all over the world! You are free and have no family bonds!"

After the meal was finished, Catherine waited for several minutes for Anne. Her sister came in.
- Hello, Cathy. Are you ready?
- Yes, I am, Annie.
- For God`s sake, what the trash have you put on?!
- Annie!!! It is not the trash. It`s our mother`s dress. It is black because I am in mourning now.
- What are you talking about? Get up quickly and put on what I tell you.
- You can`t speak to me like that. You sound too authoritative.
- Can`t I? I`m your elder sister.
- I`ll put on what you say, but it will be black.
The two sisters went to the market. To Cathy`s horror, they began with browsing among the most fashionable stores. Finally, Anne insisted on buying a dark-green, in fact emerald, dress with a very-very low decollet and a bright green rose on it.
- What for are you buying all these dresses, cosmetics and other unnecessary things for?
- I am going to make a queen of the ball tonight. And this queen will be - you, Cathy.
- Me? - exclaimed the young woman in shock.
- Yes, you, darling. I arranged a big party in your house this evening. All the most famous guests are invited.
- How could you do that? My husband dead and you - my only sister and my best friend - are thinking of a party. I thought you understood me. I was mistaken. I`ll never show up in front of the guests. I am in a very deep mourning!
- Sister, sister, sister, sister! Cathy, at last! You will be happy. Remember my words!
- But...
Catherine did not listen any more to her sister. She packed her things and ran home. Tears were running down her cheeks again. No one could ever understand her, she thought.
But Annie, even though her sister had hysterics, dressed Cathy up and made her a beautiful hair-do. Then she put some wonderful make-up on her face.

When Catherine looked in the mirror, she did not recognize herself. A young lady with green velvet eyes, chestnut wavy hair, gathered together on the back of her head, in an emerald dress was standing in front of the mirror. She was a real queen.
- Annie, is that me?
- Yes, that`s you.
Without warning Cathy jumped at Anne, hugged and kissed her several times.
- You are the best of all, - said the young woman.
- I`m not, but your beauty is, Cathy. When Catherine opened the door, the guests have already gathered together downstairs.
- Mrs. Walter, ladies and gentlemen, - said Robert to the guests.
When Catherine went slowly downstairs, there was silence. She eclipsed everyone.
Suddenly everyone started to applaud. But Cathy did not hear that thunderous applause. She only saw a man - an officer - in front of her.
He was a very strong and slender man about thirty, in a dark green uniform. He was smiling at Catherine. She went crazy.

When the ball started, the man invited Catherine to dance.
- What`s your name, Mr.?
- I`m Alexander Winston, -an officer in the king`s army.
- Oh! And I`m Catherine Walter.
- I know that.
Cathy was in seventh heaven. She did not hear anyone, but only him - Alexander - the sweetest name she had ever heard. They fell in love with each other at first sight. All the evening they talked to each other, sat near each other, danced together and when the night came, he said:
- I will come tomorrow to see you. Catherine felt she could not wait so long and she whispered:
- Come, please. The night is a century, but I`ll try to wait for you.
Alexander came nearer and hugged her.
- You are the most mysterious woman I ever met!
With these words he kissed her. Some time later Anne came and brought in a bouquet from "someone" as she said.
- Who can it be? - asked Anne.
- I don`t know - answered Cathy and quickly closed the door. She clutched the flowers and suddenly a note fell out of the bouquet.
"Will you marry me, my dear Catherine?"- that was what she could read. First she remembered her first marriage, but then she jumped and exclaimed: " Of course, I will, my dear Alexander!"
A few days later Catherine with Alexander were standing in front of the altar.
"I announce you the wife and the husband! ", said the priest. That was the sweetest moment of Cathy`s life.

The sun went down. Its beams were tenderly caressing the gold rye. It was slowly reeling in the warm wind. The sky was flame-coloured and in some places it was pink and yellow. The air was suffocating and it was very sultry.
The young woman was not standing there alone now, but with her husband. No signs of sadness were on her face. They both were watching the sunset.