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Show KATIE When John K was back in town between his herding or trailing jobs, he liked and was beau to different girls. But no girl struck a flame to his heart until 1898 when he was twenty-six years old. One night he and his friend, Will West, double dated-and from the very first he found that he was keeping his eyes on Will's date. He wondered if he dared-and he did-for soon he was taking Katie (Etta Katherine Whitlock) on a regular basis. She was working in Mt. Pleasant at the time, but had grown up in Moroni, about eight miles west of Mt. Pleasant. A first, John K tried to reason himself out of serious thoughts or intentions. His life had been and would continue to be heavily bound to the desolate stretches of solitary months and years spent in a sheep camp. He knew that for a fact, so what kind of marriage or companionship would he be able to offer a girl--especially one as dear and wonderful as Katie? It was almost ridiculous for him to entertain a serious thought in her direction. He found that he was powerless to help himself, however, for he was constantly keeping his mind on her and the serene effect she had upon him. He then realized that he must consider the rare possibility that she might like him, and perhaps could even love him enough to marry him with all of his problems and limitations. He concentrated his attentions upon her and soon knew in his heart that he had formed his 71 |