The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-06-25

Her hands We're playing nervously with
her pen her face was strangely agitats Il
Perhaps she recalled the day, two years
ago, when Mrs. Grip had profiered "a
take her out Of her old degraded life, and
give her chance 10 start anew among
those who did not know her history. Kate
had risen since then she had been faithful
10 her promise; by dint of steady perse-
verance she had gone up step by step, un-
I'll she was recognized as one OF the best
work-women in the establishment and
ntrusted with keeping the books OF her
department.
.Fitg' repeated the young man, as he
looked down on the restless, dainty fingers.
" such hand as that should make aplace
for you anywhere"
Hates face darkened. Those hands had
often made place for her which IL was not
plea to recollert.
There is good blood in them. Kate, -
pursued the junior partner. who. a. a
cion OF one OF the old county families,
prided himself on being judge in such
matters.
A sad, sarcastic smile curled Kate's lip.
GOOD blood,n she repeated. rising from
her desk. Il know what you mean, Mr..
Bingham. My blood Is good enough TO
keep my hearI beating, | suppose
- mean that you must have been we'll
born-come of good family said the
youth hastily, anxious to avoid the tenn
pest he saw lowering in Hates dark eve.
That is what | mean by good blood.
Couldn't be what you are otherwise, you
know"
"And there is your miserable Christian
infidelity. = cried the girl haughtily-
"your treachery TO the very doctrines you
mr.. 10 al.
b nevolent, and church-going people |,
Good blood, forsooth. Ii you are good
because your mother before you, softly
Graded and kindly nurtured, knew no
thing OF wrong. and | am evil because
mise, starved. kicked. and beaten, was
thrust upon the streets, like me, Mr.. Bing-
ham, where Is your virtue and where Is
my vice, and whose Is the responsibility ?"
She spoke in a strained, excited voice,
every feature quivering with emotion.
while the young ma stood startled and
abashed at the sudden vehemence he had
evoked. He did not understand this girl.
much as he admired her.
Come. come, Kate" he said, 4" meant
no offense, you know. Its only my hob
by. You've been overworking yourself
and grown nervous. But You must come
up tomorrow; we shall have grand do
ings. and you need recreation. I'm sure.
| shall get Mary Perley 10 persuade YOU"
The girl burst into tears At the words of
boyish good feeling: the hardness and
hanghtincss passed out Of her face.
= hardly know what 1 say sometimes.
Mr.. Bingham" she said, softly. ''and |
believe I have been growing nervous
Yon must forgive me-"
Forgive your The young man took her
extended hand, but he dropped il has iIv
it was harder To look al kate's quivering lip
and fearful eye than on her naughty and
angry countenancc when excited. He de-
parted hastily, casting a wistful glance
backward at the woman whose beauty
lured him so strangely. She was poor
she was a stranger 10 him. a mere factory
girl. working for her bread. capricious and
high-tempered, too. and-what was that
she had said about good bloods
And Yet this woman had touched his
heart as no one of unQuestionable birth. no
one of undoubted standing and fashion. no
one whom he had known all the years OF
his life, had ever done.
Mary's persuasions were not without
effect, IL appeared. for on the evening Of
the festival she walked arm in arm with
her friend Kate up the leafy avenue be-
yond which CLEANED Mrs. Bingham :
gayly lighted mansion. As the two made
their way up the wide staircase. the sound
of merry voices and the perfume Of rare
flowers floating To them from the open
drawing-rooms, Mary, elate and expec-
tant, turned to her friend. with girlish
gladness in her face. and said, Now, ain I
you glad you came, Kate -
Kate answered with smile. and they
entered the dressing-room. All what a
beautiful room, with its tall mirrors. its
shining lamps. its costly b,joutey-ie!
- IL takes my breath away" said Mary,
"a she glanced about her. "Ah if zoe
could only have such beautiful rhings,
Kate"
But Kate did not care to look at the
beautiful things or TO linger in the beauti-
full room. She dressed her dark hair care
lessly. smoothed her stuff dress. and stood
in the doorway waiting Mary's more
leisurely toilet.
liz happened that the two were alone in
the room. and Mary, lingering coquet-
tishly at the glass. surveyed her plump
figure in its floating muslin and blue rib
bons admiringly.
= wish was a lady - she said with a
sigh, as she shook out her light ringlets.
Mary's philosophy was not very deep,
perhaps; but In some way II seemed "a
her. as Ii has seemed TO wiser people. that
costly mirrors and splendid rooms might
have potent charm TO effect such trans
figuration.
At that moment a delicate web-like
handkerchief, flung care. essly over the
oval frame of the dressing glass, ought
the girls eve. A gossamcr bit Of fairy
work. IL seemed, its delicate edge reflected
In the glass. An instinct Of appropris-
ton, subtle, incomprehensible, took pos
session of her. Much as she might have
felt In gathering some rare field flower,
the simple maiden coveted this fragile
beastiful thing. She stretched forth her
hand, CHANGING behind her rs she did so
and In another moment the priceless en-