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

0oou mrs. 0fipp lNincu htfrtu WIN hcf
handkerchief. She loosened her bonnet
strings. She hesilated how 10 begin.
Kate" said she, softly, "what can
for you ~
Nothing answered Kate. you've
done every thing, haven't yous You see
what comes Off all J"
Mrs. Gripp sat silent moment, doubt
full IL this were flare-up OF the old spirit,
or streak OF real childishncss In this
world-worn wreck OF a woman. She put
out her sol plump hand and smoothed
Rates hair with a coaxing. caressing
motion. "No, Kate" she said at length
II haven't done every thing, God
knows"
well" said Kate. quietly. " at least all
you knew how 10, suppose. You can't
seem TO get at it- you know. Oh, you
good people had better just leave Us alone:
we only laugh M you. And there's moth
ing for us but just to go on the old way"
Kate, listen 10 me. I've a plan for
YOU: I've thought oft all night" said the
good lady, eagerly. kate. If you went
away. you know. If YOU got clean away
from AL this, in some quiet country nook,
with green trees and fresh air and-and-
don't you think, Kate, you could do diff
ferentlyy"
Kate rose up suddenly on her straw pill
low. her clouded eyes lit up. wistful ex-
preston overspread her weary features.
Ma'am." said she. I've often thought
IL would clean the wickedness right out
of me. but"
But nothing. Kate. If you've gone
wrong. poor child, it's all along OF the
place re kept you in, and I'll get you
away out of it. And then. Kate. then
when you're at work among pleasant clean
l~v,a evil Of TFll 10.
your friend, and you'll be mine. and you'll
drop the old life forever-won't you,
kates"
$50 help me Heaven ~ said Kate. lift
ing her hand. solemnly. And thus Mrs.
Grip began her experiment.
It was after hours in the great silk fac
tory of Messrs. Binham Il Brothers in the
quiet town of Twistville-after hours, but
these after-hours. with work ar an end.
the looms silent. and the fresh country
air waiting in through the wide clean
rooms, were not the least pleasant part OF
the day in the old factory And in this
breezy town people did not flee from their
work as If they had left the plague behind
them. A stray workman fingered here
and there about tie place. and at the en-
trance a knot of girls stood in eager talk
a they tied their bonnet strings.
" Kate Nelson isn't going cried one.
"She told me So"
Not going,'' repeated pretty. fair
haired. round-iaced lass. why, she
must go; Wen make her go-won't we,
girls. Why, what would Mrs. Bingham
sayg''
For the Bingham brothers. be it known,
were kindly people. who desired to keep
up a friendly spirit with their employees,
nd xxrh If mind had f..aaf, ~, fha
habit of giving a yearly festival 10 the fac
tory folks. This pleasant custom had
been interrupted for a year or two past
by the death of the elder brother. at whose
mansion the gathering had always been
held: but this year his widow, in honor
of her son. the junior partner OF the
house, proposed to renew the old hospi-
talities.
oh" cried bright-eyed. sharp-vis-
aged girl, Bell Skinner by name. the
daughter of scantily employed village
lawyer, Mrs. Bingham won't say much.
/ guess. | never could see what you
found in Kate Nelson. Mary. For my
part, if can't choose my associates in the
mill. shall certainly do so out ofit.-
"Of course - from chorus of hooking
young voices.
. never knew Kate TO thrust her com
pany on any one" said Mary, holly.
.'And nv brother says"
"Oh, we all know what your brother
says cried Miss skinner. Its not very
difficult 10 see what he thinks"
81 He thinks Kate just the smartest.
brightest. best girl lac ever knew said
the flaxen-haired maiden. with eager par
tisanship. 'And 30 she is. See how
steady she's worked. and how hard she's
studied nights TO learn TO keep accounts
and"
well.- said Miss skinner. with her
nose in the air, '.she's worked her way
above her betters. however she did il. Its
all very well 10 be close student when ii
doesn't cost you penny-makes pleas
ant variety from flirting with Charley
Bingham to making eyes at the school
master; but she'd fling him over, crutches
and ALL"
"Oh. Bel!' cried the girls in chorus,
shocked at the rudeness and coarseness of
the speech, for Jasper Perley. Mary's
brother, was little and lame. a struggling
school teacher, whose kindly ways had
endeared him to them all.
Miss skinner looked abashed for mo-
ment, but she gathered up her courage.
"Well," she said, laughing. I'm frank
and outright, you know, girls always
was. | never liked her looks, and say
so-that's ALL"
Upstairs in corner of one OF the wide
rooms the object Of Bells animadversion
sits lingering over desk; a woman with
dark hair and eyes, and a thin, flushed,
eager face. Her hands lie idly on the desk,
hands tht somehow attract your attention
-blue-veined, restless. significant. A
figure and face, this, full Of expression.
vivid. energetic. forceful.
The girl sits illuminated in the slant rays
Of the twilight, her countenance almost
made beautiful by its halo. SO, apparent
ly, thinks young Mr.. Bingham. pausing in
the doorway As he makes his final round
for the night through the building.