Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-12
added sneeringly, you haven't any

added sneeringly, you haven't any
pride.
No. he said, 4 suppose not.
Then, with rare witchery of man
ner, for she was changeable as sum-
mer dag:
Please forgive me if I have hurt
your feelings. But you will not for
get?'
THAT you are an angel No, Kate.
'Pshaw, how tiresome. Well, good
bye and she went away, leaving
James Henry unhappy and anxious.
He had not much pride, it is true, nor
ambition, but what little he had was
fully aroused and not again to be
caught mapping. For the first time he
realized that his life thus far had not
been manly nor mastery, but he would
change it. Kate should be proud of
him yet. He would win fame and
honor and wealth yes, and scholar
ship. for her sake.
1t was no light task he had set him
self about to work out, but he had
perseverance if he had lacked pride
and ambition. Love for Kate had
supplied the latter qualities. Hitherto
he had never applied his mind to
study, because, like so many of his
class, he moderated its value. An ed
ucation he must and would have,
though he realized that his poverty
and ignorance were to be serious
drawbacks.
He applied to Rev. Mr.. Grey for ad-
vice. Happily advice was not all he
received, for the minister, seeing his
earnestness, and being one of those
who delight to impart knowledge, at
once promised to assist him with the
loan Of books and to hear his recita-
tons. James Henry, in return, agreed
to keep the minister's wood pile -four
ishing.
The lessons went on in the low
chamber under the caves, and he la.
bored over his books harder than he
ever worked before. But after time,
as his mind became disciplined to
study, he found it more agreeable, and
astonished Mr.. Grey by his improve
ment, which was really extraordinary.
None were acquainted with this
change except Mrs. Arnold, whose
eyes gllstened with pleasure when the
minister, as he occasionally did, spoke
of her sons success. In justice to
James, we must say that Mr.. Grey's
wood pile presented a fine appear
ance. The neighbors wondered and
speculated as to this one-sided friend
ship, as they called. and still more
whom could he be going to marry, for
he had newly shingled the house,
painted it in white, and discarded
from the windows the old rags with
which. Mrs. Arnold had hitherto cheat
ed stern Winter, and substituted an
unbroken array OF glass. The fence
was mended, and the gate left off its
tipsy maneuvers to swing soberly on
its hinges. A neat row of vegetables
behind the house evinced more cult
walton than Mrs Arnold could have
bestowed. Certainly radical change
had taken place in James Henry. No
wonder tie people speculated as to its
cause
Kate noticed all these signs, and
that James Henry had ceased quar-
reling with the modes and lenses, and
evinced acquaintance with Webster;
strangest OF all he began to respect
himself She was sorry more than she
liked to admit, when he called to bid
her goodbye. He was going away,
but where, or for what purpose, he
did not say, and Kate would not in
quire There was new manliness in
his appearance that precluded a pat.
roniz'ng manner, and that was the
form in which she had hitherto thought
it proper to manifest her interest. She
shook hands with him at parting, and
said kindly, Il hope you will be pros
porous, James, without in the least
knowing where her wish was to be
conferred.
Thank you, Kate, he replied. 'For-
tune helps those who help themselves,
and / mean to aid the old fellow all |
cam
He went away. and Kate more than
once caught herself thinking he was
very much improved, and rather good
looking.
James Arnold was going to college,
but no one knew of it save his mother
and Mr.. Grey, who had used his infu.
ence to get him the place of janitor
where he could earn his tuition. James
energy, aided by what little money
Mrs. Arnold could spare, went some
ways toward getting board and books.
With such prospects he left home.
From the smallest beginning he had
in three years been fitted for college,
and Mr.. Grey felt proud of his pupil,
and not without reason.
Time went on. Mrs. Arnold remained
at the little cottage, the neighhors
plodded on in the same old way, to
mill, to meadow, to meals and meet
ing, while Kate grew handsome and
stately in her fathers house. Lovers
she had and plenty, but all Jared the
same, even George Clifford, who was
worthy, handsome and talented. Her
temper had become less sharp and
her words less thoughtless, but other
wise she was the same bright, spark
ling Kate of old.
One day rumor started up some :
where that James Henry Arnold had
gone to Europe with great invention
of bis, worth thousands of dollars.
Next the particulars were circulated.
Kate heard them from old Martin
Foss, the gossip. He was working
for her father, and came into the
kitchen ostensibly 10 warm, but in
reality to tell Kate the news, which
be had worked over to his own salts
faction.
They do say he began, rubbing
his hands over the warm stove,
James Henry Arnold is'agoin to make
powerful rich man, and he deserves
to be 'cordin to all counts. He just
lived in a garrett on bread and water,
n u IL -