Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-06
Romance Of n Glove.

CHAPTER /.
"Does it please you, Katy ?"
"Oh, IL is splendid | could not have
suited myself half so well, had been left to
choose"
"But you have not seen the wine cellar
yet. It Is a treasure of its kind. Let's go
down again"
They went down the stairs together he
talking gayly, she with troubled look on
her face After duly admiring the place
she put timid hand on his arm, and said :
"But, Arthur, dear, let's have no wine in it."
"Why ?" he asked, in surprise.
Because ] have resolved, If | am ever
the mistress of house, there shall be no
liquors kept in it-no social glasses for
friends"
"Why, Katy, you are unreasonable.
did not know you carried your temperance
opinions so far as that. OF course shall
keep wine in my house, and entertain my
friends with it, too"
She raised her face appealingy.
Arthur" she said, in tone of voice
which he knew how to interpret.
Arthur's brow grew clouded.
"But you cannot fear for me ?" he said,
with half-offended pride.
&c must fear for you, Arthur, if you be-
gin as he did. And | fear for others, be-
sides--for the sons, and husbands, and
fathers, who may learn at our cheerful
board to love the poison that shall slay
them"
They went up the steps again and sat on
sofa in the dining-room for few moments,
while Katy put on her hat and drew on her
gloves
The argument was kept up. 1t is I'M
necessary that we should repeat all that was
said on both Sides 1t ended at last as sim
liar discussions have ended before. Neither
was willing to yield-Katy, because she felt
that her whole future happiness might be
involved in it; Arthur, because he thought
it would be giving way to woman's whims,
and would sacrifice too much of his popu-
larity with his friends.
He had bought this house, paid for it, and
furnished it handsomely, and in few weeks
was to bring Katy as its mistress. All the
afternoon they had been looking over it to-
gether, happy as two birds with newly fin
ished nest. But when Arthur closed the
door and put the key in his pocket, in the
chill, waning light of the December after
noon, and gave Katy his arm to see her
home, it was all "broken up" between
them, and notice, ITO Let" was put over
the door of the house the very next morning.
1t was the most foolish thing to do but
then lovers can always find something to
quarrel about.
They parted with a cool "Good evening"
at the door of Katy's lodging house. She
went up to her room to cry he went home
hurt and angry, but secretly resolving to see
her again, and give her chance TO say that
she was in the wrong. He would wait
few days, however 4; it would not do to let
her see that he was in hurry to make
it up"
He did wait nearly week, and when he
called at the modest lodging house, where
he had been wont to visit so often, he was
told that Miss Gardiner had been gone three
days.
"Gone where 7" he asked, slow TO believe
"She did not tell me, sir She said she
was not coming back. Her aunt lives at
Bristol"
He then took the next train to Bristol,
and investigated but neither there, nor in
any other place, though he searched for
months afterwards, did he find sign or trace
of Katy Gardiner.
CHAPTER II.
All this happened more than a year be-
fore saw Katy; but we three factory
girls" who lodged at Mrs. Howell's with
her, OF course knew nothing about it. She
came to the factory and applied for work.
The superintendent thought her too delicate
for such labor, but she persisted and in
fact, she improved in health, spirits and
looks after she became used to the work and
simple fare of the factory girls.
She was stranger to us all, and it seemed
likely she would remain so. But one day
Mary Bascom's dress caught in part of the
machinery, and before any one else could
think what to do, Katy had sprung to her
side, and pulled her away by main strength
from the terrible danger that threatened her.
After that, Mary and Lizzie Payne and |,
who were her dearest friends, were Katy's
sworn allies.
We all lodged together, then, in the big
Factory boarding house." But Katy took
it into her head that we should have so
much nicer times in private lodging to
ourselves and when she took anything into
her head she generally carried it through.
In less than week she had found the very
place she wanted, arranged matters with the
superintendent, and had us sheltered under
Mrs. Howells vine and fig tree. We four
girls were the proud possessors OF tolera
bly, large double-bedded apartment, with
queer little dressing-room attached" and
the liberty of the parlor to receive callers
IA proviso at which we all laughed
This was home to us after the labor of
the day. Indeed and in truth, Katy made
the place 80 charming that we forgot we
were "factory girls" when we got to it,
She improvised cunning little things out of
triiies that are usually thrown away as use
less, and the flowers growing in broken pots
IN our window were glory to behold. She
always had fresh book or periodical on
our table and better than this, she brought
to US the larger cultivation, and the purer
taste, which taught us to use opportunities
within our reach.
"What made you take to our style of
life, Katy 7" asked Lizzie, one evening, as
we all sat in the east window, watching the
outcoming OF the stars and telling girlish
dreams.
"Destiny, my child" answered Katy,
STOPPING to replace the little boot she had
thrown off to rest her foot
But you might have been an authoress,
or painter, or "a book.keepeb Or"
Lizzie's knowledge of this world was
rather limited. Katy broke in upon her,
"There, that will do. was not born
genius and | hate arithmetic"
But you did not always have TO work
for living, Katy :" said May. "You are a
lady, know"
Katy laughed queer, short laugh
YES" she said, "and that's why don't
know how to get my living in any way but
this 80 behold me healthy and honest
factory girl"
She rose, made a little bow, and flourish
with her small hands, and we all laughed,
although she had said nothing funny.
"Milly," said she, "please light the lamp,
and get the magazines, while hunt up nv
thimble and thread. Ladies, find myself
under the necessity of mending my gloves
this evening. o, poverty where is thy
sting In shabby glove, do believe, for
nothing hurts me like that, unless it be de
caying boot"
katy's gloves were marvel to us. She
never wore any but of good quality, and al
ways the same color-a brownish, neutral
tint that harmonized with almost any dress
but just now new pair would seem to be
the one thing needful, from the appearance
of the ones she brought out.
She sat and patiently mended the little
rents, while read aloud and when she had
finished, the gloves looked almost new.
The next day was Saturday, and we had
half holiday. Katy and | went to make
some trihing purchases, and on our way
home stopped at the big boarding house to
see one OF the girls who was i'll. When we
came out, Katy ran across the street TO get
magazine from the news shop, and came
hurrying up to overtake me before / turned
the corner. She had the magazine open,