Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-03-04
81 don't care about going out.

dhNl ONGA Win pftiSntS anu CHliOTtu.
You bring up your children with pains
taking and care, only TO have them
laugh at your old-fashioned WAYS, and
leave you, With hardly a regret, on the
first opportunity"
"Don't - exclaimed Mrs. Raynor, in
n panied voice, trying to keep back her
tears. 1t seemed like the echo of her
own sad words.
Meantime Kate sat a. the little organ
in the brightly lighted hall, and played
and sang, and looked very happy. She
thought she was doing her duty, and the
girl really desired to do some good in
the world.
She belonged to the Dorcas Society,
that met once week to sew for the
poor, and to the Mite Society and other
kindred associations. She taught in the
Sunday-school, was a member of lit
eraTy club, and she often said she had
scarcely moment to call her own.
A stranger was speaking It was a
man freshly caught in the temperance
net, and he ii ,undered and biundered
until it was n positive pain to look at
and listen to him.
Belle Lockwood, who sat next to Kate,
whispered something in her ear that
made her laugh, aud then she caught
the eye of Bessy Birch. Bessy shook
her head, and Kate looked at her music,
and then back at Bessy again.
For long time she gazed, growing
more thoughtful every moment. Earlier
in the evening she had overheard some
one say, did you ever see happier
looking woman than Bessy's mother?
Or q younger? One would take them
for sisters"
Somehow the words had fingered in
Hates mind, and now she turned and
looked at Bessy's mother There she
sat, serene and smiling, every now and
then nodding to Bessy, as something
was sail or done that met with her ap,
proval.
Yes, she was looking as young, almost,
as Bessy herself. And as Kate watched
her, she remembered that they seemed
always TO take delight in each other.
Almost everywhere, they we're together.
Mamma is my beau" How often
she had heard Bessy say that! Some
way her own mothers SAD, pale face
forced itself before her.
eli mother only looked like that" >"
she sighed iii mother would only be
bright and stirring, and go about with
mel"
And then it occurred to her that she
had never really thought of that before
She had preferred Johnny-the clumsy
lad that she cared no more for than any
other friend, only that she liked to show
her power over him.
1t was not quite honorable. She felt
herself blush. If Johnny were to ask
her tomorrow, she could not marry
him. How much nobler and better
Bessy was acting
And there was poor mother, all alone.
Nobody 10 speak to, evening after even
ing, seldom going ont, except to church
and so much prettier than Mrs Birch!
Why, yes, prettier and ger-looking!
If only she had some incentive, she
would be q mother to be proud Of
GLOW selfish l have beenw she
thought, with a sigh.
"Kate! areyou dreaming? Didn't you
hear them give ont the hymn ?"
1t was johnny who spoke, and Kate
almost resented bis attention. He found
the place, opened the music. hovered
about her, till the girls cheeks burned
again-everyb body was looking at them.
Johnny, I'm going home with
Bessy," she said, at the close of the
evening. "You take some one else to-
night"
Johnny stepped aside, like onestunned,
/ conscious that something had offended
4 the girl-he could not tell what-and
/ Kate walked home on the other side of
/ Bessy's mother for they passed Kate's
house.
Doesn't Mrs. Raynor ever go out?"
asked Mrs. Birch, unconscious of the
sting i'll the question. cit seems as if
she would enjoy these meetings. You
see, Bessy won't go anywhere without
mother, and so we enjoy all the good
things together"
With these words sounding in her
ears, Kate reached home and went IN.
Tt had seemed rather odd to be without
Johnny, but she respected herself more
when she thought of his commonplace,
even silly remarks, and his often-recur-
ring laugh.
Her mother had evidently been asleep.
and it smote the girls newly awakened
conscience to meet the weary, sad
smile. Il nevec thought how lonesome
you would be, she said, with kiss so
tender it thrilled the aching heart.
"Oh ell-M Mrs. Grace was here q
little while, said her mot er.
Deliver me from her society, &"
laughed Ka!e, Nobody escapes her
merciless tongue.
q didn't expect you so soon or I'd
have had little chocolate. Did-who
came home with vou?'
''Bessy and her beau, said Kate,
demurely.
"Bessy, and who?" asked her mother.
81 didn't know any young man waited
upon Bessy.'
"Ah, you don't know everythingl
Ressy has the incest beau you ever saw
perfectly devoted to her, and I'm 60
ing to have just such another. have
done with johnny"
well, yon astonish me, said Mrs.
Raynor "t didn't know AZ l should
ever be curious again. How long has it
been? | never saw her with anybody
but her mother.
And that's Just what mean !" said
Kate, her eyes dancing. Mother, We
been asleep tins long, long while, and
I've only just walked up to realize what
I've been dreaming about, and to feel
sorry for it, Do you know that am