Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-07-27
ROMANCE OF A GLOVE.
docs it please YOU. Kittr2,

They went down the stairs together.
he talking gaily, she with troubled
look in her face After duly admirino
the place, she put timid hand on ms
arm and said; But, Arthur, dear,
lets have no wine in it.
''Why?' he asked in surprise.
because | have resolved if | am ever
the mistress ora house, there shall be
no liquors kept in if-no social glasses
for friends.
Why, Katy, you are unreasonable.
| did not know you carried your tenn
perance opinions so far as that OF
course | shall keep wine in my house,
and entertain my friends with il, too
She raised her face appealingly.
arthur she said, in tone of voice
which he knew how to interpret.
Althur'S brow grew cloudy.
''But you cannot fear for me?" he
said with half offended pride.
II must fear for you, Arthur, if YOU
begin as he bid. And fear for others
besides 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 the sofa in the dining room for few
moments, while Kitty put on her hat
and drew on her gloves.
The argument was kept up. 1t is I'M
necessary that we should repeat ali that
was said on both sides 1t ended at
last, rs similar 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 a
few weeks was to bring Katy as his mis-
tress. All the afternoon they had been
looking it over together, happy as two
birds in newly-hnished nest But
when Arthur closed the door and put
the key in his pocket, in the chill wan
ing light Of the December afternoon,
and gave Kitty his arm TO see her home,
1t was all ''broken up" between them,
and ITO Let was put on the door Of
the pretty house the very next morning
1t was the most foolish thing to do:
but then lovers can always find some
thing to quarrel about
They parted with cool Good even
ing at the door Of Katy's lodging
house. She went up to her room to cry;
he went home hurt and angry, but Sc
cretly resolved to see her again and give
her chance to say she was in the
wrong. He would wait a few DAYS.
however; it would not do to let her see
that he was in a hurry to make it up. ."
lie did wait nearly aweek, 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?' he asked slow to be-
lieye
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 any trace of Katy Gardner.
All this happened more than a year
before | saw Katy, but we three fac
tory girls who lodged at Mrs. Howelps
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 work, but She
persisted and, in fact, she improved in
health, spirits and looks after she be-
came used to the work and simple fare
OF the factory girls.
She was stranger to us all. and il
seemed likely she would remain so. But
one day Mary Bascom'S dress caught in
a part Of the machinery, and before any
body else could think what TO do. Katy
had sprung to her side and pulled her
away 10y main strength from the terri
BILE 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 clearinghouse. But
Katy took it into her head that we should
have SO much nicer times in a private
lodging to ourselves; and when she took
anything into her head she generally
carried it through. In less than a week
sheihad found the yeryiplace she wanted,
arranged matters with the superinten-
dent, and had us sheltered under Mrs
Howell vine and fig tree. We four
girls were the proud possesSors of a
tolerably large, double-bedded apart
ment, with a queer little dressin groom
attached land the liberty of the parlor
to receive visitors ina proyise at
which we all laughed.
This was 'home'' to us after the labor
Of The day Indeed and in truth. Katy
made the place SO charming that we
forgot the factory girls when we got to
it. She improvised cunning little things
ont of trines that are usually thrown
away rs useless, and the flowers grow
ing in broken pots in our windows were
wonderful To behold. She always had
fresh book or periodical on her table;
and better than this, She brought to us
the larger cultivation and the purer
taste, which taught us how to use OPP
portunities within our reach.
"What made YOU take to our style of
life, katy?' asked Lizzie one evening
rs we all sat in the east window watch
ing the outcoming of the stars and tell
ing 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 author
ess, or painter, or "a book-keeper,
or
Lizzie's knowledge of the world was
rather limited Kate broke in upon her:
There, that will do. | was not a
born genius, and hate arithmetic
But YOU did not always have to work
for living, Katy said May. You
are lady, | known'
Katy laughed a queer, short laugh
Yes, She said land that's why |
don't know how to get my living in any
way bat this. So hehold me healthy
and honest factory girl
She arose. made little bow, aud a
flourish with her small hands. and we
all laughed. although we had said moth
lng funny.
"Milly." SAID She please light tn,
lamp and get the magazine, while hunt
mp my needle and thread Ladies,
find mysclv under the necessity of mend
ing my glove, this evening. Oh, pov.
erty, where is thy sting? In shabby
glove Il, believe, for nothing hurts me-
like that. unless it be decaying boot g
Katy gloves We're marvel To us
She never wore any but of good quality
and always Of the same color, a brown
iSh, neutral tint that barmonized Will
almost any dress-but just now new
pair seemed to be the one thing needful
from the appearance of the ones sh,
brought ont