Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-10

quick, ana ne well mehulhS SOiu
torters at length left her TO herself
When all WIS over, Kate was told that
she must leave the house. 1t was
wanted for n Richer tenent. She mad
not a Oingle dollar. Her furniture
was taken away and sold to pay the
rent. All the little ornaments OF the
rooms, 80 dear to her because they
we're tho gifts of parents o N successive
birthdays, went with the rest; and In
the afternoon Of the third day from
the funeral of both her parents, Kate
walked out of the gate and entered
small cottage, poor, mean and old, the
only shelter she could afford to rest In.
The next week saw her out In the
pursuit of employment something
anything that would bring her fooo
enough to support life and strength.
No foolish pride in Hates heart held
her back from the search after the
means of living. Teachir & that re-
source of slmost every girl left to her
$ ,lf--wss not included In her oata
lague of labor. Kate was intelligent
aud we'll taught; bat Of the regular
rou lue of learning che was ignorant.
OF useful Information she had q fund.
II was impaired to her from childhood
by her father and mother; but neither
Of her parents were willing to spare
her from home, and therefore her
school knowledge was not extensive,
She had learned bookkeeping, how
ever, of her father, who was once 8
successful merchant, before the hand
of disease had touched alike his per
son and his fortunes. Aud her frs,
thought was that she might obtain
some situation In which she could
make this knowledge count to her fol
bread.
She entered several %storor, modestly
offering her services o. book keeper oil
cashier; but all those situations were
already filed. Next the milliners
shops were tried-then the dressmak
ers' rooms shops and DON which,
In better days her mother had most
generously patronized, but which now
seemed to have no work for Kate.
Her last effort was at a depot for ready
made linen. The shopman knew her,
and allowed her to carry off some
work without the usual deposit of itt
worth In money. She was glad o!
even this scanty means; and half an
hour after she left the shop she was
seated In the one habitable room Of
her little cottage, sewing diligently
upon q garment the first Of her hall
dozen.
Kate was q rapid and skllfull seam
~stress; and, as her small house re-
quired little time to put In order, and
her frugal meal still less time to pre-
pare, che was rejoioed to find that she
could complete them all in q single
week. She WAS to be paid q half dol.
lar each; and abe carried them back,
and received the money the next Sat.
urday evening with a feeling of salts
faction that no one ever experiences
unless 1t Is earned. Every week she
now earned sufficient for her expenses
and very soo she was trusted with
finer and more expensive work, until
at last she could readily command
from six to eight dollars. She die
this until late In the winter; constant
ly carrying bundles of work, and en-
joying the air and exercise it brought
her, without q thought of degradation
in so doing.
True, she vas sometimes passed
without recognition by some who hst
known her under other circumstances
but Katie's cheerful aud Independent
spirit was far above oil this. Sh,
looked as serene under the neglect al
If the recognition were ever so cordial
and so often shamed the proud one
who could not deny that in her simpl,
mourning garb there was an elegance
and propriety to which they ye
attained. Even her package of worl
did not take from her the unmistakabl,
ladylike appearance inseparable from
her; for she carried 1t with an cas-
and grace so rare that IL seemed slmos
the badge of suI erior gentility. TIL
lovely expression, which we hav
called her highest charm, still illumi
mated her face, and they who looked
at Kate once were apt to linger ii
their interested gaze as Icing as polite
mesa permitted.
She was returning from carrying
back some work one slippsry day
when, Just Oh she had shut her owI
gate, she clipped upon tho ice and fell
breaking her ankle and severed
wrenching her left arm. She tried t
move and rise, but was impossible
She uttered a little mean of real pain
and then tainted. She might hay
lain % full half hour thus, whom
gentleman discovered her and alighte
from fis chaise. He raised her to
sitting posture and the pain of bein
removed recalled her senses. Si
sbrank from his touch for an instan,
but soon recovered from her momen
tary embarrassment, and gratefully e>
pressed her thanks.
"Whither shall I carry you, IN
dear young lady" he asked kindly.
This Id my home, fir," she al
awered, produ,ing the house kay.
Tne gentleman unlocked the doc
aud Kate strOve to rise, but agai
tainted with the pain. Tho strange
carried her in and deposited her gent
upon the wide, comfortable conc
which had served as O bed ever sirc
she removed. He readily found som
water, which he sprinkled upon he
face, and she revived.
II am q surgeon" said he, smiling
''an old, ay.haired surgeon. Wi
you permit me to examine your II
juriesl'
There was such a fa'herly MAINE
about him that Kate could but subm'
TO holding out her arm and foot fc
his inspection.
"You have hurt yourself more tina
l thought, young lady" he said, In
tone so cheerful that Kate felt as
the had found a friend. But 1t wi