The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-24
NOT A GIRL.
Youths Companion.

NOI "A ullEDAh1 UlIOI.
Youths Companion.
1t was commencement day at X. Fe
male College. The sun shone warmly
into the hall. which was filled with
a brilliant assemblage of visitors. The
girl graduates were ranged on the dais
The other students, numbering three
hundred. were grouped around them,
AS the principal took his place to read
the standing of the students for the
past year, there was an eager stir in
the audience.
81 have little fear of my girls said
Mrs. Waring, a complacent smile on
her thin lips. Mrs. WariDg was a
shar~p-featured woman in a shabby silk
dress. She had published n or two
long poems, which no one read. But
on the strength of them she gave her
self to literature and lumbago for the
rest of her life. She was talking now
to a stout, jo~lly-looking, bearded man,
whom she called Cousin George.
81 intend each of my elder daughters
to study a profession. They must be
Independent. Their father can make
no provision for them-as you can see"
nodding significantly towards a dark,
moody man who sat near, his fine face
flushed from drinking. "They must
find their own careers, as men do. And
they can do itr'
.'But you have three daughters,
Maria"
81 have, But Catherine, the young
est, isl will be candid about it-she is
a Ounce. She does notinherit vel her
fathers intellect. He had a certain
ability once. He is altered since you
went to California"
Eyes, greatly. He was a noble fell
low when 1 knew him."
ssWhile you were amassing a fortune
he was going downtown. He began
by hating his home, and then came to
drink"
81 am afraid he hears you," VAR
ing lgy. him ,;ost :. ,e a,d, r,oro
listen! That's my Mariar"
''Miss Maria Waring, one hundred
being the highest mark ~attainable, has
received ninety-nine."
A round of applause followed.
''What does she studyp" whispered
Cousin George.
'Greek, Latin and the higher mathe-
matics," said the proud mother. "Jano
has three studies also. But her spe-
cialty is science"
''Miss Jane Waring. One hundred.
Miss Waring is also gold medalist for
the year,
Another outbreak of applause.
The list of pupils followed, the rank
going lower and lower, Cousin George
Justus listening, with twinkling eyes,
for the name of the poor Ounce Of the
family. Fifty, forty, twenty, ten, five.
At last, 1.-TWO, Miss Catherine War
ing"
Her mothers thin lips shut like a
steel trap, her father nodded stupidity,
for he was bored with the whole affair.
When the exercises were over, Mrs.
Warning found her disgraced daughter
and dragged her up before MI. Justus.
She was a plump little girl of seven
teen, with a turned up nose and a
round, ugly face, swollen with much
crying.
at is a mere waste of money to keep
her here" said Mrs. Waring, severely.
1.-The Faculty inform me that she was
not indolent, that she exerted herself
conscientiously. The bald fact is that
she is good for nothing. She is a"
Nothing of the kind" interrupted
Cousin George, compassionately.
Nothing of the kind! l will wager
you a diamond ring that my little cousin
will yet prove herself good for some
thing"
You return home with your
father this afternoon, Catharine," said
Mrs. Waring. 81 will wait during the
week for the concluding exercises. Jane
and Maria" turning to Mr.. Justis,
Twill remain here during the vacation,
in order to take a private course in
geology
Catharine cried all the way home,
and most of the night after she reached
home. She had been four years at
making an honest, vain effort
to conquer quadratics and other like
mysteries. Besides, there was little
at home to soothe the ache of disap-
in her heart.
In these years of absence, while her
had been growing into a com
planning invalid, and her father into a
drunkard, the house had become bare,
almost shabby and miserable. Carpets
were becoming worn, almost ragged,
windows clouded with dust, blotches of
hair filling were bursting from some of
the chairs and sofas. The day after her
arrival Catharine made a tour of in
spection. Her eyes, though still swol-
len, were keen.
Then the servant was startled from
her long dream of indifference and
Idleness to find herself actually at
work. Two helpers were brought in
and paid from Catharine's little store
If pin-money, that came from a small
property of her own, Catharine her.
elf was behind them. They could no {
nore lag or dawdle than could a train /
If cars with an engine at their back. /
Dust flew out of the house, windows
hone. Carpets were mended, curtains f
and p%rettily draped; pictures S