The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-08-29
THE OUNCE OF THE FAMILY.

girl graduates were ranged on the Qa1S.
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 au-
~dience.
II have little fear of my girls, said
Mrs. Waring, a complacent smile on
her thin lips. Mrs. Warning was 3
sharp-featured woman in a shabby silk
dress. She had published n OF 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, jolly-looking, bearded man,
whom she called cousin George.
II intend each of my elder daughters
to study a profession. They must be
Independent. Their father can make
no provision for then.-as you 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 It'll"
"But you have three daughters, Ma
ria"
II have. But Catharine, the young
est, isl will be candid about it-she
is a Ounce. She does not inherit even
her fathers intellect. He had acertain
ability once. He is altered since you
went to California"
eyes, greatly. He was anoble fellow
when I knew him."
While you were amassing a fortune,
he was going downtown. He be-
gan by hating his home, and then came
drink"
II am afraid he hears you," warn
ingly.
Serve him right if he did, There. lis
ten! That's my Marial"
"Miss Maria Waring, one hundred be-
ing the highest mark attainable, has re-
ceived ninety-nine."
A round of applause followed.
What does she study?" whispered
Cousin George.
"Greek, Latin and the higher mathe-
matics," said the proud mother. "Jane
hes these studies also. But her speciality
is science"
"Miss Jane Warning. One hundred.
Miss Waring is also gold medallist for
the year."
Another outbreak Of applause.
The list of our 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 was over, Mrs. War
ing found her disgraced daughter and
dragged her up before Mr.. Justus.
She was a plump little girl of
seventeen, with q turned-up nose and
a round, ugly face, swollen with much
crying.
1T is q mere waste of money to keep
her here, 2 said Mrs. Waring, severely.
"The Faculty inform me that she is not
indolent, that she exerted herself con-
sci~entiouly. The bald fact is that she
as good for nothing. J Is 4
Nothing of the kindw interrupted
Cousin George, compassionately.
Nothing Of the kind Twill wager you a
diamond ring that my little cousin viii
yet prove herself good for ONE
thing =
"You can return home with your fa-
Their this afternoon, Catherine" said
Mrs, Waring. II viii wait during the
week for the concluding exercises.
Jane and Maria, = turning to Mr.. Justus,
will remain here during the vacation,
IN order to take the private course in
geology"
Catherine cried all the way home,
Anu most OF Inc night alter sac reached
home. She had been for four years at
school, making an honest vain effort to
conquer quadrasies and ether like mys-
teries. Beside there was little at home
to soothe the ache Of disappointment IN
her heart.
In these years Of absence, while her
mother had been growing into . com
pIoinip~ snwoIsI ood Ior father info II
drunkard, the house had become Bare,
almost shabby and miserable. Carpets
were becoming worn, almost ragged,
windows clouded with dust, blotches Of
hair filing we're bursting from some
Of the chairs aud sofas. The day after
her arrival Catherine made q tour of In
spection. Her eyes though still swollen,