Daily Republican., 1884-06-03
A w OMAN'k SPHERE
BY ALICE DALE.

Aunt lldLnan IDOtnphOn, Wulle ne
shiniug knitting needles flew In ant
out of the stocking which she wa
busily knitting" the minute a woman
gets Out Of her proper sp'ere and Begin
to potter around at a mans work, then
say she's ruined her own future. -
'Taint in natur' that she eau be happy
after that. And 80 | say, Katharine
Pm powerful disappointed to find yol
turnin' literary, and &C ually writin' 8
book"
"Aunt Hannah" chimed In fresh
"what is . woman's sphere?"
And Katharine Wilde seated herself
upon the broad window-ledge, kicking
her small feet impatiently in among the
clover which blossomed in reckless
PROPULSION about the window.
Aunt Hannah-p.im, angular and
fifty-slanced up in surpripe.
Why, Katie Wilde!' she ejacula
ted, "you've got to the age of twenty.
three, and don t know yet that it Is Il
woman's proper sp'ere to marry and
keep house, and make her husband and
family happy; and make good bread
and fIe shirts, and be able to &c up a
decent meal at short notice Sakes
alive, child, what clse Is woman good
for 2"
Katherine's pretty face had clouded
long before the end of this harangue,
and she brought her little foot down
with what seemed unnecessary empha.
sis upon the ground, as she cried, rebel
liously:
"Well, then, I'll never know any
thing about my proper sphere-that's
all. You needn't look 30 Mortified, Aunt
Hannah; shall do nothing dreadful;
only Pm not going to marry man who
will expect me to give up my writing,
(vhy. auntie, my book Is nearly halt
completely, and try to make . model
housekeeper of me-ugh! | detest the
very word think it sin for any
one tc resign her ambition solely to
please a man. If God gives US talent,
is it right to waste or destroy 1t ? Does
1T not strike you that He will some day
demand an account Of the gifts bestow-
Ell upon his creatures? You've not
forgotten the parable Of the ten talents,
auntre 2"
Aunt Hannah's prim lips relaxed in
to tiny smile then suddenly drop
ping the knitting work into her lap, she
folded her bony hands upon 1t, and
gazed into the girls nower.like face.
" Katharine" she spoke more softly
than was her wont, "you're q smart
girl you've always been smarter than
most girls know. And you've got the
gift o'writin', which'll make you
famous some day-perhaps but. my
dear, some day also, you'll meet the
right man-the man who was cut out
for you and if you don t jest forget all
your ambitious dreams and devote your
life to that one man-wal, my name
AIM t Hannah Thompson, that's all !"
And the old lady picked up her knit
ting work and went on where she had
left off with increased energy. Katha-
rine glanced into the grim face and
smiled.
She tossed her white arms-from
which the muslin sleeves fell back, re-
vealing their ivory fairness-above her
sunny head, and caught cluster of
which trailed downward,
its flood of sweetness out upon
the summer air.
"That man is not in existence, Aunt
Hannah !" she laughed, saucily. ~
never intend to marry, and l would not
yield my own sweet freedom-not for
the love Of the best man in the uni
verse p
A trm football on the gravel walk at
her side made her glance up with a
start. A man was coming slowly
toward the house, a man with a grave,
handsome face, and serious, dark eyes.
Aunt Hannah's gaze fell on the ap-
figure, and in an instant she
was on her feet, both hands out
stretched, her wrinkled face overflow
ing with joyous welcome.
"Philip! dear Philip" she cried,
"where on earth did you come
from so unexpected ?"
He smiled.
81 have run over on o little busi-
ness" he said, "and made haste to
call upon you!"
"Call, indeed" scolded the old lady.
" I'd like to see you get away, now
you're here. And Katharine! Why
is the child. All, she's out in
the garden" And stepping out into
tho fragrant garden she,piloted the new
conner into the girls presence.
"This is Katharine Wilde, my niece,
who lives with mt" she began eagerly.
- Katha rine, my dear, this is Philip
Percival, the only child Of my best
And that was how the mischief be-
gan; let me tell how it was completed.
Of course. during his visit Katharine
found no time to write, but she comfort |
I'd herself with the assurance of the
work that she would do whom he should
be gone.
That day came at last. I am sure
that neither ever ceased to remember |
IL. He sought her In the shady, old
fashioned garden. She was standing
in the sunset, with Its rcd glory ell
about her ut her feet q brook flowed
IN over Its rocky bed, laughing and
with the blood.red arrows of
he sunset piercing its silvory breast.
Katharine p he cried, suddenly,
selling the girls hands In his own, "I
owe you Will you be my wife?"
For moment she stood gazing Into
bis eyes, her own dilsted with almost
horror. She was trembling violently
and her face was very pale.
81 never dreamed Of this - she
ALTERED at last. Believe me, Mr..
l had not thought that you
cared for me shall never marry.
am welded to my work. l intend to
devote my life to my chosen profession
,f authorship"
But-you love mel" he cried, rap.l
She turned away coldly. |
Glove you! she repeated hoarsely II
mo, sir, you are mistaken. ! care for
10 man | would not marry living
soul while have my work unfinished,
ny ideal still unwrought. thank you
'or the honor you have conferred upon
me-" she added, her voice trembling
itGle, "but l do not love you, and !
hall never marry"
His head dropped and his face grew
Ilowly white.
"God forgive you p he said, slowly,
for II ever woman revealed the