Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-11-12

snoeksa Ins uster, Uut quckened ner In
tercst In this singular being. Sometimes
shs smiled at the way In which Vanity
would parry her thrusts.
"yes,n Vanity said scornfully, II am not
deceived. II ever turned serious, 1t would
only come about because first had turned
uglyl7
BETTER that Sister Catherine remarked,
''than 20 through life with fair face and
hard and hardening heart"
Yes Vanity rejoined, with impetuous
scorn, ''but what is such goodness worthF
Another time she said:
"You talk about giving up my own win.
Well, il had turned serious when was
admired and all that. there would have been
my side to it; but now
"My poor childr the sister replied, ''my
poor untaught childP
Again Vanity remarked:
I'm one way am serious enough feel
dull All the serious people are dulln
Snow, Vanity Sister Catherine said,
you told me when you heard my laugh out
side in the garden that you never heard any
thing SO merry in your lifeln
So Sister Catherine gradually gained
ground. She never lost an opportunity,
and she read Vanity's character with rare
insight. In spite of all the sick actress
would pour forth In her passionate, broken
hearted way, the sister kept repeating that
life was love, and that there was a life Of
love open to Vanity. At times, with accents
of scorn, she would contrast this with Van
ity's old ideal; and at last Vanity fairly con-
fessed that her sisters conception of life was
higher than her own.
'But should never have even looked at
it,n Vanity was careful to add, IF the old
life had not flown out of my reach. /
should have no mer1t-no bravery in taking
it up.n
s.At least, Vanity Sister Catherine re-
piled, '.if you do not take it up you are
guilty of cowardicen
That word sunk into Vanity's heart, but
she veiled her feelings SO carefully that Sis
ter Catherine began to despair. All the time
the girls wild reckless dream of Willie
Snow-her passionate resolve to realize hei
ideal, if she persisted afterward-her mad
ness of anger at the thought Of being baffied
by the destruction Of her beauty-wert
yielding to nobler impulses. Vanity's ma
ture was not intrinsically evil. She saw tht
beauty of goodness as sometimes they see i
who have never dallied with it, facing botl
ways, but have lived in honest neglect
Still, the rebellion of her proud nature wa
not soon subdued She hid her better self
and would answer with pride and mockery
At last Sister Catherine said one day sadly
VANITY, must give you up"
Half an hour later she came back to tn
dark room, and heard the girl sobbing ol
her bed. 1t was the first sign Of softening
and the sound went to the sisters kin,
heart.
''There, child, there" she said soothingly
'you must not cry like that. | was NO
angry"
Vanity's full heart emptied itself now.
II have been so wild and sinful, and m
life is SO broken up, and everything has gon
to pieces, and there is nothing leftl But
you will help me, will live as you tell me
and not be afraid, and try to do the best
can!"
A little incident then sealed Vanity's rest
luton. She felt her hand drawn gently tc
ward the sister, who clasped it fast, afte
which the sick girl felt tears falling dow
upon it like rain. And Vanity knew tina
these were tears of love and joy, and all tbs
the sister had said TO her about goodness b.
came reality in moment; and from ths
hour her feet were set upon the way to life.
ITO BH CONTINUED.