Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-03-26
KATE'S. VICTORY.

Kate Selwyn, "going home from the
factory. Oh, poor things, how tired
they look! DO you know, Mr.. Varian,
it always seems to me as if they belong
ed to different order of beings from
u.s."
II don't know why you should draw
such an inference as that" said Mr..
Varian.
Kate laughed.
Don't take my nonsense al Seri-
sstr," said she. ''Iave you any rela-
tions among the factory girls?'
mot that am aware of" Mr.. Va
rian quietly answered.
"Then | don't see why you should
espouse their cause" laughed Miss
Selwyn. 'Look at that fat little dow
dy with the checked gingham dress,
and the broken-backed feather in her
hat, and the tall woman with the scan
ty shawl and the high-heeled boots.
Was there ever anything so ridiculous?"
And then the whistle blew, and the
train moved on, and the smile faded
from Angus Varian's face as he watch
ed the merry sparkle of his COM
panion's eyes, tho dimples coming and
going on her rosy cheeks.
The very next station was Keyford,
where they must alight And he had
not told Kate Selwyn yet-he could not
tell her. Let circumstances develop
themselves; he had not the heart rude
ly to plunge dagger into that inno-
cent young breast.
He had Glanced to be coming from
Albany, and had acquiesced in DR..
Selwyn's request that he should bring
Kate home from boarding-school-
blooming eighteen-year-old Kate, who
had Just graduated with all the honors,
and who, having spent two vacations
with favorite schoolmates, had not been
at home for two years.
.sAnd," DR.. Selwyn had hoarsely
added, ''if you find a fitting opportun-
ity, Varian, you might mention to the
child how things have changed at home.
She'll have to know it sooneror later
and it may possibly save her shock"
But either the fitting opportunity"
had not presented itself, or Mr.. Varian
had neglected to avail himself of it.
And here they were slowing up" at
Keyford, Kate springing joyously from
her heap o: trayeling-shawls, novels,
flowers and bonbons, with the cry of
"Papa! Oh, see papar'
And the next minute she was in his
arms, kissing and hugging him, while
she thanked Mr.. Varian for his kind
ness in escorting her home.
you'll come and see me some
times?' she said ''if | have not
wearied you out with my schoolgirl
chatter"
Mr.. Varian smiled, lifted his hat and
went away, while Kate, leaning fondly
on her fathers arm, looked around in
quiringly.
'Where is the carriage, papap" she
asked, land tho two darling old
greys?'
Wen walk, my DEAR" said DR..
Sel~yn. ut is but q step. The-the
fact is, we are not living where we did.
We have moved"
"Moved, papa! Moved from Selwyn
Grange!' cried Kate in amazemcnt.
"And we don't find ourselves able to
afford the expense of q carriage any
longer" said Dr. Selwyn huskily.
"Didn't Varian tell you?"
'.Mr. Varian, papaa Tell me whatp"
said Kate, with vague surprise.
II see that he has not" said DIR.
Selwyn. "Then must tell you myself.
We are very poor, Kate. We have lost
all our property. was foolish enough
to speculate and have failed. So we
have lost everything-the Grange, the
carriage, the hot-houses, the picture
gallery, and all. We are living at Dean
Cottage, and think your mother will
be very glad to have you back again to
help her with the house-work. Why,
Kate, my child, what is the matterP"
Kate choked down an immense sob.
"N-nothing, papa" said she. "Only
1t was so sudden. have never dream
cd of such a thing"
II have been too abrupt" said DR..
Selwyn. 'I am used to the idea my
self, and l did not know how unpleas-
antly it might affect you. But you'll
bear it bravely-eh, my darling, for
our sakes."
"Yes, papa, I'll be brave" said Kate
in low voice.
Kate Selwyn was stubborn aristo-
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roses, and smiled serenely down on the
workers of the world, as gold-plumed
canary in its glittering cage might
view the brown-winged sparrow rolling
in the dust.
And now-now! Alas, how sadly it
was all changed!
But Kate was heroine in her way,
and she sat down to tea in the, dingy
back room of Dean Cottage as brightly
as if it had been the stately dining
room of Selwyn Grange, even while no
slightest detail of the shabby house.
keeping that surrounded her escaped
her eye.
Oh, the mended carpets, the faded
2 window draperies, the table-cloth darn
ed and patched, the poor glued chairs,
and the window-pane cracked across,
and mended with piece of brown
paper. Kate could have flung herself
despairingly on the threadbare sofa and
cried her heart out-but she was too
brave for that.
And after tea there were no wander.
ings among the flowers, no sitting at
the piano (that had been sacrificed in
the general wreck also), no watching
the red and opal effects of the sunset in
dreamy far nSente visions. There was