The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-03


less time to prepare, she was rejoiced to
find that she could complete them all in
single week. She was to be paid half a
dollar each; and she carried them back and
received the money the next Saturday
evening, with feeling of satisfaction that
no one ever experiences unless it is earned.
Every week she now earned sufficient for
her expenses; and very soon she was en-
trusted with finer and more expensive work,
until at last she could command from Sc
to SS. She did this until late in the win
ter; constantly carrying bundles Of work
and enjoying the air and exercise it brought
her. without thought of degradation in
so doing
True, she was sometimes passed without
recognition by some who had known her
under other circumstances, but Kate's
cheerful and independent spirit was far
above all this. She looked as serene under
the neglect as if the recognition were ever
SO cordial and so often shamed the proud
ones who could not deny that in her simple
mourning garb there was an elegance and
propriety to which they never yet attained.
Even her package of work did not take
from her the unmistakable ladyhke APP
pearance inseparable from her; for she car
ried it with an ease and grace so rare that
it seemed almost the badge of superior
gentility. The lovely expression which we
have called her highest charm, still illumi-
mated her face, and they who looked at
Kate once were apt to inger in their in
terested gaze as long as politeness permitted.
She was returning from carrying back
some work one slippery day, when just as
she had shut her own little gate, she slipped
upon the ice and fell, breaking her ankle
and severely wrenching her left arm.
She tried to move and rise, but it was i'm
possible. She uttered little moan of real
pain, and then tainted. She might have a
lain full half hour thus, when gentleman
discovered her and alighted from his chaise.
He raised her to sitting posture and the
pain of being removed recalled her senses.
She shrank from his touch for an instant,
but soon recovered from her momentary
embarrassment and gratefully expressed
her thanks.
w DllIl6E Shd1i OVu, NSoA
young lady?'' he asked kindly.
"This is my home, sir, she answered
producing the house key.
The gentleman unlocked the door, and
Kate strove to rise, but again tainted with
the pain. The stranger carried her in and
deposited her gently upon the wide COM
Portable couch which had served as bed
ever since she removed He readily found
some water which he sprinkled upon her
face, and she revived. tm,p.
Il am a surgeon, said he smiling, I&h
old gray-haired surgeon. Will you permit
me to examine yourinjuries?"
There was such a fatherly manner about
him that Kate could but submit to hold
out her arm and foot for his inspection.
"You have hurt yourself more than
thought young lady," he said, in tone SC
cheerful that Kate felt as if she had found
friend. "But it will be all right soon, il
you will only have a little courage for
short time
"Oh, l have plenty Of that but lack
the fortitude to endure long-continued
pain. Will it be long, sir?'' she asked
anxiously.
"Not if you have good nursing"
"Ah, that is out of the question, sir.
"Why so? Have you no mother OIL
sister,"
Kates eyes filed with tears.
II have neither" she said after pause
in which she was weeping bitterly.
"No friend who can be with you while
l mend this broken limb" he asked, while
looking at the small, white arm, barred fol
his inspection.
II have no friends" she murmured.
1t was short sentence, but it went tt
DIR. Broderick's heart.
"No friends? Poor young lady!''
But before he could say word more
Kate had hushed her emotions awakened
by his questions, and was her own calm
collected self again. She bore the setting
of her ankle like hero, and submitted t.
have her arm violently pulled without
finching. Then she sat upright and looked
this new helper in the face. He was {
man of apparently 40 years of age, tall anC
not slender; with large, benevolent brown
eyes, and few white streaks in his dark
abundant hair; gentleman in the broades
sense of the word, scholar and goot
surgeon. Kate's simple, straightforward
mind had OWNED what he was, and he
ewes took in the details as well as the mean
ing of his face; face so entirely good tha
a little child might read it, Her hear
instinctively told her that here, at any rate
was a man who would never deceive.
She had heard of him-heard how be
loved and trusted he had been in his native
city-a neighboring one where he had al
ways practiced-had heard of more thar
one grand and noble deed he had perform
ed. She learned, also, that in his youngel
years he had been sorely smitten with dis
appointment-ha laid all his hopes of ;
happy domestic life upon broken shrine
and had beheld them waste away into ute
decay.
All these things rushed to her memory
when he told her his name. She remem
bered. too, that her father had desired t.
call him in when her mother was i'll, bu
she had opposed it. Her mother was al
ways afraid of expenses which she knew
would mot avail to save her life and sh'
wanted SO much to leave something 70
Kate when she should have passed away
Poor womanl Could she have known o
Kate's present situation, there woulC
have been one pang more in her dyint
hour.
II shall ride over and see how you arr
tomorrow, he said, kindly, as he wen
out. aYou must be as quiet as possible
but l will lend you my cane, SO if you wan
to come and lock me out you can do 50.
| And Kate did rise and go to the doc
with him, despite the grotesqueness o
hopping upon one foot.
snow go back to your sofa, and you ma;
read little; but remember, do not worl
till see you"
She obeyed him willingly, for she wa
weary, and was, moreover, Jared by tn
fall Toward night she fell asleep, ant
did not awake until morning. She wa
unable to go about much, even with tn
doctors cane; but, fortunately, little gu