Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-03-02
A Modern Pariah.

ed cut out OF SOlld rock, WltnOut QUE
softened line, even in this hour of tri-
al Lisbeth Morton looked up quick.
ly. mo, thank you, Aunt Rachel,
YOU have no work for me and L
should not like to be a burden l
am going to the city and intend to
get situation as housemaid. I'll
work little cheaper than the others
do if | can have time to go to the
Art School one day in the week and
some of the evenings"
Going out to service?" the hard
voice answered sneeringly. "lt's
just like you, anyhow; you always
were cranky but | don't think my
brothers. darter would stoop SO low.
What'll Jim Downing sayW
Il haven't asked him." replied the
girl. with proud lifting of her head
and vivid color in her cheeks
We'll, you'd better" advised Aunt
Rachel, "and if he doesn't put bis foot
doun on that my name amt Rachel
Jones, that's al" "
Il shall do as | think best for N.Y.
self" answered Lisbeth very quietly,
and left the room to attend to some
household duties. The gray evening
came slowly on. Brother Joe and
his new wife took Aunt Rachel to
ber dreary home on their way to
spend the evening with neighbor
Lisbeth sat down to her sewing with
fast beating heart, listening at inter-
walls for step she knew that might
at any moment be heard on the gra-
vel walk beneath the window. She
bad not long to wait for q gentle
knock was followed by quick open
ing of tie door in country fashion.
ard young man, with close cropped
yet dark curling hair, entered with
out further ceremony. He took her
hand and attempted to draw her
down tn 6 chair beside him, but she
sprang lightly up, under pretence of
turning down the wick of the lamp
for fear it might crack the glass, and
then seated herself on the opposite
side of the fireplace. But the tones
of her voice were tender, even trem-
bling, as she talked of everyday af-
fairs; at last with some hesitation,
che said: Il wanted a chance 10 tell
you that | am going to the city to
stay"
The young man looked surprise d,
and there was protest in his voice
as he said, "Why Lisbeth, isn't it
rather sudden? You surely don't
mean to stsy?"
"Yes l do" she answered drearily,
"I'm not wanted here Maria takes
my place already, and it's right she
should, but it cuts me up dreadfully;
I've been head and all Joe had to de-
pend on so loug-I can't get used to
it,"
ut is only till next year." he pro.
tested. Then my apprenticeship is lin
ished. and you might take me for bet
ter or for worse"
There was minutes pause, and
then she spoke slowly, but with an
air of conviction. Il couldn't; my
clothes would wear out; my temper
would be soured; l should not be
worth taking, am not fit for any
thing but house work; father never
thought it mattered for girls. Now
| must begin my life and it will be
hard at first. But | have just got so
far with my studies in art. l want to
get further; 50 | shall get 6 house
maids place, and can save over a
hundred dollars by the time you are
-n
She never finished her sentence,
for be broke in: You q servant, Lis
beth Morton! You will not degrade
yourself so,."
u do not think it degrades me,
trying TO earn aa honest living, any
more than if | were dress maker or
music teacher, she answered, with
spirit
His face paled with passion, his
dark eyes glowed. "If you go to ser
vice l have done with you," he said,
finally.
you have, James Downing!" said
Lisbeth, in cool, calm, tones; land
there is the door-good evening"
His manner changed, Oh,
Lisbeth be persuaded" be said, inn
ploringly, with u sound as OF tears in
his voice. But she shook her head
and did not speak. as be picked up
bis cap and fumbled for the latch, ev-
identity blind with griet and anger.
Neither Of them remem bered after
years just how they parted, but the
sad break never healed, and during
the weeks that she remarned at the
old homestead Lisbeth did not again
meet her old lover Miss Arabella
Downing was strong in her denunci.
alton of the young girls project. TO
think our Jim had an idea of marry
ing her once" she said in moment
of confidence, "a common servant
It's shame for her. She might have
taken in sewing or trimmed hats or
had a trawberry bed-that's fashion.
able now-anything but that. Well
she's lost caste anyway, and Jim
will likely marry Amelia Blakely.
who has little money, though she
isn't as pretty as Lisbeth Morton.
But then beauty's only skin deep,
any way" which must have been a
consolation to her if her glass was
faithful. And so in this small vii.
lage, where every farmers wife was
nurse, seamstress, house maid, cook,
all in one, our little forlorn girl was
an outcast from society because she
chose to do whatever her hands found
to do well. Aunt Rachel, in fit OF
spasmodic generosity, made her
twelve large aprons Of the coarsest
toweling, suitable for a scullery
maid in the pot washing moments
and Lisbeth thanked bel
for them with good grace
But all these petty trials made the
parting from the old home less severe
and it was almost with a sigh of re-
lief that she bade farewell to her ear
ly associations, and after planting d
rose bush Oh the graves of her par.
ents, stepped out into the world
without further regret than to be 81
far from those grassy mounds.
Mrs. Lyster was widow
with two unmarried daughters