Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-08-23
never had one they had more conf

81 suppose he has saved up little
money and could give you comforta-
BILE, snug little home, where you could
live and be happy with some one who
would love and take good care of
YOU"
"Ive heard say he had little
money, an he loves me, he swears it by
the Holy Mother"
well, Katie, it is very much to
have the love of good man, to have
pleasant, comfortable home; working
hard in your own house, for those who
are dear to you, and who loves you, is
a vastly better and pleasanter thing
than working for even so nice a mis-
tress as / ann
| She looked up with smile and said:
''Sure it's a good mistress that you
| are; but, ma'am, there's something
you haven't said, and it seems strange
to me you haven't. You haven't said
a word about my lovin' the man. Is
it fair thing to take a mans love and
all he can give you, an give him
nothing back for it? Shall woman
sell herself for roof over her head
and fire to sit by, an she with two
| SCrOuS nduOS. IL > nOI AdGlo IACSShT-
ty could do that"
mo, Katie, no woman should do
that, but did not know. And you do
not love him?"
Not a bit, uma'am. I know he is
good an true an lovin', but my heart
is like stone in my breast even when
he says the tenderest things to me,
just rs cold an just as heavy"
''And don't you think you think you
might learn to love him?" asked.
Learn to love him, is it you sayP
Sure, ma'am, it seems to me the love
you have to learn is a poor sort.
Seems to me, ma'am, when you have
to be botherin' yourself that way you
just better let it all go. No, ma'am, 1
can't learn to love Patrick Mcclure.
The love you don't have to learn is the
sort you dOn'tforget, ma am, love
neither comes nor goes wild the bid
DIM"
Here the color surged over the girls
face and she sighed.
There's some one else, Katie
1.-The dinner must be put over" she
said, irrelevantly, and sped away to
the kitchen.
With all her franhness she had a re-
serve that forbade further question
ing. so the subject was banished. She
grew daily little quieter in her ways,
she sang less at her work, but she was
just as faithful in her service, and just
as attractive as ever in the eyes of her
followers.
One morning she said: There's to
be masquerade at the rink to-mor-
row night, ma'am; the coachmen of
the city will be giving it. All the
incest girls know are goin' and I've
said I'd go, though it's little care
about such doin's."
'And are you going with Mr.. Nc
CURE rs your escort?"
mo, ma'am; two or three of us girls
are going together, ma'am. I'd not be
going wild any young man; besides We
don't want any one to know US, you
know"
THAT will answer, think" re-
piled. "Dress warmly, do not be out
very late, and let me see you before
you go. want to see if 1 will know
YOU"
Very pretty the three Irish girls
looked as they stepped into my room
the next night to be looked at and adj
mired. Their ideas of cOstuming in
character were not very well defined,
or their means for carrying out their
ideas were limited, but I did not mar
their pleasure by criticism. l let the
inconsistencies pass, and said they
looked very nicely, which was true.
Katie only had made no attempt at
disguise other than the mask. She
ever, dark gray, long and straight and
full, guiltless of tournure, frin or
ruffle; around the skirt at the bottom
was deep band of scarlet stuff, a
peasant waist of the same color,
with knots of ribbon matching at the
neck and wrists. She looked very
pretty, more than pretty, she had a
decidedly distinguished look.
After the others had explained to
me that they represented Winter"
and ..Mayday" and The Gypsy For
tune Teller" said, well, Katie, what
are yOu?''
Nothing but Katie McCarty,
ma'am.''
But I've never seen this dress be-
fore. Did you have it made for the oc-
casion?''
mo, ma'am," said she. Its one
had before left old Ireland. I've not
had it on since / came to this country,
and thought it would do for tonight,
not feeling that 1 could afford to buy
a new One."
The next morning before 1 went
down to breakfast Katie's voice came
up to my ears in song. She had
clear, sweet voice, but this morning
there was new tone in it.
There was new light in her face, and