Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-03-14


Il didn't think the dishwater was
hot" she explained. Il forgot to put
it on till after dinner"
Eyes, that's always the way. You
never think of nuthin' when your
nose is stuck in a book. If I'd a
know'd what do now, I'd never a
sent you to school day."
Lucy made no reply to this TRADE;
but her sensitive lips quivered and her
eyes filed with tears which she strove
in vain to repress.
Scenes like this were of daily occur
renee in the Ross family; for the
mothers natural irritability had been
greatly increased by years of hard
work and ill-health, and Lucy pro-
volzed her beyond measure by the
growing listlessness with which she
went about her household duties. The
truth is that Lucy had become en-
crossed, heart aud soul, in the pur-
suit of knowledge-it being the fixed
purpose of her life to rise above the
oU<bCAoA Va a hCI VO1llAS AdCA4AC.
Mrs. Ross, incapable of mental labor
herself. was equally incapable of form
ing any conception of it. Drudgery
was her ideal work. What wonder.
then, that she mistook Lucy's preoc-
cupation for incidence, and that she
lost no opportunity in rating her
soundly for it.
When the di shes had been washed
and put away Lucy returned to where
she had left her book, but to her sur
prise it was gone. She was not slow
to conjecture what had happened. One
of the children had hidden it to tease
her. Hardly a day passed that she
was not made the victim of one or
more of their pranks. Tim, the oldest,
was four years her junior; and added
to this difference in age was yet
greater difference in disposition. Lucy
had, consequently. retired more and
more within herself, and had grad
ually come to regard her brothers and
sisters as SO many necessary evils.
They, on their part. looked on her
quiet, studious manners as indications
of dullness and stupidity, and thought
it fine sport to anger her, or wake
her up" as they termed it
On this occasion she was too much
concerned for the fate of her missing
book to feel angry.
Mother" she called, as she
searched aimlessly about the room,
make the children give me back my
physiology. They will get it soiled or
torn. and then what will Kitty say?'
Mrs. Ross usually sided with the
children against Lucy in their diff
culties. but the knowledge that the
book in question was gift from Kitty
Olwirt made her equally anxious for
its safe restoration. Accordingly, she
summoned the children, and tried first
to persuade and then to brighten the
guilty one into revealing its where
abouts. But all stoutly protested that
they knew nothing about it; and coax
ing. threats and flogging proved alike
unavailing.
I'm not going to Kitty's this even
ing without it!'' declared Lucy, tear
fully.
Kitty was her one friend and sympa.
thizer. The only being in the world
who truly understood and appreciated
her. A warm intimacy had existed
between them ever since. as children,
they had played together at school.
But Lucy's school days ended a
soon as she grew old enough to be use
full at home. She struggled bravely or
in her studies. however. finding little
benefactresr in Kitty, who supplied hel
with books and assisted her in every
possible way.
The two friends met regularly three
times q week to discuss Lucy's self
assigned lessons, and the hours thu
spent were the happiest of Lucy!
life.
The poor. girl was almost beside
herself over the disappearance OF hel
cherished physiology. 1t was pitifu