Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-11-15
PEARLS ORDEAL.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
care you better o-day, Katie2'

care you better day, Katiel'
ooh, yes, Pearl, ever so much!"
The cheerful March sunshine streamed
in at the window, where Pearl Playfair
bad pinned up a piece of blue paper mus
lin to serve as temporary curtain, and
wrote its glittering autograph on the
carpetless floor that Pearl had stayed up
the night before to scrub neatly, so that
| Katie should not feel the room neg
leeted.
The two chairs were wiped free from
dust, the tiny stove shone with newly
applied coat of backing, and the chrome
''Angelus," pinned against the wall over
the wooden mantle, gave an air of refine
ment to the sloping rooted apartment.
Katherine and Pearl Playfair were all
alone in the world Their father had
been hard-worked bank clerk, who
found 1t impossible to save cent before
Death presented its account and bank
rupted him at once.
Their few distant relatives had dis
tlnctively. given them to understand that
blood was not thicker than water" and
for more than year these two brave
young girls had fought their own battle
with the world.
Katie was a trimmer and finisher" in
fashionable dressmaking establishment.
Pearl was errand girl aud generally use
full hand at Miss Thorburn's famous mil
linery.
Next year, y she said, brightly, IL
can 60 into the show rooms and oct a
dollar week more wagesl And won't
be rich?"
But when Katie's dreadful cold deep
ened into cough, and the doctor said
she must not leave her room, Pearl found
her twelve dollars month sadly INSULT
Gent to meet all exigencies.
The good doctor spoke to the kind
little druggist on the corner, who put
the medicines down to cost price; the
bakers wife slipped in many an extra
sponee-eake and Vienna roll among the
frugal orders;' the butcher saved his
choicest bits of meat for beef tea-for
every one in the neighborhood knew and
sympathized with the Playfair girls.
But things had to be paid for, never.
theless. And the tooth of poverty bites
sharply.
Pearl stood looking at Katie with
solemn, questioning eyes.
THAT is what you always say, Katie. y
said she. And l know your cough wa.
bad last night. -
''Did | disturb you dear?"
alt isn't that. But, oh, Kate, to see
you growing paler and thinner every dav
to know that you have to stay alone
here so long
But don't stay alone, Pearl. Mrs.
Nippert comes in often and little Allie
Smith, "
'And that isn't the worst of it. Katie.
The coal Is out, and | can't pay for any
! more until my Saturday night wages
com, in"
ats lucky that the sun shines in so
bright, " said Katie, hopefully. "Never
mind the coal, Pearl; I'll cuddle down
in bed, with the blanket shawl over me,
ard I'm sure Mrs. Nippert will make my
cup of tea on her stove when noon comes.
She's always so thoughtful"
Pearl went to her work with heavy
heart. On the way she was joined by
Joe Vail, the foreman of the box factory
that supplied the patent receptacIes in
which Mr.. Fitwell's gowns were carried
home to her customers, and in councils
OF war respecting splendid toilettes he
had become acquainted with Katie.
He WINS a 1arl- -baipo ...,.,
plexioned young fellow, and his eyes
sparkIed as he saw Pearl Playfair.
"How's your sister, Pearl?" said he.
"No better? Oh, TN sorry to hear it !
say, my sisters come up from the old
homestead to keep house for me this
winter. and she brought barrel of Jolly
Spitzenberg apples and some home made
currant jelly. Would Katie try the jelly,
do you Think Wouldn't it do her good
III send my sister around if"
''0h, thank you, Joe2 This evening,
/ please y said Pearl; and ihe secretly reg.
istered vow that she would somewhere
or somehow beg or borrow peek oil
Goals, so that these kind people should
not find them absolutely tireless. And
Katie thought Joe Vail had entirely for.
gotten her," thought she. Gas if any
one could forget Katiel"
Miss Thorburn was very cross when al
last Pearl reached the store. Her best
customers carriage had been seen across
the street at Mademoiselle Lavignys riva
store, and the new Paris fashion plates
were delayed in their arrival more than {
week.
Late again, Pearl Playfair! y said she,
sharply
Its only one minute past seven. Miss
Thorburnh pleaded the girl.
"And i wish you distinctly to under
stand, snapped Miss Thorburn. who had
been peering through the windows, ''that
don't allow my young women to gall.
want through the streets with young men
on their way to and from the store! II
isn't respectable, and"
Pearl colored wildly.
Its friend of my sister, y said she.
'1He only"
Miss Thorourn glared at her.
''Oblige me, said she, ''by remem-
bering that | do not permit my Young
women to answer me back! Here's Miss
Deusal's bonnet. Take it at once to
No. so Caravan square. She'll be furi-
Gus because it wasn't sent last night.
Sixty Caravan square was stately
brown-stonc house, with vestibule doors
of gorgeous stained glass and floor of
mosaic marble, covered with rich Per
sian rugs.
Miss Densel was not in, but Paula and
florine, her younger sisters, ran to re-
ceIve the hat
Audrey will be so angry because it
di6n t come In time for Mrs. JAYS musical
breakfast cried Paula.
These two pretty young maids, in their
pink and blue cashmere tea gowns, their
flowing gold hair and dainty, red heeled