The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-12-12


~ 0S window, where
Pearl Playfair had
pinned up piece
of blue paper muslin to serve as a
temporary curtain, and wrote it's
glittering autograph on the carpet
less floor that Pearl had staid up
late the night before to scrub neatly,
so that Katie should not feel the
COON neglected.
The two chairs were wiped free
from dust, the tiny stove shoae with
a newly applied coat of blackiag,
and the chrome "Angelus," pinned
against the wall over the wooden
mantel, gave an air OF refinement to
Che sloping-roofed apartment.
Katherine and Pearl Playfair were
all alone in the world. Their father
had been hardworked bank clerk,
who found it impossible to save a
cent before death presented it's ac-
count and bankrupted him at once.
Their few distant relatives had dis
tinctly given them to understand
that "blood was not thicker than
water" and for more than a year
these two brave young girls had
fought their own battle with the
world.
Katie was a trimmer and finisher''
in fashionable dress-making es-
Establishment. Pearl was errand girl
and generally useful hand at Miss
Thorburn's famous millinery en-
porium.
"Next year," she said, brightly, II
can go into the show-rooms, and get
81 a week more wages. And won't
[ be rich?"
But when Katie's dreadful cold
deepened into a cough, and the doc
tor said she must not leave her room,
Pearl found her $12 a month sadly
insufficient 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 spongecake 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 sympa-
thized with the Playfair girls.
But the things had to be paid for,
nevertheless. And the tooth of pow
erty bites sharply.
Pearl stood looking at Katie with
solemn, questioning eyes.
"That is what you always say
Katie" said she. "And know your
cough was bad last night"
"Did l disturb you, dear?"
cit isn't that. But oh, Katie, to
Gee you growing paler and thinner
every day-to know that you have
to stay alone here SD long,
"But l don't stay alone, Pearl.
Mrs. Nippett comes in often and lit
tie Allie Smith,
And that isn't the worst of it.,
Katie. The coal is out, and cam
pay for any more until my Saturday
night wages come in"
cts lucky that the sun shines in
so bright" said Katie, hopefully.
.sNever mind the coal. Pearl; I'll
cuddle down in bed, with the blanket
shawl over me, and Pm sure Mrs.
Nippett will make my tea on her
stove when noon comes. She's al
ways so thoughtful"
Pearl went to her work with q
heavy heart. On the way she was
joined by Joe Vail, the foreman oil
the box factory that supplied the
patent receptacles in which Mrs.
Fitwell'sgo gowns were carried home to
her customers, and in councils OF
war respectingsplendid toilets he had
become acquainted with Kat;a.
He was u dark-haired, swarthy-
complexioned young fellow, and his
dark eyes sparkled as he saw Pearl
.Playfair.
Flows your sister, Pearl?" said
he. "No better? Oh, I'm sorry to
hear it'll say, my sisters come up
from the old homestead to keep
house for me. this winter, and she
brought a barrel of jolly Spitzenberg
apples and some bottles of home