The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-11-27
PEARLS ORDEAL.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
care you better to-day, katie2'
"Oh, yes. Pearl, ever SO much.'
Tire cheerful March sunshine streamei
in at the window, where Pearl Playfail
had pinned up 4 piece of blue paper mus
lin to serve as temporary curtain, and
wrcte IFS glitterng autograph Oh the
tarpetless floor that Pearl had STAYED VI
the night before to scrub neatly, so that
Katie should not feel the room neg
lcctcd.
The two chairs were wiped free from
dust, the tiny stove shone with newly,
applied coat of backing, and the chrome
"Apgelus," pinned against the wall orel
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-workcd bank clerk, who
found it impossible TO save cent before
Death presented its account and bank
rupted him at once.
Their few distant relatives had dis
tinctivclv 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 trimmer and finisher" in
fashionable drcssmaking establishment
Pearl was errand girl and generally use
full hand at Miss Thorburn's famous mil
linery.
Next year." she said, brightly, al
can 60 into the show rooms and get a
dollar week mere wages! And won't
! be richl"
But when katic'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
cient 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
sponce-cakc and Vienna roll among the
frugal orders; the butcher saved his
choicest bits of meat for beef tea-for
every Que 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 know your cough was
bad last night"
Ibid l disturb you, dear?"
''lt isn't that. But, oh, Kate, to see
you growing paler and thinner every day
to know that you have to stay alone
here so long
"But l don't stay alone, Pearl. Mrs.
Nippert cones 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
CONT in"
'It's 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,
and 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 reccptacles 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 was a dark-haired, swarthy- COM
plexioned young fellow, and his eyes
sparkled as he saw Pearl Playfair.
"How's your sister, Pearl9" said he.
"No better9 Oh, I'm sorry to hear it
say, my sisters come up from the old
homestead to keep house for me thi:
winter, and she brought barrel of jolly
Spitzenberg apples and some homemade
currant jelly. Would Katie try the jelly,
do you think? Wouldn't it do her good
I'll send my sister around if"
"Oh, thank you, Joe? This evening,
rlease!" said Pearl; and ;hc secretly reg
istered VOW that she would somewhere
or somehow beg or borrow peck o
Goals, so that these kind people should
not find them absolutely fireless. "Ant
Katie thought Joe Vail had entirely for
gotten her," thought she. Gas il an,
one could forget Katie"
Miss Thorburn was very cross when a
last Pearl reached the store. Her bes
customers carriage had been seen acros,
the street at Mademoiselle Lavigny's rva
store, snd the new Paris fashion plates
were delayed in their arrival more than ;
week.
"Late sgain, Pearl Playfair!" said she
sharply.
ats o,iy one minute past seven, dis
Thorburr" pleaded the girl.
"And wish you distinctly to under
stand, snapped Miss Thorburn: who hac
been peering through the windows, "tha
don't allow my young women to gall
want through the streets with young .nca
on their way to and from the store! L
isn't respectable, and"