Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-06-26
BITTER BUT WHOLESOME.


Mrs. Hale. had left the outside door
slightly ajar. From behind the folds of
the library portiere came the sounds of
conversation Katherine could hardly
have avoided hearing.
Il don't see how, with his fastidious.
ness, he can endure boarding there, > said
Mildred.
! what / fail t. understand is how,
with her intellect. she can forego neat
ness TO the degree she does, added May.
-Katherine is good cook, Mildred
continued. 1At least the results of her
efforts in the culinary line taste well.
One who knows Katherine, however,
feels q trife uncertain concerning the
possible stage an article may have passed
through before reaching the table an
entity" 100 fl3ff
Another voice--with q panied sensa-
ton Katherine recognized it as that OF
Helen Armour, the Hale girls guest
interposed:
Now do you know, girls, I don't BE-
lieve I've given thought to her looks
since our first meeting. Don't you think
her very entertaining1 II seems to me
she remembers everything she has ever
read. How at home she was among
those foreign photographs brought you'll
There doesn't appear to be a topic of the
day that she isn't familiar with. Don't
you remember how delightfully."- willing
she was TO sit down and play us that
Schubert air we were discussing? L
thought her just charming.
$50 she is, that way, exclaimed Mil
dred. Most Of the time even forget
the rest. Perhaps that accounts for DIR.
Neale's long stay. Her merits dim her
faults.n
But didn't she look extremely untidy
coming up the walk just now? / couldn't
help speaking plainly. Thope you won't
think us too critical OF our friend, Helen.
Her heart is all right.
1Thats SO, said May Hale, "Kath-
crime Is true blue We are very fond of
her, indeed, Helen.
katherine Orr stood waiting quietly on
the side steps, when Mrs. Hale brought
her the recipe she had run over to bor-
row. She took the paper absently, and
hurried through the gate in the fence
dividing the two homesteads.
$50 that's what they think of me-.
she pondered, mechanically taking off
the shabby hat she wore, and idly whirl-
ing II in her hand, as she swayed back
and forth in the old kitchen rocker.
Katherine Orr was clear headed
young woman, and always weighed
things As her friends declared. it was
strange that, being SO wen balanced. she
seemed unable to discern her greatest de-
feet But now she had begun to think.
Is this true ~ she deprecatingly ques-
toned. AS she glanced with critical eye
about the sunny kitchen she beheld af-
ilrmative evidence Of her friends words.
The hard pine floor needed thorough
oiling, the windows showing decided
lack Of care, the rusty iron sink and the
copper pump mottled with green, as
sumed new aspects IN Katherine's
quickened sight.
She sighed as she turned from the
room 10 herself. The indigo blue wrap
per spotted with dust and water. the
dinFy hands, the long. irregular line Of
black showing on her arm as the loose
sleeve was pushed up, were all silent but
eloquent messengers to Katherine's
thought
There was no doubt that she had a
fault that needed Graduating. But a
general overturn meant endless talk and
wonder among those very friends who
most eagerly desired such change. The
untidy habits had gr0wn upon her slowly.
r. a. -. - -.