Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21

coilectlon OF an amount OF money eufficient to
defray her expenses for several years at good
At the close Of one Of the meetings Mra
Pierce drew Kat aside, saying: MY dear
child, many Of us have watched Won during the
past weeks seeking the best means Of helping
you, for your earnestness in your work here
and the sef-sacrifce You show among your
people have thoroughly won Cur respect and
love. We come to you now to ask you to leave
this work, for q time at least, and accept from
us the education which you SO much need and
are so well fitted to enjoy. Go to L. seminary
for q few years, and il you then wish to return
to this work you will be all the better prepared
to help your followers"
How can ever thank you for all your kind
ness to me?" said Kathio with voice choked
with tears.
why have you been 30 good to ms2 I surely
do not deserve it, and 1 cannot even do what
you WISH for cannot leave my poor people.
They need me even more than need an educa-
ton"
With face white as death Fred had listened
to this effort to take from him forever the
woman he loved, and the last words fell from
her lips the gladness OF his face was indescrib-
able.
After some argument Mrs Pierce was obliged
to leave Kate, after gaining her promise to
come to Mrs. Pierce's the following night when
she was at leisure and thoroughly DISCUSS the
matter.
Very glowing pictures foated through the
brain of Graham Pierce that night. He
dreamed of Kathie educated his mother recon-
ciled, himself-here imagination itself failed,
for his was very enthusiastic, emotional ma
ture, and the position in which his love was
placed aroused all his affection and chivalry.
But poor Kathie's night was a very different
one Only God knew the bitterness of the re-
fusal to her. Naturally gifted. her one alb
sorblng desire had been for an education. but
how could she tear herself from what she i'm
plicitly believed God-appointed work, desert
her old friends. and live simply for herself!
No, she could not! While life and health
lasted her duty was to the rallen ones around
her. To add to her sorrow and perplexity she
had for the first time guessed that the love that
changed terriblj her ligh-hearted happy
friend when he thought her about to leave him
was not the love of brother. To him, too,
must she give pain whatever she did, for his
wife she could never be.
Mentally she asked herself why the thought
was SO distasteful to her, and the crimson swept
over cheek and brow she realized that with
all her heart she loved the man SO far above her
in position. Graham Pierce!
With this came another thought moro Won
derful and sweeter still, the knowledge that her
love was returned. Hers was a heaven thated-
ucation only could oper. to her. Could she
give it up? The battle was long and fierce and
many times Kathe cried out that she must
yield. Life looked go Ling AMI bitter if she
held to her resolve. Morning found her weak
and i'll from the conflict but strCng to do the
right. and the followers of Capt. Kate found in
her that day an added sweetness and more
tender sympathy for ills of either mind or body
The next night the temptation was thor
oughly conquered, and when Fred Edgerton,
with aching heart. left her at Mrs. Pierces
door she was ready to meet and answer every
argument used to convince he- that her duty
lay elsewhere than with her people. The even
Ing in the lovely sitting room passed all too
quickly, but its end found Mrs. Pierce con-
WINGED o. the hopelessness of her plans, Ora
ham more in love and more miserable than
ever and Kathie conqueror, but with sad
heart.
All were happy compared with poor Fred:
For years devoted to his playmate and friend
with a great unselfish love, demanding only
the right to serve her, the past weeks had been
to him one long torture. Love helped him to
read only too surely his darling's heart. and he
doubted her strength to give mp the new life
opening before her so temptinsly. Restless.
miserable. seeing no hope for any of them, he
found himself at a late hour wandering up and
down the street by the quiet house which to-
night held all that made life sweet to him.
Back and forth, now fighting his own passion,
now striving to see what was best for her hap
piness he was suddenly startled by smoke pour
ing from the basement windows Of Mrs. Pierce's
home.
My God is this the solution?' broke from
his lips. "Must she die before l can reach
her?"
he rushed up the steps, pulled the bell fiercely
and struggled to batter from its hinges the
door which separated him from kathie in her
danger. Even his powerful muscles were I'M
equal to this task and he quickly broke the
glass from the lower sashes of a window, sprang
through the opening, and rushed up the broad
staircase almost blinded by the smoke already
filling the halls.
The fire had started in the basement and
crept steadily up. As Fred's feet touched the
upper stairs he saw that the fight was well
burned away underneath and must soon fall.
BY this time the changing bell and crashing
of the glass had aroused the servants, and at
the first landing Fred and Graham met
''Where is she?" Fred almost screamed, and
as Graham instinctively started forward he
shouted: go to your mother. 1t is my place
now to care for her.
Graham silently pointed to the room Kathie
occupied, realizing the justice of what was
said, and in another instant Fred was knocking
at kathie's door. calling: Dress quickly, Kate,
the house is burningn'
In a minute which seemed an eternity 70
him. KathIe slipped on her dress and stood be-
fore him, pale but self-possessed. and laid her
hands Ill his with the OLD child-lika trust feel
ing tina. he would surely save her. Hastily
snatching blanket from the ROOM he wrapped
her in it and rushed to the head of the stairs,
now actually blazing. There, taking her in his
arms like child an facing the flames and
choked by the smoke, he had nearly reached
the bottom when the whole framework gave
way and they we're thrown headlong into the
very fire.
For minute the strong man was almost cor
quered but as he rose once more to snatch her
from this horrible death strong hands seized
them both. and with the blessed knowledge
that kathie was saved he sank into unc onsclous-
ness.
When he woke again it was tn the bitter reali-
cation that for him life was almost ended. In
a luxurious room on bed softer than he had
ever dreamed of. but alas not soft enough to
soothe the terrible suffering from burns and
bruises. he found himself with his mother and
Mrs. Pierce by his side. His mute questioning
eyes asked for Kathie.
''She is safe, Fred, saved by your strong
arms. but you, oh my poor. poo. bOy.' his
sorrowing mother cried. Breaking down ut
terly, she knelt by his bed sobblng. Even then
poor Freds bravo heart did not fail him.
Don't weep for me- mother. he answered. at
is better 30. better for us all. Now l want to
see Mrs. Pierce alone for few minutes"
His mother left them and Fred quietly told
the story of his love for kathie and his gladness
at being permitted to die foi her. Mrs
Pierce, he said in conclusion. You have a
sacrifice almost as hard as mine to make Will
you give my girl willingly to your son as his
wife If both desire it after she has worked, as
you wished, for two years at school?' Mrs
Pierce was utterly unprepared for this and her
every thought and instinct rebelled against this
sacrifice of her son. as she felt it to be. But
the voice pleading with her grew faiuter the