The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-09-04
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 I fail to understand is how,
with her intellect, she can forego neat
ness to the degree she does, added May.
katherine is a good cook" Mildred
continued. "At least the results of her
efforts in the culinary line taste well.
One who knows Katherine, however,
feels trife uncertain concerning the
possible stage an article may have passed
through before reaching the table an
entity"
Another voice-with a panied sensa-
ton Katherine recognized it as that Of
Helen Armour, the Hale girls guest
interposed:
"Now do you know, girls, don't be-
lieve I've given thought to her looks
since our first meeting. Don't you think
her very entertaining? 1t seems to me
she remembers everything she has ever
read. How at home she was among
those foreign photographs brought youl
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? 1
thought her Just charming.
$50 she is, that way" exclaimed Mil
dred. Most of the time even forget
the rest. Perhaps that accounts for DR..
Neale's long stay. Her merits dim her
faults"
But didn't she look extremely untidy
coming up the walk just now? couldn't
help speaking plainly. hope you won't
think us too critical of our friend, Helen.
Her heart is all right"
"That's SO, said May Hale, @Kath-
crime is true blue. We are very fond of
her, indeed, Helen" .l. t
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 it 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 well balanced, she
seemed unable to discern her greatest de-
feet. But now she had begun to think.
"1s this true?" she deprecatingly ques-
toned. AS she glanced with critical eve
about the sunny kitchen she beheld af-
frmative evidence of her friends words.
The hard pine floor needed a 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 to herself. The indigo blue wrap
per spotted with dust and water, the
dingy 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
fault that needed eradicating. But a
general Overturn meant endless talk and
wonder among those very friends who
most eagerly desired such a change. The
untidy habits had grown upon her slowly.
In the same almost imperceptible man
ner they must be put away.
She could understand now why it was
that the one boarder she wished to keen
to eke out her own and her invalid
mothers small income was ALWAYS in a
state Of going.
The Orr homestead, with its green
lawn, its wide veranda, its large, sunny
rooms, seemed a delightful abode.
scanned specifically; but there was an
atmosphere about it that proved un.
healthful to every new conner. Kath.
crime felt the oppressiveness of it to-day.
AS boy and girl, Katherine Orr and
Donald Neale had fought against each
other for first rank at school. Which,
ever won, the other took the defeat good.
naturedly. ~
1t was great disappointment to them
both when Donald joined the freshman
class at Harvard, that the death of Kath-
crimes father left her without sufficient
means to enter the Annex. ...
Katherine bore the deprivation bravely,
determined that if not by one way then
6y another she would match Donald's
attainments. Well, she had succeeded
In part, but had it not been at a cost?
She had neglected her housework and
disregarded her appearance, to study,
think, and write. She was what the
world calls cultured woman. Was she,
IN truth, Q refined one? Katherine had