The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-04
PART II,

After her fathers death, the world
seemed empty to Katherine. There
had been a dim belief in her heart that
the colonel knew the wherea bouts of
her lover, and that after three years
probation had been fulfilled, he would
tell her. His solemn assurance of ig-
norance left her without hope. And
yet, as the end of the appointed time
drew near, she began to expect Roberts
return. All her soul was ever at the
window, and her ears ached for the
Footsteps on the tagged walk, that she
knew so well. Every morning she rose
| with a fresh expectation; every night
she went to her room despairing. At
length the three years had quite gone
by; there was no response to her
hearts eager hope, and, heavy with sor-
rowful disappointment, she gave up her
dream. dreary winter followed: but.
daring its conventional seclusion she
| fought through the mystery Of suffer-
| ing, to that peace which is the conse-
Grafton OF life.
so with the spring there was a re-
turn of hope, and she resolved TO seek
him, who for some reason did not re-
turn to her. Perhaps he was too poor
to come, and too proud to say so. Per-
haps he had been told she was unfaith
| full. Often she had read, and heard. of
love slain by such SANDER Travel
would be good for her, and If by travel
she could find the soul she loved the
circumference of the world would be
| but little way. An eagerness that put
rest out of the question, possessed her.
Far and wide she wandered; east to
the great Indian cities; west, to the
| Golden Gate, but she found no trace of
Robert Kensall. He had disappeared
as completely as a stone dropped into
mid-ocean. No one she met had ever
heard his name; and she came to the
| conclusion that he had changed It,
| With this conviction she lost hope, and
returned to her home, saying to her
heart: "Our meeting, If it is ever to
take place, is now in the hands of Des-
| tiny-and Destiny is Providence-and
| Providence loves surprises-what we
call accidents are usually Gods part
in an exent-I will search no more; ev-
| erything comes to those who can wait
l can wait"
1t was blessed thing for Katherine,
| that she was one of those women who
can take advantage of their disadvan-
| tages. After her return home, she
built out of the ruin of her own love the
home of many other loves. 1t was in
this way-something to care for, to
| work for, was what she wanted; but
the ordinary charities with which she
was associated did not satisfy her SYM
pathies. 1t was to the woman forsaken
or wounded by love that her heart went
out Isolated women, who had never
had lover. Poor women, wearily
waiting until their lovers could make a
home. Weak and wounded women, who
had thought love to be a staff, and
found him a barbed lance. Women, de-
serted and i'll used. Widows, forlorn
and weeping; all women, indeed, sor-
| rowful and desolate, whose hearts had
been shipwrecked by their affections,
soon learned that, in Katherine Dents
sympathy, there was not only comfort.
but help.
1t was loving kindness that needed
no advertising; one sad woman told
another. 1t was also one that pro-
| vided Katherine with never ceasing
and constantly varying employment.
She, alone was her clients confidante;
and she alone attended to their neces-
stiles. These were as variable as her
clients. Sometimes pitiful letters took
her on long journeys of help or in
vestigation; and her household grew
accustomed to her going away at any
moment, and ceased to wonder at the
strange, unhappy creatures who found
their way into Miss Katherine's secret
kindness. Also, out Of this labor of
love there grew up an immense cor
respondence, which she only could at