The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-07-21


ing boots. She sank as readily as
other folk sigh. She discovered a
chance for a frolic with the same en-
thusiasm that others found an oppor-
tunity for work.
No one ever claimed that she was
OF any use, and she certainly never
made any such claim herself. It
never occurred to her that she could
be useful, and she often reflected that
IN a world so swarming with useful
persons as this appeared to be-if one
judged by the se~lf-placed estimate of
tnese persons-there was plenty of
room for one blissful creature of a
non-utilitarian sort.
All of the other members of her
family were Industrious, and several
OF them were wise. They won distinc-
ton along commercial and intellec-
tCal lines, were noted for their phil
anthropies, and were solicited to lend
their names to causes" They were
associated with nearly all of the lead
ing benevolent enterprises of the city.
Now, it is impossible for any seeing
n hearing person to go about Chi
cage without becoming aware of the
fact that a large number of the citi-
zens of this busy town are not having
a good time. Even Marie observed it.
h saw children with old faces, and
men with despair looking out Of their
eyes, and women ervou and crushed
under a burden of toll. She saw homes
that would not keep out the coli, and
coats that hung in rags from the
shoulders that supported them. And,
what was equally pathetic, she noticed
that many persons worked so hard to
silence the VOLTS long howl that
they had no heart for pleasure.
ut is as likely as not" said Marie,
to herself, that they have never dis
covered how to be happy" And she
felt a vast commisseration for them.
Not to be happy! 1t was fearful-or
1t was stupid.
1t CHANGED that on one occasion there
was a certain ~festivity at a settlement
house in one of the most crowded and
poverty-stricken parts of the city, and
that Marie was invited to go. 1t was
not, perhaps, just the sort of thing she
would have selected, but as there was
nothing else doing that evening, for a
wonder, and as she had no mind to
sit down with a book, she concluded to
go. She was a good deal puzzled to
know what to wear for she was partic-
ular about the proprieties, but she hit
upon a costume at length that seemed
to be neither too plain nor too fine.
She surveyed herself with pleasure. It
was pleasant to have large and bril-
liant brown eyes, a mass of hayward
golden hair, a snow white neck and
shoulders, nodded with tender and
abundant grace, and a mouth that
smiled with more merriment than the
common run of mouths.
But what Marie saw at the settle
ment was calculated to make her for.
get, for once, the appearance of which
she was so proud. She Eve forgot tc
be resentful because some of the peo-
pie she met were serious. For the first
time she found herself face to face
with the serious problem Of life-fol
the first time a dim notion that life
was given to be used, struggled III
through her consciousness. She found
women as well born as herself, ant
much better educated and trained, de.
voting their lives to others-and there
fore to themselves, since in the ex'
penditure of life in service the
best development. This type o.
womanhood was new to her. She haG
been acquainted with many who pa
troniZed charities and benevolences
but here were women who found it E
privilege to express life in terms O.
love. Moreover, she found the neigh
bors" who came to the settlement:
interesting in the extreme. Here wa:
a whole library of human documents
so to speak, awaiting her perusal. Shit
looked in the faces of the girls, seri
GUS before they should be So, showing
the signs of close confinement in stores
and sweating shops, and binderies ant
tobacco factories, and it seemed to he
as If she must pour sunlight into thei
lives from the abundant source Of i
within her W heart.
But I could do nothing" she salt
dejectedly, to one Of the residents. 3"
should only be in the way"
81 don't think you could be in th'
way anywhere, MIS- Vanderpool," tn
lady had replied, gently. IF you
would just come mere and laugh for u
occasionally, as you know how,
seems to me it might be al invaluabl,
service"
Marie laughed then involuntarily
and at the bird-like, joyful note a doz
en- persons turned around with a sym
pathetic smile upon their faces.
The next night there was a dancin:
party at the house of a friend of Marie
She went to it as eagerly as If it hat
been her first ball, and she was a love
1y sight in her white gown with it
silver lilies of the valley woven in tn
mesh and her necklace of turquoises
She carried lilies of the valley and for
get-me-nots. A daintier maid or
more joyful one it would have beel
hard to have imagined.
Her program was filled ten minute
after she had entered the ballroom
and as she danced it seemed to he
that life was never so nearly perfec
as when the music thobbec. and ever.
one was gay hearted, and the light
burned and the flowers perfumed tn
air, and she, Marie, could lend hersel
to the rhythm and the joy Of tn
dance.
miss Vanderpool," said mi gen
tleman as he led her to her seat, ="
have danced with a great many goo,