The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-09-27

three of these women had been
brought up on the theology of the
orthodox teaching of the atonement.
Ibid you see Mr.. Morton speaking
to the Wards2 He was just as polite
to the girl as he was to anyone in
the church"
"Of course; why not?" Mrs. Rice
asked with a superior air. But now
imagine Mr.. Morton or any other
gentleman in Crawford really consid-
ering servant as they consider other
people, even the factory girls or the
clerks at Bondman's."
80 well, of course, there is a diff
ference"
"Of course" the other two women
assented But, after all. what con-
stitutes the exact difference between
honest labor of the hands in n fac
tory or store and in n home? II
they are both service that humanity
needs for its comfort or its progress,
ought they not both to be judged by
the standard of service, not by tn
standard of place where the service
is rendered.
81 think Mrs Ward will find out her
mistake, and be ready to say so in
a little while. If she is going to
bring her girl to church with her I
don't see where she can stop short
of taking her with her everywhere
else; and of course society will not
tolerate that" Mrs. Rice said after a
pause.
"Of course not. The whole thing is
absurd. The girls must keep their
places. All such eccentric women like
Mrs. Vane do more harm than good"
Mrs. Burns declared with decision.
81 had given Mrs. Ward credit for
more sense" Mrs. Wilson said, grave
ly. "But I must turn down here.
Goodby."
"Good-by. Don't forget the com
mittee meeting at my house to-mor-
row." cried Mrs. Rice, and very soon
she parted from Mrs. Wilson, remind
ing her, as they separated, of the
church-committee meeting later in
the week.
The next morning after Mr.. Ward
had gone down to his business Mrs.
Ward said to Barbara: you remem-
Der Mr. Morton is coming to lunch
with us to-day. Would you ike to
sit at the table with us?"
The color rushea into Barbara's
face, and she did not answer at once.
Then she said slowly: mo, Mrs.
Ward. ton you when l came, if you
remember, that | never expected to
sit with the family at meal-time. My
=.
family then"
Every we'll" replied Mrs. Ward,
quietly. 81 simply asked because I
want you to understand that ! am
ready to help you. Of course, you are
not like the other girls who have
worked for us. | have no doubt you
could be perfectly at your ease with
Mr.. Morton or anyone else in So
ciety." Mrs. Ward spoke with some
womanly curiosity, for Barbara had
not yet taken her into full confidence,
and there was much in the girls pur-
pose and character that Mrs. Ward
did not know.
81 suppose | couli, probably" Bar
bara answered. demurely.
"Of course. you shut yourself out
of the society of people in your own
rank of life by choosing TO be a serv-
ant" Mrs. Ward went on abruptl..
you know that as well as ] do"
Eyes" replied Barbara, gravely.
"You know well enough that If 7
had introduced you yesterday TO all
the people in Marble Square church.
probably not one of them would ever
have invited you to come and see
them or even enter into any part of
the church life"
Il suppose So" Barbara replied,
flushing deeply. And then she said
"But I understand well enough that
such conditions exist because in the
majority of cases the girls who go
out to service in Crawford would not
care to be invited to the homes of the
people in Marble Square church, and
would feel very miserable and i'll at
any such homes"
THAT is what have often said.
The servant giris are in a distinct
class by themselves. They are the
least educated, the most Indifferent
TO refining influences, of all the la
boring classes"
AT the same time" Barbara began;
but Mrs. Ward was called out of the
room by some demand of Lewis, who
was still posing more or less as an
invalid although he was able TO be
about; and Barbara went on with her
work, conscious that the dragon was,
if anything, bigger and mercer in
some directions every day,
About noon the bell rang, and Bar
bara with a little helghtening color
in her face went to the door.
Mr.. Morton greeted her as she
opened the door saying: Happy to
meet you again, Miss Clark. A little
pleasanter and not so hot as last
week"
Barbara returned his greeting by
saying; Yes, sir" and took his hat,
while he walked Immediately into the
sitting-room like familiar guest
Mrs. Ward heard MIN from unstoirs