The Iola register., 1901-10-25
CHAPTER VI.
A KITCHEN is AS ROYAL AS A PAR
IOR

A KITCHEN is AS ROYAL AS A PAR Z
LOR.
As Barbara walked away from the
Wards that afternoon, she fully
thought that ner social experiment
was finally over, and that she might
as well write "Finis" to the dismal
attempt she had made to solve even
a small part of such a complex prob
lem. But before she had covered the
short distance between the Wards
and her mothers, she experienced a
feeling of remorse that she had given
way so miserably to her passion in
the interview between Mrs. Ward and
herself. She even hesitated at the
corner before she started down the
street leading home as If she had
some serious intention of going back
to ask Mrs. Ward to receive her
again. But it was only n moments
pause, and then she went on and en-
tered the house, where she soon told
her mother the whole story. There
were tears on Barbara's cheeks when
she finished.
"I seem to be total failure in every
way, HOlHtI' maven N'Nh A'"' hN'
grace to control my tongue"
Neither has Mrs. Ward, from what
you say" replied her mother, with
more spirit than was usual for her. ut
seems to me she is the one who is most
to blame. In fact, Barbara, don't see
how you could have done differently.
She compelled you to leave"
80, don't know about that, mother.
If | had not got angry-but it's all
over now, anyway. There is no use for
me to try any more and Barbara
broke down compile ly, crying hard.
Her mother wisely let her have her
cry out, and then said: 81 can't help
feeling glad 1t has all turned out as it
has. You know have never approved
of your going out to service. You sim
ply throw Yourself away"
81 don't know Barbara replied. sad
ly. "Somehow l cannot help feeling,
mother, that ! have failed to do what
/ ought to do and that the regret over
it will stay with me all my life. ] be-
gan with high purpose to accomplish
something, and | have failed utterly
"Eou have at least tried your best"
mo, mother, / don't think / have.
I ought to have expected just such
things as those that happened to-day.
But it's too late to do anything now"
she added, with a sigh. "The question
is: What am | to do? l expect it
means going into Bondman's until
can get a school"
Her mother tried to comfort her, but
Barbara was more depressed over the
situation than she had ever been in all
her life. She had met her dragon, and
had been completely routed. And she
had even at one time thought con.
tcmptuously of the dragon But, as
she vent 20 her room that night, she
felt Wi.l great humiliation that the
dragon had won and She would never
again have the courage to look him in
the face.
The next day she sent over for her
trunk; and, when the cNprcssmau
brought il. he handed her a note thar
had been given him by Mrs. Ward.
Barbara opened it in some excite
ment. thinking it might be request
to come back, But it was a scrawl from
Carl. who had at different times been
encouraged by Blrbara to print real
letters to his father and brothers.
Dear Barbara; / am very sorry you
/ have gone. Won't you come back? ! dc
| not feel very well to-day. My head aches
II you viii come back 1 will be good tc
you. Your loving
When she had read this note, which
Mrs. Ward had let Carl send, she sal
down on her trunk and cried again. II
seemed all so dismal a mistake, such a
waste of her life so far. She did not
look forward to the future with any
degree of hopefulness. 1t seemed as il
all her high ambitions were destroyed
and all of her ideals swept out of her
life.
The next two days she spent in help
ing her mother with some sewing and
in little duties about the house. IL
every moment of leisure from these
duties her thought at once went bacl
to her ambition to serve, and the more
she dwelt upon it the more hopeles,
she grew.
In the morning of the third day after
she had left Mrs. Ward, and she was a
work washing the breakfast dishes
when a note was brought to her. TIL,
reading of it stirred her pulses as sb'
stood in the kitchen and read;
my Dear Barbara: Carl has been takeI
Ill and is very sick child. He calls fol
you constantly Can you come and SCI
him7 do not dare ask II you will com,
TO stay again, after my unkind words L
you. But l am sure you will be willinl
10 please Carl by coming to see him. Thl
dear child is very Ill indeed
MRS RICHARD WARD"