The Opelousas courier., 1901-06-01
Good For Nothing.
By MoGENE q. Z


Crash went the beautiful cut-glasl
vase on the stone steps, and down a
the feet Of the culprit lay the crushed
roses amid the g~littering ruin.
ooh, Maud" cried a low, grievet
voice.
A white robe, dainty and perfumed
flashed through the open door in an
CRY haste, and paused beside the
Bingham dress of the culprit.
II knew it," retorted a hightpitchet
voice, in calm despair. Each day
sees my opinion of you verified, Kath
leen. You are not to be trusted"
Surely. Maud, you do not think
purposely broke your vase?" asked the
girl in bingham, looking h~alf-proudly
at the angry face Of her elegantly
clad cousin.
Maud Severn shrugged her should
ers-she had learned how from her
French master; and with her head on
one side, the action gave her quite a
foreign air, she thought.
"What matters it whether you did it
.purposely or not?" she retorted, con-
temptuously. "Those great, awkward
hands Of yours are forever doing mis-
chief-they r truly good for
Kathleen looked down at her brown
hands, and smiled sadly.
"True." she said, Is she bent down
and gathered up the lovely roses,
good for nothing as things count In
your world. Maud; but we are not at
The end Of time yet, and my record
may read differently then!"
what nonsense! You will never be
or graceful, so do your best
With your other virtues!" cried Maud,
angrily, as the proud, quiet manner Of
Kathleen betrayed a natural dignity
the could not initiate. "Put the roses
another vase, and clear away that
.ubbish!"
Kathleen was looking at the broken
glass with a glad relief in her face.
II can mend this, Cousin Maud" she
said; "and it car be used with
"Tt will take gentler fingers than
laughed Maud. "But do as you
Only, Kathleen"-she paused
It the door, looking back ove her
Ihoulder-"you needn't think 1t worth
while to appear tonight. Mamma
kinks three unmarried daughters suf-
lcient to entertain the guests with
cut"
"a portionless niece Of her dead.
quietly interrupted the
with a far away smile. 81 under
;tand, Maud. Don't think I shall re-
ret 1t. l do not like good-for-nothings
my more than you do"
Maud stamped her foot angrily.
eat least the new doctor is good for
Iomething!" she cried, eagerly, be-
her own tactics for the even
ne.
$50 he should be, to fill the position
10 assumes. I trust he has more am
,ition than vanity, or the poor Of Gill
ord will suffer"
Kathleen carried the vas within
loors, and though she was quick at
epartee, there were tears none the
ess In her gray eyes, and a wistful
vain at her heart.
But she quickly completed her task
f arranging the table and flowers, be-
ides numerous little touches to fruits
nd ices, without which the effect
would have been marred, II left to the
me clumsy servant, or the indolent
daughters Of the house.
When all was done, she felt free to
eek her own pleasure on that lovely
And q strange pleasure it
Tas for one soEaun8,
She took down a broad-brimmed hat
rom It's familiar hanging-place behind
he ktchen-door-it was needed too
ften in her daily duties to rest idly
'eside her cousins on the hall-rack-1
nd she. FASTENED quickly through the
'ack garden out on to the highway,
nd took the road to the village.
'The new doctor!" she pondered.
All, how he has disappointed me! /
Id hope that a clever, earnest physi-
Ian would come to Clifford and help
he poor, and instead we have a fash
gay young man, who frequents
avn parties and flirts with silly girls.
)h, IL I were only a mani"
Kathleen was crossing a muddy
'atch in the road as she arrived at
his wish, and, making a quick spring
0 the dry side Of the road, she turned
Ter ankle with sickening pain and
ell PROSTATE upon the grassy bank.
ooh, dear! Maud is right, after all"
he moaned, in despair, half-comical
vet painful withal. Two miles
rom the village or home, on a bylane
cry few frequent, and unable to move
nth q sprained ankle.n
And after summing I'D her position,
ne first laughed, then cried.
Poor old granny" she sobbed.
She will think ! have deserted her,
md she is SO poor and Ill, with no one
o are for her but me. and now 7 can
lot go to her"
Perhaps ] car help you," said q
pleasant voice from the hank above
Ter.
Looking up quickly, Kathleen met al
,stg Of frank. brown eyes, that locked
sensible enough 70 help her. y her
psealsasaens,