Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-08-06
BORN TO JERDE
BY CHARLES NJ THELDON,
Author Of I'm QUESTION GLASS;"
EDWARD BLAKE"
BY CHARLES M. SHELDoN,
Copyright lOoo. BY charl.. n sheidon.l

isn't this the mean1ngF she said,
and then gave a very good interpre-
tation, Alfred listening as he lounged
on the sofa, book In hand
"Of course IT'S. That's just it!
What a numskull 1 must bel Wish
you'd translate the whole thing for
me-" the college youth ventured to
hint.
THANK you, no, sir! l have other
work to do" barbara had laughed.
But from that little incident she
began to note little irritating atten-
tions paid to her, at first insignificant,
but the last few days before the
young man departed for college they
were nmistakable, and Barbara was
annoyed and even angered. She was
really much relieved when he had
gone.
But that experience was not at all
to be compared with discovery she
made as to Alfred's habits, and it was
matter of regret to her afterward
that she did not inform Mrs. Ward of
it. 1t was the fact that several times
she felt certain the young man had
been drinking. She had never known
him to be intoxicated; but she was
sure he had more than once been
dangerously near it, and it was a
matter of surprise to her that Mr..
and Mrs. Ward seemed SO Indifferent
to it.
"Oh dear!" Barbara sighed, as she
went the rounds of her daily task,
carrying this added burden of knowl-
edge. us there no family without it's
skeleton? Ought l to drag it out for
their inspection, If they don't know
of its existence2 1t hardly seems to
be my business. And they must be
blind not to have noticed as much as
has been apparent even to a servant"
1t was q week after Alfred's de-
parture that Mr.. Ward announced the
news of Mr.. Morton's acceptance of
his call to Marble Square church. 1t
was in the evening after the supper
work was all done; and Barbara, as
her custom had been for several days
during the remodeling of her room,
was seated with the family in the
dining-room, which was also the
favorite living-room, helping Mrs.
Ward on some sewing. Lewis and
George were reading, and Carl was
playing on the floor near Barbara
II have Morton's letter of accept
ance, Martha. AS chairman of the
supply committee 1t came to me to-
day. 1t is a good thing for Marble
Square church. The people had sense
enough to call him without going
through long course of candidat-
ing"
"When is he coming?" Mrs. Ward
asked.
1.-Two weeks from next Sunday The
church at Carlton released him under
special conditions, because they could
get man at once to fill his place.
We're fortunate to get a man like
Morton. He has future"
Barbara made me a gingerbread
man once; and we called it Mr.. Nor
ton, didn't we, Barbara2" Carl spoke
up suddenly, after an absorbed silence
during which he was apparently not
listening to a syllable that was being
said.
"Where is Mr.. Morton going to
stay?' Mrs. Ward asked.
II don't know yet. l wrote him
that we would be delighted to take
him in here, but we didn't have the
room"
"And l told Barbara" Carl broke
in as if nothing had been said since
he spoke last, that l thought the
gingerbread man looked just hike Mr..
Morton, and she said she thought it
didn't. / wish Mr.. Morton would
come here to live, don't you, Barbara?
Wouldn't that be tine?"
Barbara did not answer, and Carl
got UP off the floor. and went over to
her and pulled her work out of her
hands.
Carl! Carl! You mustn't do
that!" his mother exclaimed.
''Say, Barbara, don't you?" Carl
persisted.
Don't ask SO many questions" re-
piled Barbara. almost sharply.
II haven't asked many" Carl pout-
ed; but he went back to his game on
the floor, wondering in his childhood
mind what made the usually gentle
Barbara SO cross.
II think the Brays can take him in.
hope they can. It's so near by that
we can have him with us often. Well
be right on his way to church and |
back" Mr.. Ward remarked as he set
tied himself to the reading of the
evening paper.
While her room was in process of |
construction, Barbara had been go
ing home to stay with her mother.
Mrs. Clark was only partly reconciled |
to Barbara's choice of a career; and |
when, tuis particular night, after the !
news of Mr.. Morton's coming, Bar
bara arrived quite early (having ex-
cused herself soon on the plea of be-
ing very tired), Mrs. Clark noted the
signs of trouble in Barbara's face,
and instantly questioned her about it.
"4our work is top hard, too con-
fining, my dear. It is not at all the
work for such girl as you are, Bar
bara. 1t will kill YOU"
mo, mother, | don't think it WILL"
Barbara replied, bravely.
But ! don't see what good it Is do |
ing to anyone. You are just shaving
yourself to death like any ordinary |
servant. Your talents as a teacher |
are wasted. Your social position is
gone. You have buried yourself in a
kitchen. OF what use is it? You
might be in the word like other peo-
pie, with some opportunities to rise
and make the most, of yourself,
whereas now you are shut out from !
all the ordinary social ambitions and |