Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-10-25

she was left 20 herself. For the first
time during the evening she began to
notice that she was attracting consid-
cradle attention. Standing in the cor
ner by the door of the conservatory,
she could not help hearing some one
say: MRS. Vane has no right to 60
such lengths. II is the last time 1 &C.
cept any of her invitations. The idea
OF inviting hired girls TO gatherings
like this! 1t Is simply an insult 20 all
the guests!"
But the girl seems well-behaved
enough" said a male voice.
Very pretty. too" said another.
1T may be, but it's no place for her.
It's an unheard-of thing for Mrs. Vane
10 do. She's done some very queer
things, but this is the worst"
81 don't know" spoke up a voice
that Barbara recognized as belonging
TO Mr.. Somers. "A well-behaved hired
girl is less Objectionable than a
drunken count. That's what we had
at Newport last winter at the Lynd-
bursts. But then, suppose he knew
his place all right"
Barbara found an opening and
moved away. The rest Of the even
ing she was conscious of being largely
let alone. There was no coarse or vul-
gar objection to her: but very many of
Mrs. Nane's guests showed their feel
ings in way, several of them said
afterwards, so that Mrs. Nane would
know how far she had mistaken her
own place in society.
As the guests began TO leave. Bar
bara nervously went 10 Mrs. Nane 10
say good night, and found Mr.. Morton
with the Dillinghams just saying fare
well al the door. Mr.. Morton bowed
gravely To Barbara as he said good
night 10 Mrs. Nane and went out, Miss
Dillingham; taking his arm as they
passed down the steps.
81 am going to ride" Mrs. Dilling-
ham said TO Mrs. Nane, As she waited
in the hall. THE carriage is just COM
ing around. I told the young folks 10
go on. 1t is beautiful evening for a
walk"
Barbara walked back into the sit
ting-room and sat down by the table
of prints and turned them over silent
ly. When the guests were all gone,
Mrs. Vane came in.
What you here, Barbara? I
thought you had gone"
mo, | wanted 70 talk with you
little WHILE" said Barbara, with an
effort.
"Why, l do believe you are almost
crying" the old lady exclaimed, COM
Ing up TO her quickly. Have you had
a trying evening? Tell me all about
st."
Barbara told her, and added some
thing more that made the sharp eyes
soften and the abrupt manner change
10 one Of great gentleness.
Don't worry, dear. II will all come
out right, l know Just go right on
with your work. | understand il all
perfectly. I'm old enough to be your
grandmother, and I've seen more re-
markable things happen. The Lord
takes care of more things than we give
Him credit for. We must trust Him
when we are in all sorts Of trouble
And yours isn't the worst. by any
means But it's too late for you 10 go
home now III send William over to
tell Mrs. Ward. II anyone is up there.
that you are to stay here tonight"
So Barbara remained with the great
hearted old soul that night, and in the
morning she went back TO her drudg-
cry, sobered by the events of that
81 I.
tie because she had intrusted her
secret even 10 one so old and so loving
rs Mrs. Vane. But on the whole IL
comforted her. Under other circum-
stances she would have told no one
but her mother. But Mrs Clark was
nervous and irritable, she did not I'M
derstand Barbara, and lived daily
protest against her choice Of life
work. To learn now from Barbara
that she had come 10 think a great
deal of the brilliant young minister
of the great Marble Square church
would have seemed 10 Mrs. Clark like
another madness, and what Barbara
needed at this crisis in her life was
not reproaches or tears, but encour-
agement and good-hearted affection.
She was girl who gave her own
affection quickly. From the day she
met Mrs. Nane she had understood
her. 1t was the same with Mr.. Nor
ton. 1t is a mistake TO suppose that
the greatest feelings must develop
slowly. The feeling that Barbara eX-
perienced was not long in point Of
time, but she herself was the best
judge of its strength. 1t is probable
that she was afraid of its develop
ment in so comparatively short time,
and one way she took 90 ascertain the
truth was 20 talk to Mrs. Nane frankly
about it. Some things the old lady
gave her that evening out Of her own
experience treasured her as to her
own heart. Barbara had been afraid
that her apparently sudden giving up
of her life as il faced this other life
was wrong There was a tremor in
the thought of unseemly haste un-
worthy of so sacred an event.
But, as the days went by, she found
IL was not so. lie did not know all,
herself but the experience that had
come TO her lent strength TO her re-