Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-02-07

Every WELL" replied Mrs. Ward,
! quietly. ST simply asked because
! want you to understand that I am
ready to help you. Of course, you are
not like the other girls who have
worked for us. I 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 p6r-
pose and character that Mrs. Ward
did not know.
81 suppose I 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 serv-
ant" Mrs. ward went ON abruptly
you know that as well as do"
EYES," replied Barbara, graveiy.
"You know well enough that if I
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"
81 suppose so," Barbara replied,
flushing deeply. And then she said:
"But I understand well enough that
such conditions exist because in the
| majority of ca-es 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 ill at
ease if they should be invited into
any such homes"
''That is what I have often said.
The servant girls are in 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 deIrand 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 little frightening color
| in her face went to the door.
Mr.. Morton greete' 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: eyes, SIR" and took his hat,
while he walked Immediately into the
sitting-room like a familiar guest.
Mrs. Ward heard MIN from upstairs,
and came down at once. while Bar
bara went into the kitchen.
During the meal barbara could not
avoid hearing part of the converse
ton. She mad always remembered
what her mother had often said
about servants telling everything
heard in the family talk and she had
| tried since coming to the Wards to
train herself not to listen to what
was being said, especially at the table
when she was called in to stand and
wait at the beginning or during the
different courses.
But to-day in spite of herself she
could not avoid hearing and knowing
part of the general conversation.
She heard Mr.. Ward good-naturedly
asking Mr.. Morton how long he ex-
pected to live in hotel at Carlton.
"Ill warrant all the young ladies in
Carlton have given him at least bar
rel of slippers already" Mr.. Ward
said, looking at his wife.
'Will you give me the highest mar
ket price for all the slippers possess
so far?" Mr.. Morton asked, with a
smile. Mr.. Ward was in the wholesale
boot and shoe business.
81 don't know. don't think want
to load up so heavily on slippers"
ST assure you it would not ruin you,"
Mr.. Morton answered lightly.
| 81 think with Mrs. Ward, though,
that you ought to be getting home
of your own" Mr.. Ward was saying
! when Barbara came in with the des-
sert.
''My sister is coming up to Carlton
to keep house for me if 1 stay there
next year; I don't mind saying that
the hotel is getting rather tiresome."
eff you stay? Why, are you think
ing of leaving?"
mo, but was hired for year only"
Listen to the modest young preach
eri" began Mr.. Ward. with a smile.
"Of course, Carlton will want you an
other year. If they don't, come down
to the Marble Square church. There
is a possibility of DR.. Laws leaving
before Christmas. He is growing old
and his health has failed rapidly Of
late"
Mr.. Morton said nothing in answer
to this, and when Barbara came in
next time they were all talking of the
college days when Alfred and Morton
were together.
Barbara had eaten her own dinner
and was at work again, clearing off
the dinner dishes, SO that, when Mr..
| Morton rose in the other room to go.
She heard him exchanging farewells