Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-02-14

CHAPTER I1.-CONTINUED.
Mrs. Vane was at home and well
Gomed Barbara heartily.
I'm all alone here, and. you're just
the person / want to see. Went to
call on your mother yesterday. She
rs lonesome, and Eve asked her to
como and pay me "a visit of a week
or month, just as she feels. 1 find
that Thomas for some reason never
heard of your fathers death. Such
things will happen even in a world of
newspapers and te1egraphs. / want
you to tell me all about yourself and
your plans. I don't believe you can
do thing, but I am ready to help
you if you're the girl think you are.
The Vanes always were proud and
aristocratic people; but, if we have
ever stood up for one thing more than
another, it was for honest labor in the
house or the field or the shop or any
-AEhere. i hate the aristocracy of doing
nothing. All my boys learned a trade,
and all my girls can cook just as well
as they can play the piano, and some
OF 'em better. I'd rather eat their pie
shan hear their piano. Sit right there,
dear, and be comfortable"
Barbara had not been in the house
half an hour before she was deeply
8n love with the lady of it. After an
hour had passed she was astonished
at Mrs. Vane's knowledge of human
STATURE and her grasp of the subject of
servants and housekeeping problems
generally.
"People will tell you, my dear, that
am an eccentric old lady with a good
Tnany crank notions about servants.
<Ehe fact is, try to treat them just
as Christ taught us to do. That's the
Eeason folks call me queer. People
that try to do the .Christlille thing
Sn all rela tions of. life have always
Deen called queer, and always will be"
When Barbara finally went away
after refusing an urgent invitation to
remain to tea, she had made an ar
Eangement with Mrs. Vane to meet
&yith her and Mrs. Ward and friend
of both, to talk over some practical
plan for getting the servants and the
Slousekeepers together for mutual
conference.
'.If anything is DONE" Mrs. Vane in
sisted, sit must be done with both
parties talking it over in spirit of
Christian love. It never can be solved
5n any other way"
The date fixed for the conference
~vas two weeks from that afternoon,
and Barbara went back to her work
quite enthusiastic over the future and
very much in love with the woman who
<vsfs known to most of the members of
Marble Square church as that eccen-
zric Mrs. Vane''
The two weeks had gone by quickly.
<nd Thursday noon at dinner in the
Ward house Barbara was surprised to
find. when she came in to serve the
first course, that Alfred Ward had un-
expectedly arrived. He had spent two
months of his summer vacation with
college classmates on the lakes, and
had returned sooner than his mother
had expected, to stay until the term
opened again.
arthur, this is Miss Clark, about
whom L have written YOU" Mrs. Ward
said, little awlzwardly.
The young man looked at her with
interest, and bowed politely. Barbara
returned his bow simply, and did not
speak. She felt little ANNOYED as
the meal proceeded and she was called
En at different times. She thought the
fasai1y was talking about her, and that
s. khe college student had been asking
questions. Several times she was con-
scious that he was looking at her. 1t
Eexed her, although his look was al
svays respectful.
The meal was almost over when Mrs
sVard Suddenly asked his wife: 80
tnare you heard, Martha, that DIR. Law
sad a stroke yesterday? Very sud
sien- 1t will result i'll his leaving Mar.
bile Square pulpit"
NO! How student What will the
church do %
AIr. Ward was silent moment. Bar
Gara was just going out. She slack
ened her step almost unconsciously.
81 have no question they will cal
Morton"
4sWill he Gomez"
81 think he will"
<'Goodi" said Alfred.
eyes, Morton will be success il
Marble Square pulpit" Mr.. Ward said
positively