Willmar tribune., 1903-02-18

Die Square congregation. For various
reasons she had not yet gone to the
Endeavor society. It met on Sunday
night before the preaching service
and so far she had reserved her Sun
day nights as sacred to her mother,
who did not feel able to go out.
II acknowledge what you say about
the church, mother. But I may be
partly to blame for it myself. don't
think the best people in Marble Square.
church think any the less of me for,
working as servant"
maybe not, and yet even the best
people are almost unconsciously in
fuenced by social habits and tradi-
tions. Why, even the minister is in
huenced by them. This new young
man, ,Mr.-Mr.-what is his name?"
Morton" said Barbara, coloring;
but her mother did not notice, as her
eyes were very poor at night.
'This Mr.. Morton, according to Mrs.
Vane, is a remarkably good and SEN
sible and talented young man; but, IT
you were to join his church and be-
come worker there, you could not
expect him to ignore the fact that you
were a servant girl. He could not
even forget that fact when he was
speaking to you.''
II don't know why!" Barbara ex-
claimed almost sharply.
II only used him as an illustration
of any educated Christian gentleman
anywhere" said Mrs. Clark, looking
somewhat surprised at Barbara's ex-
elama tion.
"A Christian gentleman" replied
Barbara in low tone, "would not
make any distinction between serv-
ant girl and a school-teacher."
Mrs. Clark sighed. "It is useless
for me to argue with you, Barbara.
You will probably learn all the bitter
ness of your position BY painful facts.
All the theories of social equality are
beautiful, but very few of them
amount to anything in the real world
of society"
81 don't care for society!" exclaimed
Barbara. "That is, for society repre-
sented by wealth and fashion. But I
don't believe any real Christian will
ever make any cruel or false distinc-
tion between different kinds of labor"
'It isn't that altogether" Mrs.
Clark wearily said, as if too tired to
continue. "It's a difference in social
instincts and social feelings that sep
arates people. You. will find it out
from experience in time, am afraid -
When Barbara went back to her
work the next morning, it was with
resolution to do something that
perhaps the talk with her mother had
suggested. In the afternoon she
asked Mrs. Ward for leave to go and
see Mrs. Vane, and it was readily
granted.
When she knocked at the door and
Mrs. Vane heartily bade her enter,
she was more excited than she had
been in long time.
II want you to help me make a
test, Mrs. Vane," Barbara said, as
the old lady sat erect, confronting
her and looking straight at her with
those terrible eyes. Barbara. how
ever, did not fear them. She under
stood the character of Mrs. Vane
thoroughly.
"Tell me all about it. DEAR" said
Mrs. Vane.
Barbara went on, calming her
excitement, but not her interest.
When she was through Mrs. Vane
said: II am perfectly willing, my
dear. But think 1 know how it will
come out, beforehand"
"But I want to prove it for my
SELF"
"Very WELL" Mrs. vane replied,
with the nearest approach to a sigh
that Barbara had ever heard her
utter, and Barbara finally departed
to her work. If she had realized
what results would follow the test
Mrs. Vane was going to make for her,
she could not have walked back so
calmly.