The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-01-20
PRETTY MISS KATE.
BY LOUISE CHANDLER MovLr roS.

FTfFTFf%TFSFTf
when she, even she could do pretty
Miss Kate some good. And II the time
ever came, wouldn't she do It Just, at
no matter what cost to herself?
Poor little Sally! The time was on
its way, and nearer than she thought.
She found Miss Kate In her own pret-
ty room-a room all blue, and white,
and silver, as befitted such a fair-hair-
ed beauty. The bedstead and wardrobe
were of polished chestnut, lightly and
gracefully carved. The carpet was pale
gray, with impossible blue roses. The
blue chintz curtains were looped back
with silver cords; there were silver
frames, with narrow blue edges, TO the
few graceful pictures; and on the man
tel were a clock and vases with silver
ornaments.
Pretty Miss Kate looked as II she
had been dressed on purpose to stay
in that room. She wore blue dress,
and around her neck was a silver neck
lace which her father had brought to
her last year from far off Genoa. Silver
ornaments were in her little ears, and
a silver clasp fastened the belt at her
waist. She welcomed Sally with
sweet graciousness, little conscious.
perhaps, OF the fact that she was Miss
Osgood, and Sally was Sally Green; but
to the child, her manner, like every
thing else about her, seemed perfec-
tion.
"Sit down and stay while, Sally"
she said; IL have something to tell you.
Do you remember what you heard me
read that first time, when your eyes
got so big with listening, and l made
you stay and hear 1t all?"
"Yes, indeed" Sally cried, eagerly.
81 never forgot anything | ever heard
you read. That first time it was The
Romance Of the Swans Nest"
Yes, you are right, and | know
was surprised to find how much you
cared about 1t. | began TO be interest
ed in you then, for you know | am in
terested in you, don't you, Sally?"
Sally blushed with pleasure till her
face, glowed like the June roses in Miss
Kate's silver vases; but she did not
know what to say. and so, very wisely,
she did not say anything. Miss Kate
went on:
well, that very same poem / am
going to read, next Wednesday night,
at the evening exercises in the acad-
emy. The academy hall won't hold
everybody, and so they are going to be
admitted by tickets. Each of us girls
has a certain number to give away, and
have got one for you. l thought you
would like to 60 and see me there
among the rest in my white gown and
hear me read the old verses again. y
You would not have thought so small
thing could so have moved anybody;
but Sally's face turned from red to
white, and from white to red again,
and her big black eyes were as full Of
tears as an April cloud is of rain
drops
do you mean 1t, truly?" she asked.
Eyes, truly, child. Here is your tick
ct. Why, don't cry, foolish girl. It's
nothing. | wanted to be sure of one
person there who would think | read
we'll, whether any one else did or not.
And I've got a gown for you, too
that pink muslin, don't you know, that
. wore last year? I've shot up right out
OF 1t, and it's of no use to me, now,
and mamma said might give 1t to you.
| This is Saturday; you can get 1t ready
by Wednesday, can't your"
What a happy girl went home that
night, Just as the rosy June sunset
was fading away, and ran, bright and
glad, and full of joyful expectation,
| into the Widow Green's humble little
| house. Widow Green wasn't much of a
woman, in the neighbor's estimation.
She was honest, and civil, and she
washed well; but that was all they
saw in her. Sally saw much more. She
raw a mother who always tried +
make her happy-who shared her en-
thusiasms, or at least sympathized IN
them; who was never cross, or jealous,
or anything but motherly. She was as
pleased, now, at the prospect of Sally's
pleasure as Sally herself was; and just
as proud Of this attention from pretty
Miss Kate. Together they made over
the pink muslin dress; and when We'd
nesday night came the widow felt sure
that her daughter was as well worth
having, and as much to be proud Of, os
any other mothers daughter that
would be at the academy.
"You must go very early" she said
"to get a good seat and you need not
be afraid to go right up to the front
You've just as good right to get close
up there as anybody"
Here, dear" she said, "just take the
shawl. Do it to please me, for there's
no knowing how cold it might be wheI
you get out"
"The shawl was an immense Rol
Roy plaid-a ridiculous wrap, truly
for a June night; but summer shawl!
they had none, and Sally was too duti
full, as well as too happy, not to wan
to please her mother even in such {
trife. How differently two lives woult
have come out If she had not taken IT,