The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-11
THE UcLY DucKLlNo. !


"of course you forgot" snaps the
other girl impatient.y. 4 didn't sup
pose you'd DO it when / asked you. Il
Is doubtful though. whether you for
got or we're just too lazy to go"
Katherine's eyes nn with tears as
she hurriedly leaves the room.
Il believe you're too hard on her
Annette" says her friend. she ls So
sensitive. and hooked heart-broken
ghen you scolded her"
Why, Mabel. how ridlculousl Kitty
never cares when we scoId her. IL
NosnEt nurt my conscience to say
Anything to her because she takes Il
SO lndifferently."
I'm afraid she does care replies
Mabel, slowly Il don't want TO
preach but is it right when she aosnnt
deserve IT,"
"oh. hut she does deserve IL. She
fcrgcis eyurythine, loses everything.
and does nothing but read all day
long. She's eighteen now. and is sup
posed to keep house for Murson. Caro-
syn, and me, but Carolyn and have
most Of il to do. If she was delicate
ia any way shouldn't care. but she's
strong and healthly-and gooI-for-
nothng 1je call her the ugly duck,
ling"
An hour later Katherine comes
down stairs te prepare slipper. Mabel
goes 70 her and lays both hands gently
on her sholders
What is the matter, dear?' she
I 'slxs, looking down into the dark eyes,
red and heavy with weeping.
Il have headache says Kata-
crime, smiling bravely ~ ......S her face.
ion't bother about me. ltl soon 30
away"
Carolyn comes in from work pres.
entity and tossing her hat on the
couch. goes into the kitchen.
I'm as hungry as wolf, Kitty. Is
supper ready?"
Not auite,' falters Katherine, try
ing to hide the fact that she Is jest
putting the steak on to fry.
Carolyn takes a quick view Of things.
End then says, sarcastically, "Of course
/ 4 us a waste OF breath to ask you
but thought perhaps some great mir
acle had been performed, and we were
actually going to have supper On time.
But verify the day Of miracles is past
When she leaves the room Kath-
crime goes TO the window and presses
her heated brow against the pane.
why is it." she slghs. that when
try the hardest l make the most Govt
plete failure. wish had not been
born"
A burning smell warns her TO return
to the stove. A tear falls on the burnt
meat and she thinks with a tremulous
smile. well it has at least been
salted" Then as she turns again to
the window-''My life is made up OF
repentance and resolutions not
of efforts. When / repented about the
watch, ! delayed supper, and while l
repented about that ruined t."
AT supper, Katherine does not escape
comment, not only on the steak. but
everything else
Murton, being a boy. is, Of course the
loudest in his complaints, Katherine
seems not TO hear a word. but eats her
supper In silent indifference. Mabel,
however, can see beneath the surfa e,
and her heart aches for the lonely
child. They take Mabel home aite-
supper and Katherine seems the gayest
one Of The PARTY. but next to the light
est heart the heaviest is apt to be the
most playful" and that night she cries
herself to sleep.
At last, Murton and the two Oldest
girls decide to hire the housework done,
and katherine obtains position az
clerk in one OF the dry goods stores.
She does not say much about her work,
but al the end Of the second week she
comes home very early. and lays her
weeks wages on the table. For once,
she has almost lost her self control.
There" shs says, her voice tromb-
hing ever SO little, they. too. have
found out that I'm no good I'm dis-
charged"
For moment no one SPEAKS. when
Murton breaks the silence. crying ang.
rily Wen, you're the first person ON
earth I've Seen who can't do anything
and who's absolutely no good no mat
ter where one puts you. You needn't
think I'm going TO hunt you another
place You can drift along as yon
please. You're in the way and worth
less everywhere. I think you were a
mistake"
Katherine's face IS study during
this explosion II showed surprise grief
and shame, but at the last becomes
triumphant She turns silently and
leaves the room. almost with a smile.
you were too hard, Murton, says
Carolyn. she didn't deserve that
20. il was awful" cries Annette.
"Of course it was II I'D meant H."
admits Mur,on slowly. "But she knows
didn't-surely."
He goes up town and an hour later
returnes and tosses a letter on the ta-