The Elbert County tribune., 1905-10-12
My Art and Kitty

grew up an orphan in a boarding
school where expenses were reason
able and advantages fair. The bache-
lor uncle who had provided for me
from babyhood, but never had me
with him, died a month before my
graduation. and nothing was left of
his estate except debts and legal tan
sles SO | thought myself fortunate
when secured the position of pri-
mary teacher in Glendale Institute
y Il was only nineteen, and possessed
no enthusiasm for teaching in itself
My brain and heart were too full
OF idle fancies and selfish ambitions,
which had come to fill my heart in
the absence OF all home ties. l look
ed on teaching as mere drudgery. and
Intended to use It only as a stepping
stone to something l thought far
higher.
My art-oh, what dreams pursued
me! Let me hasten to save a thou
sand dollars. hurry abroad, have les
sons, work with mad zeal. then leap
to the topmost pinnacle in my beauti-
ful arti
thousand dollars isn't easy to
save when ones salary is only three
hundred year above board and the
vacations are to be provided for.
Young and sometimes called pretty.
| thought that two hundred dollars
year spent on dress represented
the closest possible economy. Hon
esty compels' me to interpaiate here
that cannot recollect anyone's call
IN To1,, >
and OF course Johns opinion on any
subject whatsoever meant little to
me; for John was just plain, every
day young fellow, honorable and
wholesome as the sunshine, but ter
ribly practical. in fact mundane, in
all his views and projects. He re-
sented my art dreams, and detested
what | called his lack of ideals.
At the end of four years teaching
had saved only two hundred dol
lars, and Europe and the masters
were still far beyond my reach
don't know why they had retained
me as primary teacher at Glendale.
Certainly there was no hint of future
promotion. and | have realized since
how far from excellent my work was
while taught for money and dreamed
of art. Bat when l had counted my
savings thoughtfully remarked:
This is a fair nestegg. | shall put
by the rest quickly. l must renounce
all folly. aud especially go to econo-
mizing in dress" 5viin, being nv
prime folly. sent away forever. and
settled down to work in good earnest.
Then it was that Edwards letter
came. IL am dying, Gail. and there
Is no one TO send my little girl to
except you" he wrote. Nor have I
any money left for the child; but with
our uncle's estate you ought to find
it easy to provide for her. Take her,
be good to her. and so Heaven will
deal with you"
did not remember my half-brother
Edward, who had left home in the for.
gotten days when we had a home.
And he never had remembered me. |
told myself now In bitterness. until
he needed me. No, did not want the
child, could not take her. She would
interfere with my ambitions: she
would tie me to drudgery, defeat my
aspirations, rob me of my art, WHY.
it would be as bad as taking John!
I wrote a cold letter rejecting my
brothers death-bed request, and hast
ened to mail it. wondering, meantime,
If telegram would not be better.
When [ came back to my room. a
lonely little figure sat there by the
window. Trustingly the small crea-
ture came to me.
Aren't you Aunt Gail? I'm Kitty.
Papa's friend brought me to you. be-
cause papa had to go far away; but
he said you would love me-"
I did not want to love her: | did |
not want her: she was an intruder |
thrust into my life, and | had the |
right quietly to put her aside. The
wicked part of me said all this within
rapidly aud vehemently. while the
child and | gazed at each other.
Thankful am I that the wicked part
was not all OF me; for when Kitty
asked me, still in sweet confidence:
Haven't you forgotten to kiss me.
Aunt Gail7" I stopped and took her in
my arms, aud have loved her dearly
ever since"
For two months l had Kitty to
board with me at the institute. hut
the arrau cement proved unsatisfac-
tory. 1t was expensive. and was not
good for the child. l began to com
prehend some things; and one day
told myself suddenly that Kitty aud
must have a home. 1t had been
borne In upon me that my life had
missed something sweet and uplifl-
ing, and with the realization of the
loss came also the dear hope that
might fnd It yet. A home--yhat
sacred meanings 1t might rmpart to
5ody could seve been kinder