The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-05-22

peSs but most Of them Sat apart and
alone III silence; two Or three laid full
length upon their backs on the sofas,
seemed contented simply to be- atTesl-
these were the cashiers Of shops Who
have to stand all day; others sat back
in their chairs leaning their heads upon
their clasped hands-an attitude which
betokens complete physical exhaustion.
Nobody was reading. nobody was
laughing, nobody was singing. The
general depression was not due at all
to the regulations of the home; it had
nothing to do with the committee; the
girls were not in the least longing to be
out after 0.30, nor were they pining for
the society Of young men. They We're
simply tired
1t was about a quarter to 9 when the
door opened and another girl came IN.
She was tall and beautiful girl-you
have already seen HEREWITH light curly
hair and gray eyes and face full Of
sweetness: made for love-if that
means anything, because nearly every
girls face shows the same benevolent
intention of nature. Now, alasl her
face was full of trouble. The other
girls faces showed the depression
which comes Of fatigue and monotonous
work, but there was trouble of another
kind on Katharine's face. When she
appeared. one or two Of them looked at
her inauiringly, and read the answer to
their question in her eyes.
She sat down beside another girl.
Evidently they were friends, these two.
as there news n she whispered.
Katharine shook her head.
Lily, the other girl, pressed her hand
in silent sympathy. She was dark
haired, swarthy, low-browed girl, with
deep-set eyes. black eyebrows which
met, and Spanish features, though her
name was Lily, and she ought to have
been fair and dressed in white. Lily
would have looked well in mantilla
and in black velvet and diamond
coronet. She was born for black vel
vet. yet by one Of natures mistakes
she had to wear black stuff.
"There never will be any news, Lily.
Don't speak to me just yet, dear"
At this moment the two old ladies
by the fire rose from their chairs, and
the elder, generally known as Miss
Augusta, went to the piano and be.
gan to play. She always played every
evening, because she thought that mu-
sic is good for the soul and for the TEN.
per and for the tired limbs, and the
irritated BRAIN But the music must
be good, and therefore she played
Mendelsohn's Songs Without Words"
which go straight to the heart in a
way hardly achieved by any other
music. She played in a quiet. old
fashioned way, with the emphasis
which belonged to the time-it was a
sentimental time-whcn she was
young.
The other old lady, her sister, Miss
Beatrice, began to walk about the
room and talk to the residents. 1t was
her opinion that young persons can be
greatly helped by sympathy and kind
ness, and that. being an old person
herself, she might perhaps administer
words of comfort and peace while her
sister was moving their hearts by the
power of music. And, indeed, there
were times when the atmosphere was
heavy with dependency.
First, she sat down beside the woman
who was so fiercely working.
MY DEAR she said, ''you have been
working at you-business all day. Your
cheeks are flushed and your hand is
burning, Cannot you put away your
work for single EVENING"
MONO. must work. / must work.
The others may rest, but l must work.
l must work"
"Why must work. dear? You are
so much better off than the rest of us.
You have such handsome salary.
Why must you work n
1t was known that this person had a
salary of three pounds a week-actu-
ally three poundsl AS much as is
given to a curate, and yet there was
no evening except Sunday when she
did not work fiercely, until the last
moment before the gas was turned
out.
you are a Christian?" the worker
asked, in reply.
Surely" said Miss Beatrice. oh;
my dear, that is strange question.
What other comfort is there for a
poor woman, and what other hopper"
For those who are His, He is cru
Gifted. Those who are not His-must
be crucified by themselves
1t was strange answer to be made
in a respectable home where the
fercer emotions, including despair, are
supposed not to enter. They are ex-
cluded-with the young men.
sMy dear, my dear''-the poor lady
trembled at the mere strength Of the
words you terribly me. do not I'M
derstand what you mean"
ITO be continued)