Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-12-26

Lilly, it is always what your father
does; the responsibility Of man must
be terrible; 1t isn't only the income for
his own lifetime. 1t Is the future Of
his children to the third and fourth
generations that he has in his hands.
1 wonder If they ever think of It. I
wonder II our fathers, Lily, ever
thought of what would happen to
their daughters when they should die"
mine didn't. He thought about his
invention, and the man who stole it
and made fortune out Of it. He
brooded over 1t all the time"
mine thought about his club. Does
1t seem right that fathers should have
such power? If he fails, down they
all go. children. grandchildren and
greatgrandchildren. If he succeeds,
up they all 60 together, higher and
higher"
UNLESS they take to drink" said
Lily, wisely.
"If he fails, the girls have to look
for work"
"Unless," Katharine continued.
"they get married. And there is the
chance of another father falling"
"My dear. what is the use Of talk
ing about marriage in Harley House?
Love and marriage cannot come in our
way. How are we to make the ac-
quaintance Of any men? Some of the
girls at the Museum make acquaint-
ances with the readers but no good
ever came Of that sort Of acquaintance
yet"
"But. Lily, anything may happen"
mot out of books, unless 1t is bad;
in real life everything happens that
is bad. But as for love and marriage,
l declare, Katherine. that If we had
our hair cut off and We're shut up in
Spanish convent, hundred miles
from any man, We should have bet
ter chance of marrying than we have
here-I mean we two. who have no
friends at all. Not the rest of the girls.
who have brothers and can go out
with them"
II have had my chance, Lily, and 7
have been robbed Of It," said Katha-
rine.
ayes. whatever happens you will be
the happier for having been loved. 1t
Is something to remember always. OIL
1t must be wonderful thing to feel
that man is going to give up all his
life-all his work-to make you happy
and keep you in ease and comfort. 1t
must be such happiness just to feel
1t, as you did, for month or two, that
even to think of it makes me go mad
with rage at the cruel fate which
keeps us locked up here out of the way
Of it, so that we can never, never
meet with It,"
"Yes" said Katharine, "it Is Won
derful thing to feel There is no other
happiness to compare with it-and l
have felt It, Oh"' she clasped her
hands. II have felt it!'
katharine, when / am tramping
the streets from one place to another,
knowing beforehand that shall be too
late, terrible picture arises before
my mind, dreadful nightmare which
comes by day; and l see my future
life stretched out before me plain and
clear-perhaps yours, dear, as well, but
l hope-yes-I hope that God will
take you first"
"Oh, Lily"
81 must-I cannot help it-I must
speak! The picture comes Of itself
and stays before my eyes. and must
tell somebody. Katharine, see my
self going on like this for year after
year-all my life"
The girls dark eyes glowed and
grew larger as she gazed intently
upon the panoramic picture which
rolled itself out before her. AS she
spoke it became real to Katharine as
we'll.
"Oh, such a long life! l shall live
to eighty. There will be no change
until the time comes when no one will
give me any work to do at ALL And
then l shall go to the workhouse. l
am always applying for places. Some
times l get taken on, but generally l
am too late. Always jostllng and
pushing and fighting with other
women. What life! 1t is yours Us
we'll as mine. What fortune for us
to be born with"
Lilly, some change will come. 1t
must come"
mo, never any change. Look at
poor old Miss Stidolph. She is sixty
at least, and she is no better off than
when she began-thirty years ago and
more, after her father failed-to go out
as daily governess. What change has
ever come to her? Look at Miss Au-
gusta and Miss Beatrice; to be sure,
they've got ESQ year to live upon
now. Before it came they were starv-
ing. And their father was Canon Of
n Cathedral! What life they have led!
No, Katharine, for us md those like us
there is no hope-none. l declare,
Katharine, that If there were any way
to escape-any-offered me, I would
take it,"
She looked about her like prisoner
in cell, and gasped as if for want of
air.
"Lilyw
"Never enough money" she went
on; never any society at all. What
life it is that lies before us! You are
twenty -one, and am twenty-five.
Perhaps fifty or sixty years Of 1t. And
oh, how slowly the hands move round
the clock! oh, how slowly the sun pes
DOWN.
/. Lilly, you have no right to o