Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-02-27


shall hear directly how they came to
be discontinued. They produced three
letters.
The first was from Mrs. Emptage,
and was Of no use, because her infor.
nation ceased with the day when
Katharine left the house; but it was
an honest, good letter, full of kindness
toward the missing girl, and Tom went
to see the writer.
The second letter was from Dittmer
Book, who asked for an interview.
His information carried on the for.
tunes of the two girls for twenty -four
hours after they left Harley House.
But. alas! it confirmed the news of
their utter destitution. In the fog he
had lost them, and he knew not where.
Whittier had they strayed, hand in
hand, that hapless pair, in the yellow
fog of that terrible Sunday?
II have seeked," said Dittmer, "Ach!
Himmel! Heilig! have seeked in the
bureaus where the names are taken Of
ladies who want places. Nowhere do
find her. Whittier is she gone? What
does she do? Honorable Herr War
Press Correspondent, what does she
do?'
It came out in subsequent conversa-
tions and examination, how he had
passed the night with them, and
pledged his credit-the credit of Ger
man clerk on forty pounds a year,
with the friendly baker for them.
"Her heart was broken-Ja, Herr
War Press Correspondent-broken
when she heard that you were killed.
Afterworts she never smiled except
with the children of the gracious Lady
Emptage. Broken was her heart Once
ventured to ask would she graciously
give me only one Of the fra gments. But
she would not part with the smallest
piece. All-all-are yours, Herr War
Press Correspondent Now you are
back recome, and she, who should have
returned to the Fruhling. and the time
Of roses-where is she? Love waits for
her, and die Hochzeit-the high time
but where is she? I ask the everlast-
ing stars"
There was no reply from the stars,
which of late years have ceased to
interest themselves in the fortunes of
men, and are now silent, perhaps un-
moved, spectators. and refuse by any
combinations of their own to reveal
the future or to guide the conduct Of
those who consult them.
There was, however, third letter
This came from Harley House, and
was signed by Beatrice Aspey. 1t was
written in the oldfashioned straight
lined italian hand, which was formerly
the only kind permitted to women.
Tom. called upon the writer, who had
nothing to tell him but the history of
the last weeks of privation and fruit
less hunting for work while the slender
resources Of the two girls wasted away
too rapidly. But she told him as well
of Katharine's patience and her grief.
And she spoke with so soft voice, a
manner so gentle, and face so sweet,
that his heart was drawn toward her.
Sand, oh! sir" she concluded, "I am
sure-I know from my experience that
the two girls must have gone for days
and days with nothing to eat from
breakfast one day to breakfast the
next, because their breakfasts were all
paid for beforehand. you know. And
when they went away, Katharine toll
the matron that they had not enough,
between them, to pay for another week.
And they had parted with all their
things"
"Oh" Tom groaned. "My poor girl!
My poor Katharine!
"All they took away with them they
carried in one small hand bag. don't
think they had even a change of
clothes"
snake haste-tell me ALL"
"Thnt IS all To look for work week
after week; not to find it; to starye; to
grow shabby and poverty-stricken in
appearance; and at last not to have
money enough to pay for bed and
breakfast even in such cheap place
as this! That is all, except that other
girls have friends, who will in the end,
though often grudgingly enough, do
something when it comes to the worst.
These poor girls had no friends. There
were never two such girls in the home
before. Their dreadful friendlessness
brought them together. They shared
what they had; suffered together. and,
oh! Mr.. Addison, they went out into tho
streets together hand in hand, quite
penniless. Don't cry; it's dreadful to
see d man cry. Perhaps they have
found friends"
"But where e--where--where? And
why don't they answer my advertise
ments?n
"AVhy, girls like that never look. at
papers except to see IL there are va
cant places for which they can apply.
What do they want with newspapers?
What interest can you expect girl to
have in the world when all her
thoughts are centred in the difficulty
of finding food?"
"In the streets, friendIess and penni
less" TomTepeated. "Poor Katharinel
Poor child! sVas there no one in this
house, where there are twenty women
and more, all of whom knew of her
dreadful trouble, to do her the simple
act of charity Of Keeping her from
starvation? Not one?''
There are thirty women in this
house. Not one among lis all,y Miss
Beatrice answered, with quiet dignity,