A Daughter of the Land

e had decided, without giving the matter much thought, that he was not the man she wanted to marry. In her heart she regretted having previously contracted for the Walden school anothe

intance of teachers in the school who lived in Hartley

urse would be only the same thing over again, with so little change or advancement, that the trip was not worth the time and money it would cost. She proposed that Kate go to Lake Chautauqua and take the teache

school began again, if she were forced to go to Walden, and then spent all her remaining funds on the prettiest clothing she had ever owned. Each of the sisters knew how to buy carefully; then the added advantage of being able to cut and make their own clothes, made money g

ly milliner slipped up and with the hat on Kate's golden crown, looped in front a bow of wide black velvet ribbon and drooped over

at," said the milliner

hat, with the black velvet and the plume, I ever did

aven't a finer hat in the store, nor

y before Kate's beauty-hungry eyes.

Are you teaching in Walden th

have signed the contr

r wait for my money than see you fail to spend the summer u

anything charged, and never expect to. Please have the black

d the milliner,

Kate, who sat waiting before the mirror, and carefully set the hat on her head, at exactly

e said, "and send the bill to you at

side, lifted and dropped her chin

be killed!

reached fo

ake much on the hat, but I'll make a good friend who will c

ink cheeks, gray eyes, gold hair, the

he said. "Bates Corners, Hartley,

r something worth while that this very hat brings you the carriage before fall, if you show yours

Gray's when it is finished," she said. "And put in a fancy bow, for my throat, of the same velvet as the hat, pl

," said the milliner to herself

let the effect sink in, but it seemed to make no impression until she lo

I was having a stylish caller. I didn't know

ng as if I were plowing, with a thi

your head; but since you have, I don't mind tellin

sitting down on the step. "The mi

You become that hat, Kate, quite

the dressing room of the car, and changed the hats. Nancy Ellen had told her this was NOT the thing to do. She should travel in a plain untrimmed hat, and when the dust and heat of her journey were past, she should bathe, put on fresh clothing, and w

not worth mentioning beside Nancy Ellen's HOME, and the deep understanding and strong feeling that showed so plainly between her and Robert Gray. Kate expected to marry by the time she was twenty or soon after; all Bates girls had, most of them had married very well indeed. She frankly envied Nancy Ellen, while it never occurred to her that any one would criticise her for saying so. Only one thing could happen to her that would surpass what had come to her sister. If o

up the present and what it had brought and promised to bring, for a reconciliation with her father, she would not voluntarily return to

e only thing to do. Nancy Ellen says Sally Whistler is pleasing Mother very well, why should I miss m

to work, you beauty," thought Kate. "Do something better for me than George Holt. I'll have him to fall back on if

he. The twisting whirlwind struck her face as she stepped from the day coach to go to the dining car. She threw back her head and sucked her lungs full of the pure, rain-chilled air. She was accustomed to being out in storms, she liked them. One second she paused to watch the gale sweeping the fields, the next a twitch at her h

d her old occupation of thinking things over. All the joy had vanished from the day and the trip. Looking forward, it had seemed all right to defy custom and Nancy Ellen's advice, and do as she pleased. Looking

ss figure than she had expected to pay. She began by almost starving herself at supper in order to save enough money to replace her hat with whatever she could find that would serve passably, and be cheap enough. That far she proceeded stoically; but when night settled and she stood in her dressing jacket brushing her hair, something gave way. Kate dropped on her bed and cried into her pillow, as she never had cried before about anything. It was not A

the sound of a woman's voice in choking, stifled sobs, in the

RE'S TWO OF U

pped on the door. Instantly the sobs ceased and the room became still. Kate put her lips to the crack and said

come in?" asked

a tiny, elderly, Dresden-china doll-woman. She was fully dressed, even to her wrap, bonnet, and gloves; one hand clutched her side, the other held a handkerchief to her lips. Kate stood an i

Where is it

small bottle, and read the directions. In a second, she was holding a gl

on't leave me

te instantly. "I'll stay

o a night robe, and stooping she lifted her into a chair until she opened the bed. After giving her time to rest, Kate pulled down the white wavy hair and brushed it for the night. As she worked, she said a word of encouragement now and again; when she had don

ed. "It must be your heart;

most certainly would have died if you hadn't come to me and

purse was in her bag. Everything she had was the finest that money could buy, while she seemed as if a rough wind neve

leaving you alone among stra

she was the very best maid I ever had. She was like a loving daughter, until all at once,

ng that would precipitate one, and then left you alone among st

ould never afford to come. Then when John began to work and made good so fast I was dizzy half the time with his successes, I didn't think about the place. But lately, since I've had everything else I could think of, something possessed me to come back here,

te, stroking the white forehead in an effort to pro

d soon, if he keeps on, he will be worth as much as some of them-more than any one of his age, who has had a lot of help instead of having his way to make alone, and a sick old mother to support besides. No, I couldn't tell you in a

o do a thing you have set yo

s no maid I ever had before. John is young yet, and I think he is very handsome, and he wouldn't pay any attention to her. You see when other boys were going to school and getting acquainted with girls by association, even when he was a little bit of a fellow in knee breeches, I had to let him sell papers

e ugly if you t

her forces were almost spent. She looked to Kate for the symp

. "Your face is all tear staine

a pillow," a

dreadful woman. Forgive me for not having seen that

aid Kate. "I l

? When it is so easy to get anot

easy to get another, with this one not paid for yet. I'm only one sea

ate's long, crinkly braids, she drew the we

out your ha

ld the story of her Leghorn hat and ostrich plume, and many things besides, for she wa

was foolish vanity. I'm not really good-looking; I shouldn't have flattered myself that I wa

a right to a becoming hat as any girl. Now let me ask you one question, and then I'll try to

" sai

ifference to you if you mi

least," s

l cause him to lose money should he leave, and I was so wilful about coming, I dread to prove him right so conclusively the very first day. That door opens into a room reserved for Susette, if only you'd take it, and leave the door unclosed

f you'll only tell me what I should do; I'

"but I do seem to take to being waited