The Girls at Mount Morris

well worn. Her mother sat by a little work table busy with some muslin sewing a

Cairns is to finish up; there is only a little to do, but Madame said everything you did was

t hundred dollars to pay the rent. Oh Lilian! I hardly know which way to turn. I am not strong any mor

face in her h

go through two years more. You are not as well as you were a year ago. I'll see Sally Meeks tonight and take the place

e scholar. Two years more and she could teach. It was in the walk of life that she so ardently desired. Tall for her age, vigorous, with courage and earnestness in every line of the face that was fine, now, to the casual observer and might develop into beauty. It was spirited, e

sely commonplace; the sort of woman who has no ambitions beyond the ordi

an, presently. "Lie down on t

kfast as well. Yes, she must begin to be the care taker, she had been so engrossed with her studies and giving her help with the sewing they did for a dressmaking establishment that she had hardly noted. She

arranged, the tea and the ch

nice shop and the boss is particular about the kind of girls

nt girl," that was all she

mpany back and for

could not live without the child, but after all the girl was not of her kind. What if she had done her a great wron

was on a much neglected street with a big carpenter's shop across the way. They used that for a

down the street. She had best make her sacrifice at once, it was not a subject to pond

on the small porch go

to go to the Rest House, but the other girl couldn't-sickness at home. So Sally went in her place. Splendid, isn't it! And board only tw

can't stay. Oh, mother does n

re no real cottages and little gardens fragrant with flowers, but people we

omething? All girls did not have them. Some in the class laughed and made merry without a thought of the future. Some expected to teach and 'just hated it.' S

ad been growing up she had become aware of a barrier between them. Mrs. Boyd had loved her fervently as a little girl, she had not taken any special pride in her entering the High School

disappointment. What was the use of living if one could never attain the things one desired? Sh

ate. Lilian prepared

er's clothes and see what can be fixed over," said the

f anything mattered! There

r for her mother in

and a smile bright

re last March, you know. She has always taken such an interest in

an to c

ct and high class Seminary for young ladies. She had found her in something of a quandary. The woman who had taken charge of the bed and table line and a sort of general seamstress had suddenly married, and it was necessary to fill he

onderfully interested and I told her somewhat of your misfortunes and struggles. So she proposes that you shall accept this position and that Lilian shall take a sort of supervisio

glad cry and flung her arm

ms like a miracle," and then she was

ibrary beside that in the town and the society was charming. The mother's salary was a very fair one and in another year the daughte

her of cooking and house keeping. It seems too good to be true.

heart beat with unwonted emotion. Mrs. Boyd leaned back

can tell her about yourself; I don't understand all these things. I n

education would see what her mother missed and perhaps doubt

tiful; I couldn

riate, or some underlying fact that she dared not face? What if it had

finger ends. When I read about pictures and statuary and magnificent churches I can almost see them, and a rift in the sky, an autumnal branch of red br

spiration, her cheeks aglow, her scarlet lips quivering. Mrs. B

lain man, a good, hones

but to sit here day after day and not see any way out of the narrow distasteful life, feeling as if you could fly-am I wicked? Poor l

ins. The mother looked past her child rather than at her, but she could feel the glowing, spirited force li

lways been a loving daughter, but whatever comes we will share it together. In

ome girls, young ladies th

udy, and when I reach some high place in teaching, I shall smile over those petty

ney to gratify pride. Then she went and posted it and bought some little luxuries for dinner. After they had partaken of it s

ian, could come in two weeks. She wrote a letter to her mother's friend Mrs. Searing who was most happy that they

s clothing, but alas, it w

t have a new outfit,"

eak into your last resource,

said we shall have no expense in the future for living. Oh, wh

e quite hap

, oh

e attractive face that had so much vigor and purpose. Oh, s

d for letter c

ertainly beautiful. I hope you will both be very happy here, and you seem not only an ambitious girl but quite willing to work for the things you desire." Then follows a description of the school an

rom early spring left-overs. They packed up a few things and disposed of the res

the grand beauty you sometimes see in a picture. I want her complexion to be lovely and her hair snowy white, and her vo

e will like you," r

mother. Why the face was almost stolid! Oh, that was wicked! She had been so good and kind. Was it not the hard grind of poverty and hopeless work, never making any advance, that quenched the vitality of soul and brain? She must make her mark before hope dropped out of the years. She had watched her teachers in a curious manner, though she was too

longed to crowd their mates out in the arid, dusty highway. She stood her ground and she was a f

d to find she was going to a high-up Seminary to be trained for a

t fields of waving corn, fruit orchards, then towns again, rivers, lakes, high hills cleft by rocky passes that sparkled in places as if set by gems. Then stretches so serene so instinct wi

t to the girl's enthusiasms and presently Lilian ceased to appeal.

age, a little home, and keeping it tidy, and babies of her very own. The lover came, a nice steady machinist with a little education, saving up money, marriage and the home of a few rooms,

d joyous. Yet a few days' illness swept him out of the world, and almost broke their hearts. Then a little girl came. She liked girls the best, they were m

nd before it could be stopped his life had been beaten out. Neighbors were kind to her, the

ere boy. He had a big farm and five children and he wrote for her to come out, as

been well invested by a

ere and want to come back, and your brother may marry aga

horrible accident in a small town where two roads crossed. The child flew out of her arms and

he nursed it. She could not remember distinctly, but they were bo

or baby was killed and its mother is dying, maybe dead now. There was so much confusion. The baggage car was wr

the breakfast came and she

ailroad company are doing all they can and

t?" in a tr

. It was hardly midnight when it happened. I

s dimpled mouth and its fringe of soft hair. Then she laid it down and crept out of bed, feeling rather shaky, but havin

mainder of her trip ticket and some money. She had only put a small amount in her satchel

allowance, she thought, for her losses. There would be a t

he other lady. How

you were stunned for a long while you came partly to, and called for your baby. So we brought it, and althou

a queer, fri

and her back twisted, and there's something hurt in her head. She can't liv

lids with their long lashes looked as if they were car

me one belonging to her. The docto

airie land with hardly a neighbor in sight. Why she had been crazy to come! and she found farm work quite too hard for her. She had better be housemaid at Laconia, or go in the mills ag

big factory. Then housekeeping for a nervous invalid wife, and here she had met Mrs. Searing who had proved a true friend. After that sewing, making skirts for a dressmaker and working at childrens' clothes. When it was dull times they drew on the little fund. The girl was ambitious and h