The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-01-06
A RAINY DAY.


A RAINY DAY.
The rain was falling in torrents.
Il shall have one day of quiet" said
Mrs. Lloyd. .'Even the Centennial EX-
hibition will not draw people out in such
down pour as this
Mrs. Lloyd was Philadelphian; the
Exposition of 1876 was at its height.
One battalion of guests, with wagon
full of trunks and satchels, had left the
house, the night before; another was
coming tomorrow. ''But, to-day" she
said, Il shall have rest
Scarcely had she spoken, however,
when the bell rang, and the next mo-
ment card and a letter were brought
up.
Now, Mrs. Lloyd had once written a
book-a book of poems, She also con-
tributed, weekly, a column on the fash
ions, to two newspapers. She was
known, therefore, in the distant little
Delaware village, where she had been
born, as burning and shining light of
literature The Women's Banner al
ways spoke of her as ''the gifted daugh-
ter of our own fair land;' her legion of
cousins estimated the annual income,
from her pen, at from eight to ten thou-
sand dollars; all of them, who had liter
airy tastes, had sent poems, essays and
novels to her, with the expectation that
she would have them published, without
delay; and insure them, also. incomes of
from eight to ten, etc. Her cousins,
who had not literary tastes, spoke of her
as our ..strong- minded relative;'' won
dered, when they saw her, ''when she
would lecture, or 60 on the stage, or do
something of that Hndr' Or they inno-
Gently asked: ''Who does take care of
the house. and the children, poor little
things?'
There were times when Mrs. Lloyd
found her laurels q crown of thOrns. They
threatened to be uncomfortable, now.
When she had descended to the parlor,
card in hand, she found there fragile,
very pale girl, about twenty
years old, satchel in her hand,
attired in a brown merino, which, as
Mrs. Lloydr's practiced eye at once de-
tected, had lately been turned wrong
side ont.
"My cousin, Amy Pollok?' she said,
civilly.
..No. nothing of the kind,' sharply
transtixing Mrs. Lloyd with pair Of
pale-blue eyes, which she fancied were
washed out with many tears. "a cousin
fifth times removed, may be. Kinship
as thin as that is no ground for beggars
to stand on"
1--WE are both women, then let US say"
said the lady gently. That is kinship
enough. if can do anything for you"
80, / did not come to trouble you.
I've started out in the world to be indie
pendent, and I'll carry out my purpose.
Ionly want advice from you. People
usually are ready enough to give advice.
It don't come out of their pockets
with short, disagreeahle laugh.
- Every well. Advice" good-hu-
,moredly. ''SIt down.
= .'It's hardly worth WHILE" seating
herself. however, with a quick, indig-
nant glance about the room, at the cost
" furniture and bric-a-brac. ..It's not
likely you'll take much interest in me.
Successful people don't often trouble
themselves about those who are at the
bottom of the hill.''
IF YOU came to quarrel with me it
was hardly worth while Besides. I am
not in an ill-humor to-day laughed
Mrs. Lloyd.
Her visitor stared at her, and then
laughed, also; growing red. as very
young girl would do. II beg your par
don. did not mean to be rude. have
had SO much to try me- The ready
tears coming.
Il see that quietly. Take time
and tell me what can do for you. You
are cousin Jobs daughter; and, though
have never seen YOU before, he was
very kind to me when was child
Il don't want to appeal to your graft
tude, or your sentiment; but your plain
common sense falling back into the
rasping voice, and setting her head
again defiantly. you've been down
:, on our farm You know what chance
there is there for a woman with brains.
; Lazy men and lazier helps. Canning,
picking, all summer; sewing and saus-
age making all winter; every penny the
farm Yields going into their stomachs.
: The same dreary talk the year round;
gable and gossip. who has the ague?'
and lis the brown COW off her feed" 1t
- two years since had new dress; it
-four since I could buy new book
y paper Il have felt so starved in mind,
lat, sometimes, I thought I should go
ka6,,'' turning the thin face and pale-
Nue, eyes suddenly on Mrs. Lloyd,
who felt q cold chill pass over her.
!. s,..Wellar she said feebly.
nsis.Welfo I'm tired of it. I've cut
loose. I left mother and the girls at
. work in the kitchen. They've been
there since they were born. and they'll
be there until they die. But Fee cut
'loose?, =
~What do you propose to do?"