New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-15
not have moved limb without hearing the clank
of chain.


tend to take little holiday. am going out for
walk" Mrs. Twnng and her daughter were in
the kitchen when this very novel announcement
was made. The elder lady had just taken her pre-
liminary steps toward the getting of supper. She
let her big knife remain bedded in the Side OF
large, sogRy potato that she was peeling. and
glanced up at Claire with her quick black eye A
long spiral of skin hung from the balf-pared vege-
table, II seemed to denote with peculiar aptness
the paralyzng effect of Mrs. winnings astonish-
ment.
"Going to take holiday, are youi" she ex-
claimed, with the fa7orite jerky, joyless laugh.
And what am / going to do, if you pleasef STAY
at home, no doubt, and slave over this stove till
suppers cooked. HeyW
II cooked the supper yesterday" said Claire,
"and you vowed that every thing Ihad done was
bad and that should never make myself so smart
again. recoect your exact words make myself
so smart'n continued Clare, with cutting fidelity
of quotation. ~ would readily do the whole cook
ing every afternoon, on fathers account. For he
likes the food prepare better than he likes what
you prepare. There's no doubt about that"
"Oh, not a Bit" returned Mrs. Twinng, who
could never COW her daughter nowadays. and
avoided all open skirmshes with Claire preferring
to fire her volleys under cover of ambiguous sneers
being sure Of rout In any far-fought engagement
mot bit, certainly. When he knows you've pot
tered away at anything, he'll eat 1T and smack his
lips over 1t, whether it's roasted to cinder or as
raw "a q fresh clam"
"Pm very glad to hear you say so,' returned
Claire with q weary little smile. It's pleasant to
think father loves me like that" Mrs. Twining
vigorously resumed work on her potato speaking at
the same time " Pity about both O. you two, do
declare" she reorted, lapsing into the vernacuar
with which she loved to accompany her worst gibes
,Pears to me that il he's so fond O. you he mghtnt
have made you the poor mean flag at nineteen that
he's made O. me at forty-four: and II you are so
fond o. him, why you might try and catch decent
husband with few dollars in his pocket. to raise
up the family out o. the mud and muck Francis
winnings got IL in"
CIaire's eyes flashed a little; but she was not
specially angered she was 80 used to this KIND Oh
verbal savagery.
aFather never meant anything but good to either
Of u.s." she szid and you know 1t. don't want
to hear you speak against him when he Is away
and can't defend himself am able to defend him.
If choose. think you know that Mother. DIV
this time. I'm going out, rs told you snail De
back rather soon suppose"
she left tho kitchen, and presently the house az
| we'll. She ight have stayed TO wrange; but she
| knew that would lie for no purpose. She had stood
| ND for her loved father often. and always with
| the same results. Her wit was quicker than hei
| mothers; 1t could thrust deeper and parry more
dexterously but che was very tired OF this aimles'
warfare, whers she got wounds that she hid ano
gave wounds that 1t only cost her pain to deal
| She had no definite idea whittier she would CO. Oh
ouittiur the house. At first she took her way
through the cheap and vulgar main street of Green
point IL was tue first real day OF Spring; the air
was bland; something had called her forth to
breathe II, even here In this dreary spot Sho did
mt mite know whence the silent summons had
come. She was by no means sure II IL were her Owl
voutb that had called her. conspiring In some subtle
yay with the push OF leaves and grasses out toward
| the strengthened sunshine She had felt old and
tired Of late tho monotony of toll had dulied hei
spirits; her mothers arrowy surs had pierced hno
| hurt her more than she guessed. But the mild at
mosphere. stirred by tender breezes. made IL pleas
| ant 10 be abroad even In tins malodorous thorough
| fare.
| Everything was dull and common. II seemed q
sort Of beautiful outrage that the pure. misty blue
of the afternoon sky should arch so contentedly
| over these shiny cutters, shabby tenements. dirty
| children aud neglected sidewalks German won
| an ,ostled against her a. she pressed onward the
woman carried pail Of liquid refuse. and issued
| from n near doorway. She had tawdry red bow
4
| IN her tossed blonde hair, and an immense HAT
waterfowl glued against either temple. with the
| effect of somo odd hierogyph. She was a beer
SELLERS wife and she about to empty her vessel
| NJ stale malt upon the neighborng cobbe stones
| But tho random speed Of her gait caused her u
collide abruptly with Claite's passing figure. and
some OF the contents OF her pail shot out upon thu
latters dress. making an instant stain. Clare
| paused. and looked at the woman with slight an
| moved motion Of tho head. Tho offender was
| high-tempered person 1t was currently whsPered
| nv members of their special Teuton clique that he
husband was a rank socialist who had been forced
| 10 ay the police Of his native town overseas, an'
that she shared 10 secret his rcbellious opinions
| This NAV or may not have been truth; but thu
woman flung her pailfu lercey Into tho street, an'
then as liercely confronted Claire.
| yell vat you got TO sayT she eried shrihy
| lyon looks at rue as IL vass 10 blame for You run
ming AGAINST me. amt 1T / 500 you before. Yoi
amt much annerhow You got big lot III airs
Won Walk, shust like grant latyp Here the virag
1ronnod her pail. set hand on either hip. and at
| tempted. with sad lack of success, while two long
| tornlshed earrings oscillatod Ia her big bushe'
cara. 10 initiate Clares really graceful walk
"sboD she continued. in sarcastic explanation o
her parody "You walks jush shol Bud you ain
much. You amt no laty. You better stop rid
away treing 10 he one. Dots too thin, dot iss. Aha
you're off, thought I'd freiden you'll"
Claire was indeed off, and moving somewhs
briskly, too. She had grown rather white. I'M
rude encounter left q harsh memory behind II
For some time she could not dissipate the recoiiec
ton of the German jade's insoence.
perhaps she was right" her set lips ut lengt
murmured. 81 am not q lady. l had better $40
right away trying to be one."
A little later she had quilted the main street
the town and gained an open expanse at whose vcrG
the houses stood with wide gaps between them.
though a forlorn effort had been made to conque
vacancy by ugliness. But vacancy had won tn
fight; space never resisted time with moro comple'
conquest An immense drab plain. shorn OF the lea'
green feature. now stretched before Claires gaz