Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-10-03

It meant-a move Tor life-she reeled
away stunned. 1t did not seem to her
that she could bear tllis last drop of bit
terness, the utter bitterness of daily life
with wrangling woman, whose child
had been trained to be little better than
spy. Not that there was anything to
spy. but that even the smallest trifes,
misinterpreted and reported, add to the
boiling of the daily strife And when
Roger, who despised this sister-in- law,
saw what it all meant, and Dolph, who
already hated her, came home, the com
bat decpened. Roger and Dolph must
have rooms outside the house then, and,
of course, Melicent must be responsible
for them. Roger had small salary, with
which he dressed himself and bought
theatre tickets; Dolpie played the fine
gentleman while wIit.hg foa older archi-
tecis to appreciate his gifts and apply to
him for aid. They were perfectly secure,
for according to Mclicent's view of life a
debt long left was almost as dishonoring
as theft, and one owed by any mem
Der of the family was owed by all of
them, and that meant owed simply by
herself.
81 don't see why you do work so con
stantly,a her mother whimpered, in her
indistinct way. II should think you
would see l needed your attention as
much as your everlasting boards and
canvases."
When, one day, a second attack of
the disease rendered her mothers tongue
powerless at last, and she really did need
more attention. the canvases and designs
had to suffer; but it was no relief that
her mother could not upbraid her any
more by word ofmouth; the beseeching,
following eyes were doing it all the time
OF course Maud could do nothing in
this emergency, and Mrs. James was
worse than useless. Melicent had
to break through the mothers prejudces
and hire nurse, in order that she might
go on with absolutely necessary work less
totally hindered.
1t is hardly surprising that this course
met with very decided objection from
Mrs. James, who saw money diverted
from legitimate channels by the nurse
money that would have bought
Helen the loveliest of spring suits, and
who always pleased herself by speaking
her mind, and could not, for the life Of
her, see why an old woman should bC
indulged to the point of running the resi-
of the family. What a household it was
James had returned, and having, with
his wife, organized an opposition tt
Maud and Ben, the atmosphere was only
one of elimination and recrimination
Melicent could do nothing for her mothe
that Maria did not make her uncom
Portable because it was not dont
for Helen; she could buy herself M
luxury without feeling that she deprived
Dolph and Roger of its equivalent
she could give them nothing without en-
countering scowls and unpleasant re
marks from James and Francis Th
bills for Maud's doctors and messag
women and drugs were sums that Nigh
have made provision for old age. Sh,
began to feel as if it would soon be al
impossibiity for her to meet them anC
all the rest, for in this atmosphere inven
tion was deadened and the pencil palsied
sometimes it seemed to her as if ever
line she drew represented irreparabl
waste of vital tissue.
Not that personally she cared for that
All the vital tissue might waste, so ia
as she was concerned. but not till he
mother had gone; not while she was 81
needed by the rest, for by one of tn
strange contradictions there are in all o
us, she loved these vampires that wer
sucking her life-blood.
"We must stop our bills and lessen ou
, expenses" she said one day to Ben
"There are half-score of my things i'm
sold at the exhibition. l am ceasing t
be the fashion. My brain seems to b
useless. l have no ideas, no freshness
and my hand trembles so that it carica
} lures my line. If could only go ava
just now, and have little restp
A little rest. For ten years now
had been nothing but work and worry
, work and worry-apprehension pain
sorrow, and now was coming despair
Francis came In one evening and toll
her that unless she could help him abou
, the mortgage of his house it would hav
to 60 He had mortgaged it when h
, wished money for something or otbel
: sure, probably, somewhere in his innC
/ consciousness, if not in his externi
| thoughts, that she would redeem it; an
now the day of redemption or of los
, had come. There was only one thing t
do the mother, with the consent of tn
: rest, could mortgage the homestead
} But the consent of the mother could no
' never be had; so there was nothing
. do. Yes, one thing could civ
her note. Her dealers would doubtle'
r discount it. And to meet it2 There W;
f the great prize to contend for. Gained
g it would discharge the note. Not gained
the note could be renewed, and constar
I work must wipe it out. 81 have NJ
the strength" I" she murmured, appalled,
t But, nevertheless, she tried. And an
D one who has called upon brain alte
t nate fire and lead knows what the effo
/ was. Never before had, Francis show
such interest in her work. He was in
y sec it in the morning, and gave it its la
t look at twilight. " What devote
G brother he isp' his wife said to h
: crony.
f ~ never knew piece of yours har
on so, he saidto Melicent, And som
. how it has none of your old snap. 1t
t leaden. You really must call up yol
o reserves, Melieent, if you want to W
It that prize"
q "You really must, +" said James.
a If you want to win the prize" sa
d Ben.
d Poor Melicentl She looked at her wor
d and realized what they meant. The fou
r tain was exhausted; the sparkling flo
had ceased; they were drawing now Il
e dregs. the very lees of life. And wi
: should she call up her reserve
e why should she win the prizel wi
9 should she not slip away and let som
p body else work now2 What reward hi