The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-01-22
ANNA.
BY ELEANOR KIRKE

BY ELEANOR KIRKE.
n T would not have been a hard
z position for IL ost girls, but fol
~ Anna Campbell it was indescrib-
S ably painful. After reading
The story, many readers will nc
doubt say Anna Campbell was q
very foolish girl. Others will feel
that her position was a trying one,
and that she behaved as well as
most girls would have behaved un-
der the same circumstances. Here
is the story:
The dining room in which Anna
sat was bright, sunny apartment,
with birds in the windows and a
Maltese cat slum bering before the
open fire. The breakfast service
was very tasteful and pretty, and
every appointment of the room be-
tokened comfort and good cheer
Indeed, there seemed but one draw
back to perfect domestic harmony.
This was Anna.
A fine looking gentleman of for
ty-fve or thereabouts sat at the
foot of the table and dispensed beef
steak, fried potatoes and bon mots
in manner which most persons
would have considered extremely
agreeable.
N t so to Anna. To her Col
Demer was an ogre,-a handsome,
polished blue beard,-who smiled
because his teeth were fine, and
was kind to every body because of
his overweening vanity and desire
TO be popular. In this respect, as
in many others, Anna was very
much mistaken.
A beautiful woman presided at
the coffee urn. There seemed the
best possible understanding be-
tween this lady and the gentleman.
There certainly should have been,
tor they were husband and wife
What is more, the lady was Anna's
mother, who had been married to
Col. Demer three or four months.
This is all there is to offer in ex-
tenuation of Annals unhappy con
duct.
For some reason-inexplcable at
least to Anna-she had been placed,
on the day of their arrival, on the
cOlonel's left hand; and because
she was too proud she did not like
her seat, not because she would
have cared in the least about hurt
ing the colonePs feeling, she had
taken it regular three times a day
and made herself as disagreesble as
possible. How? By an unsmiling
face, and an exaggeration of manner
that made her appear Ikea naughty
guest, instead of member of the
family.
Between Gel. Demer and his wife
sat Paul Demer, q young man of
eighteen, an invalid and cripple
He was seldom able to come to the
table. This was one of the excep-
tional days. Some years previous
fall on the ice had caused a spi-
nal trouble, for which there seemed
to be no cure, and very slight allie
viation.
At his right sat Lula Demer, a
girl of eight, and on the other side
of the table Frank Demer, lad of
fifteen. This constituted the whole
family. i.
1--WE are going to gather holly
this morning, Anna" said Col. De
mer, after he had waited upon
them all, "and l hope you will
make one of the party"
Thank your replied Anna
stifiy.
Does that mean yes or no?' in
quired the gentlemen, with a smile,
determined to vary the program
little by teasing. The girls face
flushed as she answered.
''It means no, Col. Demer, if you
will allow me to be so impolite.'
Excuse me if l am not able to
see where the impoliteness comes in,
in politely declining an invitation"
said the colonel IN his usual quiet
manner. He then turned and said,
81 hope you feel able to ride as far
as the woods with us, Paul"
There was an indescribable ten
dernes in the man voice as he ad-
dressed the invalid, which was by
no means lost on Anna, though at
that time she would not have ad-
mitted it, even to herself
'-Oh, il only couldp said Paul,
with a wistful look toward Mrs. De
mer, Of whom he was very fond,
and in whose judgment he had
learned to conide. ''If mother
thinks twill be right" he continued.
"a ride this morning would be
against the doctors orders, Paul."
said the lady. "But il you keep
pretty well to-day, 1 think by to-
morrow he will prescribe one him
self. am very sorry to disappoint
you, dear"
"Oh, it's no matter" said Paul,
braEely. THE fact is, / forgot all
about the doctor"
Mrs. Demer rose from the table
and was about to wheel the invalid
away, but stopped, with her hands
on the back of the chair, and said
81 am sorry to say that
have an unpleasant duty to perform
this morning; one that / should be
very glad to disregard if possible.
My daughter wishes it to be under
stood by the family that she not
only does not want any Christmas
presents given her, but that she
will under no circumstances re-
ceive any,"
"Oh, isn't that pokyr' broke in
the impulsive Frank. "If / were
Anna, I'd take them, If 1 threw
them into the fire afterwards"
And unable longer to restrain his
anger, he rose and.left the room.
"I think you might at least have
waited, mamma, until was out Of
the room," said Anna, as she NOV
ed toward the door. "If there is
one thing more disagreeable than
another, it is scene" >"
81 agree with you, Anna" said