Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-14
ONE W0MAN'S WAY.

"
TITS no use;. I've wer2 afI the cast OF
clothes I'm going to.
There was no sign OF irritation or i'll ma
ture in the girls bright face as she made this
assertion. She sat in the center Of heap OF
discarded fnery. There were frayed and
spotted velvet skirts, satin and silk waists,
strained out and threadbare in almost every
seam, founced and bedraggled gros grains
and nuns veilings, crumpled ribbons and
torn leces
What do you propose TO wear"
Florence AnnaEIe's only companion on this
occasion was her married sister, Mrs. Paul
Grenman, in whose pretty ears spanked val
liable solitaires, and whose fingers were
crowded with costly jewels. Mrs Gren-
mans tone was cold, and the smile on her
faUltless lips was almost a sneer
Il don't mean anything unllind, Julia"
Miss Annable replied, ''bUG the truth is, / am
not comfortable in second hand clothing"
Blanche would be edited at your remarks,
Florence" said Mrs. Grenman; 'it was no
easy task to get these things together" she
added, with increased hautsur. You know
very well that my maid expects every gar
ment discard, aud SO does Branches"
Notwithstanding her protest, the young
lady had selected the least injured of the vel
yet skirts and had begun to rip OF the braid.
But she threw down her scissors now and
stepped out Of the debris.
THAT settles it, Julia" she said, with shin
ing eyes, but with no other indication of ex-
citement. Il viii sort those rags and jags
and velvet gowns into bundles, and you and
Blanche need not disappoint your maids. "
What stupidity, Florence!n Mrs. Gren-
man FASTENED TO say 'You know that we
want you to have our things You have
made lovely costumes many times out OF
poorer material than that IS there"
The lady's tone was little more concilia-
tory. She evidently had some reason for not
wishing her sister to carry out her threat.
These things are much more suitable for
your maid than for your sister, Julia, Miss
Annable replied, as she set about her task.
''Perhapsyou think that your sisters should
keep you supplied with new clothes2' said
Mrs. Grenman.
mo, do not; but I will tell you what
do think" Miss Annable responded, with
heightened color, but in firm, cool tones. 81
think that you and Blanche ought to be will
ing that / should earn nay wardrobe"
Earn it?" said Mrs. Grenman, disdainful-
w. "What new and abominable crotchet
have you got into your head nowi Some
thing to disgrace US ell, 1 suppose"
"If you and Blanche would pay me IN hard
cash, as you would be compelled to pay a pro-
lassional, for playing the piano at your lunch
con parties and your kettledrun1s, your re-
ceptions and your informal evening gather
ings, could buy my own clothes, and be
much better satisfied"
Mrs. Grenmans establishment and indigna-
ton were overwhelming.
who ever thought that one of our family
could be so coarse and noercenary? Pay ones
Own sister for playing a few sonatas and quad
rifles once in a while! Why don't you ask us
to pay you for condescending to attend our
kettledruuls and receptions2 Indeed, Florence,
ii / must say it, think you have been gem
erously compensated for anything you have
ever done for either of u.s." and Mrs. Grenman
waved jeweled hand toward the bundles in
the center of the room.
Julia, will find out what a professional
pianist viii charge for playing the piano the
same number of hours that l do" Miss Anna
Bile began again, calmly. Then, not being
a professional, l will play for you and Blanche
for Just half that amount"
Mrs. BRENNAN rose, picked off few bits of
the thread from her handsome black silk
dress-she had been darning a tiny bit of lace
and proceeded to array herself for the
street.
The room in which this conversation took
place was the fourth story back of a so called
fashionable boarding house, and this was
Florence Annable's home. Her father and
mother were both dead the former having
survived the wreck OF a large fortune only
few weeks. " hen the estate was settled it
was found that there would be enough money
to provide Florence, the only unmarried
daughter, with the necesSaries of life. In
other words, it would pay her board. So,
for two years or more, she had been depend
emit upon her wealthy sisters for her ward
robe Ii was a disagreeable position for a
sensitive and high minded girl, and 1t had
come at last TO be uncomfortable.
"Florence"
Mrs. Grenman was ready to go.
well. said her companion.
a shall repeat this conversation to Paul.
| tell you, that you may be prepared TO meet
the consequences"
Il am prepared for anything bat rags and
iags,' julia. her sister replied; land I beg
you to believe that l should not have remade
your east oil garments 50 long II it had not
been for keeping the peace. Let me tell you
what else l am willing 10 do. You say tha-
some of the costumes l have made from the
dresses You have finished wearing have been
very pretty and stylish. l VIII hold myself
ready 10 make over the best Of them for ycu
TO wear again, and l win DO it in my best
nlanner."
"And be paid for itg"
'.Carfainlv: like any other dresSmaker"
If YOU were not perfect srnpleton you
would marry Luke Hardness" Mrs. GreG-
man burst out anew. Then you would
have an establishment equal TO your sisters,
and there wouldn't be such horrible IL
equality in our stations as now"
II marry Luke HarkneSsF' said Miss An.
nahie, with the first touch Of haughtineSs
she had shown A man old enough 10 lie
my grandfather. as deaf as a post and ~
bald as an ancient American eaglei l would
so out as 8 cook or houSsInaid first NtS,
Julia, If the choice were given me OF marry
ing that man or digging my own grave,
with the understanding that / was to Jump
into it when completed, would choose the
latter alternative with gratitude
And you wish ne - understand that you
,y}l NOT play for one Of my parties again IN
Mrs Grenman's hand WIS on the Knob OF
the door as she asked this question.
Il wish YOU to understand. thar do not TO