Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-14


only believe with the Bible that the 1aborer
is worthy of his hire but that labor is emf
nently respectable"
The departing guests twist Of the door
knob was nothing less than vicious. Flor
ence. who knew her sister perfectly, under
stood that the breach between them now
would be hard one to bridge. Work was
degradation. in the opinion Of her own near
relatives. But it was not 50 for her. There
were two ways in which she knew she could
earn a generous support. One was by her
musical talent, and the other by her taste
and ability in designing costumes.
sit is wicked to keep you at thepiano. Miss
Aunable, when we all know you are so fond
of dancing, but no one plays as you do" her
friends were constantly saying.
Now why, she asked herself, with this
available talent in her possession, should she
not earn some money, and in a businessliks
and "open and above board" manner, as men
termed it, Miss Annable was unable to see
why she should be idle and wear her sisters
cast off clothes any more than the man who
had room across the corridor should be
idle and wear his rich brothers rags and
jags."
This question of the utilization of talent
Ddl DeSn lOSlCai4J iHct alf1 Soetleu Str'u
while before. but the hinderances in the way
Of putting her theories into practice had
been hard to overcome Her sisters had
aimed high and brought down their game.
II was no more than fair that she should do
the same, her relatives had frequently told
her, instead of occupying the fourth story
back in q crowded boarding house, and max
ing them world of trouble in explaining
L., Tha,y-
frequent assertions that sister Florence was
exceedingly peculiar, and could not be in
duced to make home with either of her
relatives, were in the main true. Miss An
nable could have made herself useful N
either of these establishments, but her liberty
was far too precious TO jeopardize by any
such arrangement. Here in the sky parior
certain hours of each day were her own, her
very own.
A few hours later Miss Annable was driv-
ing in the park with some friends. She
passed both Of her sisters, and their recogni-
ton, though calculated to deceive her COM
panions, was well understood by her. Julia
had communicated with Blanche, and they
had both shown their displeasure in as
marked a manner the circumstances would
permit. This recalcitrant member of their
aristocratic family was to be brought to
terms. Florence Annable smiled as she
thought Of it.
Clarke Durivage rode along by the side of
the landau, and chatted with the young la
dies For the first time since Florence had
decided not to wear any more least offs" her
courage failed her. She felt it to be a humil-
iating truth that she cared more for this
mans good opinion than for anything else in
the world; to think that she was quite indie
pendent Of remark or criticism from any
other quarter, but not from him, filed her
with confusion and alarm Mr.. Durivage
had been the only man she had met in society
who had talked to her as if she were possessed
of an equal intelligence.
Miss Annable canvasSed the subject very
thoroughly in these few minutes. Her scorn
of her own weakness, as shown by the pres
ence of this man, acted like q spur to her con-
science.
''The die is cast" she told herself, as Mr..
DuIivage babe her good evening. II will
not wear jags, and so must play jigs"
The young lady did not estimate her mu-
steal talent at its true value It was almost a
case of genius. She could play the works Of
the most favored composers, and with power
and expression which delighted the most crit
zeal. And so it came to pass that Miss Flor
ence Annable was engaged at regular pro-
fessioual prices to play for a party at the
house of the wealthy and distinguished Mrs.
Van Cortland Her sisters were both pres
ent, but neither of them came near her during
the evening, and in this way the world found
out there had been quarrel.
Good evening, Miss Florence
Good evening, Mr.. Durivage.n
''It is rather singular there is no one here
to play but you," the gentleman remarked.
~ have been waiting half hour to invite
you to dance"
1T is not in the beast singular, Mr.. Duri
wage" said the musician, smiling heroically,
"for l am regularly employed to play for
Mrs Van CortlsndS guests this evening"
The plunge was made, the worst was over,
and Florence felt that she could look herself
squarely in the face when the evening was
over
And you-you have stI-,ck out in this
way for yourselfE'
There was a strange quality in the gentle
mans voice that his companion did not I'M
derstand
Struck outs" Miss Annable lauChingly
answered. That's good phrase. 1t requires
muscle, assure you"
But your sisters, Miss FlorenceF'
They are here. You must have seen them. /
The next piece is a quadriile, Mr.. Durivage
Please listen 10 it critically. 1t is my own
composition"
The music was success. The applause and
excitement that followed its conclusion
amounted TO an ovation. Mr.. Durivage drew
near the piano and read the title.
Ladies and gentlemen" he said, in loud, /
clear tones, the name Of the original quad |
rIIle which has SO delighted Us is Rags and |
JegS and Velvet Gowns"
There came a time whsn Florence Annable |
could tell her friend, Mr.. Durivsge, tbs |
whole story, and the following is the sub |
stance Of his reply:
Il determmed,n he said, Ito WOO and win |
YOU that night st Mrs. Van Cortland's. |
had cared for you from the first day Of our /
acquaintance, bat how could help feeling /
that You might be Ike your sisters-ultra /
fashionable, purse proud, regardful only Of !.
appearances. What kind OF helpneets would 1
your sisters make il misfortune shoHld over
take their husbsndsl And then, Florence. 4
have always maintained that il was Just as
for woman 70 be idle and de- /
pendent as for a man As my wife, theirs /
WI be no need for you 10 costinue your pro- 1
feSSiouaI career, but your talent must never /
BE- neglected, and for two reasons; First, be-
uause it viii always be our greatest source o.
endowment, ami next, because every woman I
should always hold ia her hands the means OF .
ST. pportn-T-ue Flag