Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-29
ONE W0MAN'S WAY.


strained out and threadtare in almost every
seafn aounced and bedragsied gros grains
and nuns veilings. crumpled ribbons and
torn laees.
What do you propose 10 wearT
Florence Annable's only companion on this
occasion was her married sister, Mrs Paul
BRENNAN, in WHOSE pretty ears sparkIed 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 sheer.
Il don't mean anything unkind, Julia"
Miss Annable replied, but the truth is am
not conIfortHi 10 in second hand clothing"
blanche would be edited at your remarks
Florence said Mrs. Grenman; lit WAS no
easy task TO get these things together she
added with increased hauteur. You know
very well that my maid expects every gar
ment discard. aud does Blanches."
Notwithstanding her protest, the young
lady had selected the least injured OF the vel
vet 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-
element II will sort those rags and jays
and velvet gowns into bundles, and you and
Blanche need not disappoint your maids"
What stupidity, Florencel" Mrs. Gren-
man fastened to say. .'You know that we
wan. 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.
perhaps you think that your sisters should
keep you supplied with new clothesf' said
Mrs Grenman.
mo do not: but will tell you what
do think" Miss Annable responded. with
heightened color, but in firm, cool tones. Il
think that you and Blanche ought to be will
ing that should earn my wardrobe"
Earn itf' said Mrs Greninan disdainful-
". What new and abominable CROCHET
have you got into your head now Some
thing to disgrace us all, suppose"
If you and Blanche would pay me in hard
cash, as you would he compelled to pay pro
fessional, for playing the piano at your lunch
con parties and your kettledrums, your re-
captions and your informal evening gather
Jugs, could buy my own clothes and be
much better satisfied
Mrs Grenman's astonishment and indigna-
ton we're overwhelming
Who ever thought that one of our family
could be coarse and mercenaryf Pay ones
own sister for playing a few sonatas and quad
rifles once In IA whilei Why don't you ask us
to pay you for condescending to attend our
kettledrums and receptionsi Indeed, Florence,
if must say it, think you have been gen.
erously compensated for anything you have
ever done for either Of us" and Mrs. Grenman
waved a jeweled hand toward the bundles i'm
the center Of the room.
Julia, | will find out what a professional
pianist will charge for playing the piano the
same number of hours that do" Miss Anna
bic began again, calmly. Then, not being
professional will play for you and Blanche
for just half that amount"
Mrs. Grenman rose. picked off few bits Of
the thread from her handsome black silk
dress-she had been darning . 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 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 large fortune only a
few weeks. When 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
ent upon her wealthy sisters for her ward
robe 1t was a disagrecable position for a
sensitive and high minded girl, and it had
come at last to be uncomfortable.
"Florencei"
Mrs. Grenman was ready to go.
"Well." said her companion.
II shall repeat this conversation to Paul.
tell you that you may be prepared to meet
the consequences"
# am prepared for anything but rags and
jays Julia" her sister replied; land beg
you to believe that should not have remade
your cast Off garments so long if it had not
been for keeping the peace. Let me tell you
what else am willing to do. You say that
some of the costumes | have made from the
dresses you have finished wearing have been
very pretty and stylish. l will hold myself
ready to make over the best of them for you
70 wear again. and will do it in my best
manner"
And be paid for it,'
Certainly; like any other dressmaker"
''If you were not perfect simpleton you
man burst out anew. Then you would
have an establishment equal to your sisters.
and there wouldn't be such a horrible IL
equality in our stations now"
IL marry Luke Harknessf" said Miss An
nable, with the first touch OF haughtiness
she had shown. "A man old enough b l,e
my grandfather deaf q post and ~
bald as an ancient American eaglet l would
go cut cook or housemaid first YES,
Julia, il the choice were given me Of marry
ing that man or digging my own grave,
with the understanding that was tp jump
into it when completed. would choose the
latter alternative with gratitude
And you wish me to understand that ypa
will not play for one of my parties again I'M
less you are paid for itf'
Mrs. Grenman's hand was on the knob Of
the door as she asked this question.
II wish you to understand that do not
gard your old velvet and silk gowns a fair
equivalent for my services as chief musician
said Miss Annable And also, that | not
only believe with the Bible that the aborer
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 item now
would be a 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.
1T is wicked to keep you at the piano, Miss
Annable, when we all know you are 50 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. aud in q bssinesslike
and open and above beard manner, As men
termed iti Miss Annable was unable to re
why she should be idle and wear her sisters
cast of clothes any more than the man who
had room across the corridor should be
idle and wear his rich brothers rags and
jays
This question Of the utilization of talent
bad been logically met and settled . good
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.
1t was no more than fair that she should do
the same, her relatives had frequently told
her, instead Of occupying tie fourth story
back in q crowded boarding house, and max
ing them world of trouble in explaining
and excuSing her anomalous position Their
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 in