, 1889-01-31
ONE WOMAN'S WAY.


I'm going to-"
There was no sign Of irritation or III ma.
ture IN the girl q bright face 40 she made
this assertion. She sat Ia the center Of Q
heap of discarded fnery. There we're
frayed and spotted velvet skirts, satin and
silk waists. strained out and threadbare
IN almost every seam, aounced and be-
dragRled gros.grains and nuns. .veiings,
Gumpled ribbons and torn laces.
wv hat do you propose TO wearp'
=, Florence Annable's only companion on
this occasion was her married sister, Mrs.
Paul Grenman, in whose pretty ears
spaFkled valuable solitaires and whose fn-
isrs were crowded with costly jewels. Mrs.
Srenman't tone was cold and the smile or
her fsultless lips was almost . snser.
II don't mean anything unkind, julia,
Mise Annable replied, "but the trnth 10
am not comfortable in secondhand cloth
"Blanche would be edited ct your 70.
marks, Florence" said Mrs. Grenman.
1T was no easy task to get these things
together" she added with Increased hau.
tsur. "You know very well that my maid
expect, every garment l discard. and 90
Notwithstanding her protest, the young
lady had selected the least injured Of the
velvet skirts and had commenced 10 rip
"a VIC uIdtu, DuL Uuo LuIcW uONQ Q6E
scissors now and stepped cut Of the debris.
THAT settles it, Julia, she said with
shining eyes, but with no other indica.
6on Of excitement. Il will sort those
rags and japs and velvet gowns into
burdes. and you and Blanche need not
aisappoint your maids"
"Whst stupidity, Florence!" Mrs. Gren.
man hastened to suy. "You know that
We want you to have our things. You
10 l~..
:nt OF poorer mAssrial thaA there is
The lady's tone was . trihe more con.
siliatory. She evidently had some rsa.en
Sor not wishing her sister to carry out her
threat.
These things are much more suitable
eer your maid than for your sister, Jslis,"
Miss Annsble replied, % she sst about her
task.
"Perhap. you think that your sister.
slothssp" said Mrs. Grenman.
mo, do not; but will tell you what
do think" Miss Annsble responded with
Heightened color, but In firm. cool tones.
IL think that you and Blanche ought to
BE- Wiling that ! should ear. my ward
robe +"
Earn itp" said Mrs. Grenman dis
dainfully. "What new and abom,nable
SrotcueC nave you 8ot luto your ueau nOWF
Something TO disgrace Us all suppose"
IF you and Blanche would pay me in
hard cash as you would be compelled to
pay a professional for playing the piano
at your luncheon-parties and your kettle
drums, your receptions and your informal
evening gatherings, could buy my own
clothes and be much btster satisfied
who ever thought that one of our fam.
lily could be 80 coarse and mercensry?" 2"
~ ". Z Il
dignation were overwhelming.
PAY ones own sister for playing q few
aonatas and quadrillss once in while.
Why don't you ask us to pay you for con.
descending to attend our kettledrums and
receptions? Indeed, Florence, If | must
cay it, / think you have been generously
compensated for everything you have ever
done for either of as, and Mrs. Grenman
waved a jeweled hand at the bundles in
the center OF the room.
Julia, l will hnd out what q profess
sional pianist would charge for playing
the piano the same number of hours taat
DO" Miss Annable began again calmly.
Then, not being q profsssionsl, | will
play for you and Blanche for just half Of
shat amount"
Mrs. Grenman rose, picked up a few
bits Of thread from her handsome black
elk dress-she had been darning dainty
bit OF lace-and proceeded to array her
self for the street.
Tue room in which this conversation
took place was the fourth story back of q
so-called fashionable beading house. and
this was Florence Annable's home. Her
father and mother were both dead, tho
former having survived the wreck of q
large fortune only few weeks. When
the estate was settled 1t was found that
there wonld bs enough money TO provide
Florence, tho only unmarriek daughter,
with the necessaries OF life. In other
words It would pay her board. So for
two years or more she had been}de pendent
upon her wealthy sisters for her wardrobe.
Il was disaSreeable position for sensi-
tive and high-minded girl, and 1t had
come at last to be unsndurable.
'Florence?"
Mrs. Grenman was already to 60 now.
"Wellp" said her companion.
II shall repeat this conversation TO Paul.
tell you that you may be prepared to
meet the consequences"
II am prepared for anything but rags
and jaRs.' Julia" her sister replied, ''and
beg you to believe that should not have
remade your cast-of garments so long il
IT had not been for keeping the peace.
Let me tell you what else | am willing to
do. You say some OF the costumes that
have made from the dresses you have fin
ished wearing have been very pretty and
stylish. will hold myself ready to make
over the best of them for you to wear
again, and will do it in my best man.
ner."
'And be paid for itp"
Certainly, like any other dressmaker :"
''lf you were not perfect simpleton
you would marry Luke Harkness," Mrs.
BRENNAN burst out anew. Then you
would have an establishment equal to
your sisters. and there wouldn't be such Q
horrible inequality in our stations "a there
10 now"