Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-10-11
ONE WOMAN'S WAY.

clothes I'm going to-"
There was no sign of irritation or i'll ma
tut in the girls bright face as she made this
assertion. She sat in the center of heap of
discarded finery. 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, cIumpled ribbons and
torn laces.
''What do you propose to wears"
Florence Annable's only companion on this
occasion was her married sister, Mrs. Paul
Grenman, in whose pretty ears sparkled 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 unkind, julia"
Miss Annable replied, but the truth is, am
not comfortable in second hand clothing"
blanche would be edited your remarks,
Florence" said Mrs. Grenman; sit 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, and SO does Blanche's."
Notwithstanding her protest, the young
lady had selected the least injured of the vel
vet skirts and had begun to rip off the braid.
DuD SIG lllI0W uOhu iCi oSisooiS nv" e-iAt
stepped out of the debris
tIhat settles it, julia" she said, with shin
ing eyes, but with no other Indication Of ex-
element II will sort those rags and jags
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
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 fer your sister, julia" Miss
Annable replied, as she set about her task.
perhaps you think that your sisters should
keep you supplied with Few clothes?" said
Mrs. Grenman.
mo, do not; but l will tell you what
do Think" Miss Annable responded, with
heightened color, but in firm, cool tones. II
think that you and Blanche ought to be will
ing that should earn my wardrobe"
'tEarn it?" said Mrs. Grenman, diSdainful-
w. "What new and abominable CROCHET
have you got into your head nova Some
thing to disgrace us all, l suppose"
s'If you and Blanche would pay me in hard
cash. as you would be compelled to pay pro
fessional for playing the piano at your lunch
con parties and your kettledrums, your re-
ceptiors and your informal evening gather
ings, | could buy my own clothes, and be
much better satisfied"
Mrs. Grenman's establishment and indigna-
ton were overwhelming
'sWho ever thought that one of our family
could be so coarse and mA'cenary? Pay one.
own sister for playing few sonatas and quad
rifles once in a while! Why don't you ask Us
to pay YOU for condescending to attend oul
kettledrums and receptions? Indeed, Florence
if | must say it, think you have been gen
erously compensated for anything you have
ever done for either of u.s." and Mrs. Grenmar
waved a jeweled hand toward the bundles il
the center of the room.
Julia, | will find out what 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 q few bits o.
the thread from her handsome black sill
dress-she had been darning a tiny bit of Lace
and proceeded to array herself for tn;
street.
The room in which this conversation tool
place was the fourth story back of a so called
fashionable boarding house, and this was
; Florence Annable's home Her father anG
mother were both dead, the former having
survived the wreck of a large fortune only
few weeks. When the estate was settled i
was found that there would be enough money
to provide Florence the only unmarried
daughter with the necessalies of life Ii
other words, it would pay her board. So
for two years OF more she had been depend
ent upon her wealthy sisters for her ward
| robe 1t was a dsagreeable position for
sensitive and high minded girl, and it hat
come at last to be uncomfortable.
''Florence"
Mrs. Grenman was ready to go.
"Well," said her companion.
~ shall repeat this conversation to Paul
tell YOU, that you may be prepared to NEE
the consequences"
81 am prepared for anything but rags ant
iags,' Julia" her sister replied; land be,
you to believe that should not have remad
your cast off garments so long if it had no
: been for keeping the peace Let me tell yol
what else am willing to do. You say tina
some of the costumes l have made from TIL
dresses you have finished wearing have bee,
ready to make over the best of them for ycl
, 70 wear again, and l will do it in my bes
manner"
"And be paid for it?'
certainly; like any other dressnaker."
Hlf you were not perfect simpleton yol
would marry Luke Hardness" Mrs. Gren
! man burst out anew "Then you woul'
have an establishment equal to your sisters
aud there wouldn't be such a horrible il
equality in our stations as now"
81 marry Luke Harknessg' said Miss An
nable, with the first touch of haughtines
she had shown. "A man old enough to b
my grandfather, as deaf a post and Il
, bald as an ancient American eagles | woul
> go cut as a cook or housemaid first. He,
, Julia, Il the choice were given me of marry
ing that man or digging my own gr4ye
with the understanding that was to jun
into it when completed, would choose til
, latter alternative with gratitude"
!, ''Aui you wish me to understand that yo
will net play for one of my parties again ur
loss p.,,, are M ID for t2 >,
Mrs Hrenman's hand was on the KNOB O
' the door as she asksd this question,
~ wish you to understand that dc not re
gard your old velvet and silk gowns as fal
equivalent for my services as chief musician,
said Miss Anpable, "And also, that l nc
, cnly believe with tho Bible that THE lahore
Is worthy of his hire but that labor IS EN-
nently respectable
The departing guests twist of the doc
knob was nothing less than vicious. Flol
ence, who knew her sister perfectly, undel