Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-14
ONE W0MAN'S WAY.

ture in the girls bright face as she made this
assertion. She sat IN the center of a bean OF
discarded finery. There were frayed and
spotted velvet skirts, satin and silk waists.
strained out and threadbare In almost every
seam, hounccd and bedraggled gros grains
and nuns veilings, crumpled ribbons and
torn lacss.
''What do you propose to wearr'
Florence Annables only companion on this
occasion was her married sister, Mrs. Paul
BRENNAN, In whose pretty ears sparkled val
liable soltaires, 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
81 don't mean anything unkind. Julia.
Miss Annable replied, but the truth Is, am
not comfortable in second hand clothing
Blanche would be edited at your remarks,
Florence said Mrs. Grenman; 'It was no
sasv task - Get these things together sho
added with increased hauteur. "You know
very well that my maid expects every gar
ment discard, aud 30 does Blanchesn
Notwithstanding her protest, tho 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 az
citemeut 81 viii sort those rags and jags
and velvet gowns into bundles, and YOU and
Blanche need not disappoint your maids"
What stupidity, Florsncel" Mrs Gren-
msn FASTENED TO say. "You know that we
want you 20 have our things. You have
made lovely costumes many times out OF
poorer material than that Is there
The lady's tone was a little more concilia-
Ns.HaaT tsl.s..N L. a
wishing her sister 20 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 clothesr said
-At6s Qrrnman
mo. 7 40 metz t,t / will tell you what
DO think, Mis- Annable responded, with
heightened color, but In firm, cool tones. II
think that you and Blanche ought to be will
INK that | should earn my wardrobe
Earn itf said Mrs. BRENNAN, disdainful-
ly. what new and abominablo crotchet
have you got into your head nowi Some
thing 10 disgrace US ALL suppose"
IF you aud Blanche would pay me In hard
cash, rs you would be compelled 10 pay pro-
fessional, for playing the piano at your lunch
con parties and your kottledrums. your re
ceptions and your Informal evening gather
ings, could buy my own clothes, and 10
much better satisfied"
Mrs. Grenman's astonishmsut and indigna-
tlon were overwhelming.
"Who ever thought that one Of our family
could b. 10 coarse and mercenaryf Paw ones
own sister for playing few sonstas and quad
rifles once In while Why don't you ask US
10 pay you for condescending 20 attend our
4
II must say IL, think you have been gen
erously compensated for anything you have
ever done for either Of US" and Mrs BRENNAN
waved jeweled hand toward the bundles in
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
BILE began again, calmly. Then, not being
aprofessional, 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 10 array herself for the
street
The room in which this conversation took
place was the fourth story back Of "A ~ called
fashionable boarding house, and this was
Florence Aunablss home. Her father and
mother were both dead the former having
survived the wreck Of a largo fortune only
few weeks When the estate was settled IL
was found that there would be enough money
20 provide Florence the only unmarried
daughter, with the necessaries of l1s In
other words, It yGoh pay her board. s.,
Tor two years/or more, she had been depend
ent upon her wealthy sisters for her ward
= fcteer~ IL was disagreeable position for a
sensitive aud high minded girl, and IL had
come at last 70 be uncomfortable
"Florenceln
Mrs. Grenman was ready TO 20
We'll said her companion.
81 shall repsat this conversation TO Paul.
I tall you, that you may be prepared TO meet
the consequence
"I am prepared for anything but rags and
jags,' Julia, her sister replied; land beg
you 70 believe that should not lave renade
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 that
some Of the costumes have made from the
dresses you have finished wearing have been
very pretty and stylish | will hold myself
ready 10 make over the best Of them for you
20 wear again, and | will do it in my best
manner"
"And be paid for itT'
:
Ew"h you were not a perfect simpleton you
would marry Luke Harkness,n Mrs Gren-
man burst out anew. "Then you would
have an establishment equal TO your sisters,
and there wouldn't be such n horrible IN
equality In our stations as now"
II marry Luke Harknessf said Miss An
nable, with the first touch OF haughtineS
abe had shown. "a man old enough tn b,
my grandfather, "a deaf as n post aud "a
bald rs an ancient American eaglei | would
20 out as "A cook OF housemaid first YES
Julia, II the choice were given me OF marry
ing that man or digging my own grave
with the understanding that was 10 jumJ
into It when completcd, would choose tia
latter alternative with gratitude"
"And you wish ms 10 understand that you
viii not play for one OF my parties again un
less you arespaid Tor itf'
Mrs. Grenman's hand was ON the knob o.
the door NJ she asked this question.
81 wish you 20 understand that do not re
asrd your old velvet and silk gowns as "A fai
equivalent for my services a. chief musician
said Mis- Annable "And also, that no
only believe with the Bible that the labore
h worthy OF his hire, but that labor II emf
nsntly respectable
The departing guests twist Of the door
@At~s WNs h'thAhk Nuhll NltlOus. FlOF
sncc, who knew her sister perfectly, under
stood that the breach between them nov
would be hard one 10 bridge Work was
degradation, In the opinion Of her own neal
relatives. But II was not 80 for her. There
were two ways In which she knew she could
earn generous support. One was by her
musical talent, and the other by her taste
and ability ia designing costumes
1T Is wicked 10 keep you at the piano, Mis-.
Annable, when we oil know you are 80 fond
OF dancing, but no one plays NJ 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 businessliks
and open and above board manner. as men
termed ti Miss Annable was unable TO SEQ
why sno should be idle and wear her sisters
cast on clothes any more than the man who
mad room across tho corridor should be
idle and wear bis rich brothers rags and
jags"
This question Of the utilization OF talent
had been logically met and settled good
while before, but the hinderances Ina the way
OF putting her theories into practice had
been hsrd 10 overcome. Her sisters had
aimed nigh and brought down their game.