Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-10-21
One UIonlan's Way.


the centre of a heap of discarded
fnery. There were frayed and spotted
velvet skirts, satin and silk waists,
strained out and threadbare in almost
every seam, hounced and bedraggled
gros-grains and nuns veilings, crum-
pied ribbons al d torn laces.
"What do you propose to wear!"
Florence Annable's only companion
on this occasion was her married sister,
Mrs. Paul Grenman, in whose pretty
ears sparkled valuable solitaires, and
whose fingers were crowded with cost
ly Jewels Mrs. Grenman's tone was
cold. and the smile on her faultless lips
was almost a sneer.
81 don't mean anything unkind,
Julia" Miss Annabel replied, "but the
truth is. am not comfortable in sec
ond-hand clothing"
s.Blanche would be edited at your
remarks, Florence" said Mrs. Gren-
man; sit was no easy task to get
these things together" she added with
increased hauteur. 'EYou know very
well that my maid expects every
garment | discard, and SO does
Blanche's."
Notwithstanding her protest, the
young lady had selected the least in
jured of the velvet skirst, and had be-
guh to rip off the braid. But she
threw down her scissors now and
stepped out of the debris.
"That settles it, julia" she said,
with shining eyes, with no other indi-
cation of excitement. al will sort
those rags and jags, and velvet gowns
into bundles, and you and Blanche
need not disappoint your maids"
" What stupidity, FlorenceW Mrs.
Grenman hastened to say. " Yon
know that we want you to have our
things. You have made lovely cos
tunes many times out of poorer ma
terial than that is there"
The lady's tone was a little more
conciliatory. She evidently had some
reason for not wishing her sister to
carry out her threat.
These things are much more suit
able for your maid than for your
sister, Julia" Miss Annable replied, as
she set about her task.
- Perhaps you think that your sis
tiers should keep you supplied with
new clothes?" said Mrs. Grenman.
"No, do not; but | will tell you
what / do think" Miss Annable re-
sponded, with heightened color, but in
firm cool tones. " | think that yOu
and Blanche ought TO be willing that |
should earn my own wardrobe"
Earn it?' said Mrs. Grenman, dis
dainfully. "What new and abomina-
BILE crochet have you got into your head
60 oil
i suppose"
.1f you and Blanche would pay me
In hard cash, as you would be COM
PEELED to pay professional, for play
ing the piano at your luncheon parties
and your kettledrums, your receptions
and your informal evening gatherings,
l could buy my own clothes, and be
much better satisfied"
Mrs. Grenman's astonishment and
indignation were overwhelming.
"Who ever thought that one of our
family could be so coarse and mer-
cenary? Pay ones own sister for play
ing few sonatas and quadrilles once
in a while Why don't you ask us to
pay you for condescending to attend
our kettledrums and receptiOnsI In
deed, Florence, if l must say it, /
think you have been generously COM
pensated for anything you have ever
done for either of u.s." and Mrs.
Grenman waved a jewelled hand
toward the bundles in the centre of the
room.
"Julia, / will find out what pro-
fessional pianist will charge for play
ing the piano the same numbsA of
hours that | do" Miss Annable began
again, calmly. "Then, not being a
professional, will play for you and
Blanche for Just half that amount"
Mrs. Grenman rose, picked of 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 converse
ton took place was the fOurth-story
back Of so-called fashionable board
ing-house, and this was Florence Anna
ble's home. Her father and mother were
both dead, the former having survived
the wreck of q 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 more, she had been de-
pendent upon her wealthy sisters for
her wardrobe. 1t was a disagreeable
position for a sensitive and high-mind
ed girl, and it had cone at last bet1
unsndursble.
"Florencel"
Mrs. Grenman was ready to go.
"Well?" said her companion.
al shall repeat this conversation to
Paul. l tell you, that you may be
prepared to meet the consequences.
81 am prepared for anything but
rags and jags,' Julia" her sister re-
piled; ''and l beg you to believe that
l should not have remade your cast-off
garments so long if it had not been
Tor keeping the peace Let me tell
you what else L am willing to do.
You say that some of the costumes /
have made from the dresses you have
finished wearing have bee1very pretty
and stylish. will hold myself ready
70 make over the best of them for you
to wear again, and L will do it in my
best manner"
"And be paid for it?'
"Csrtainly, like any other dress
maker"
"If you were not a perfect simple
ton, you would marry Luke Harness."
Mrs. Grenman burst out anew.
"Then you would have an establish
nent equal to your sisters, and there
wouldn't be such horrible inequality
u our stations as now"
al marry Luke Harkness?" said
Miss Annable, with the first touch of
naughtiness she had shown. ga man
bid enough to be my grsnfather, as
leaf as a post, and as bald as an