New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-10
ROWENY IN BOSTON.
XIV.
MIR. FOSTERS SISTER.

Rowena was slowly descending the stairs from
her room. 1t was not yet o'clock. but she con-
sidered it extremely late. She had small tin
pail in her hand. She going out TO the Ger
ner for some milk for her morning coffee 1t
was raining. Two girls were hanging dripping
waterproofs on the pegs of the hatrack in the
hall one of them wes Miss Martin, and it was she
who now cried out shrilly that she hated a man
firt above ground"
At this stage in the conversation they saw Ro-
wena.
Hullo, is that youp" said Miss Martin. I'VE
were talkin' about Mr.. Foster. Did you know
he's an awful hirt?"
Rowena wondered why the two looked SO
closely at her as this question was put She
paused at the last step and rested her pail on the
top of the post.
mo; / didn't know it, she said
well, he is; he's Jest awful They do say
now he's got girl out in Maiden and one in
Roxbury I d'know how many he's got in Bos'
ton"
They still gazed sharply at her.
~ hope none of them are inclined to be jeal-
GUS" she remarked, somewhat embarrassed by
their scrutiny resenting it, but feeling helpless
Miss Martin laughed boisterously.
II pity UNI if they be-" she said, i guess they'd
have TO take it out in being jealous, don't you.
Jenp"
Jen said she guessed they would too.
Rowena had sensation of disgust. and OF self
Ieproof that she disguised. a feeling she had
known when in Miss Martins company before.
She knew that all working girls were not ike
this She made movement to go. Ihey ap-
peared disposed to linger little before going down
10 breakfast.
Amt tonight the night you're goin' to the
Neatre?" inquired Miss Martin.
Rowena could not tell why she should feel
somehow ashamed that she must reply Yes
The medyum's gon', amt she Z?
"Yes"
The two girls gigglea. Miss Martin said she
hoped she wouldn't go into trance. Then she
informed Rowena that she, Miss Martin ana a
gentleman friend had been asked to join the
Marty. but they'd ben otherwise engaged "
aBesides" she added, with another laugh, she
didn't knows twas necessary to have dooenna
along; there couldn't be halt as much fun.
Now Rowena opened the hal-door and stepped
nut into the street. She could not tell why She
was conscious of sense of humiliation. Her
cheeks burned as she recalled the talk and the
chances she had just heard and seen She wished
she were not going to the theatre. She trled 10
think of some excuse she could offer. The more
she thought of the subject the stronger was her
Discrimination.
ret her milk, and hurried back to it. She bought
m extra pint every day now because Marina,
duke had shown liking for that
kind of food and she had learned
that he was rather particular. She never dared TO
have him on the street without string attached
to him. She scrupulOusy took him long walk "a
this manner every day. She was already absurfE
fond of him. She conversed with him as she sat
In her room painting hour after hour.
She considered that she had had piece of great
rood luck lately. She had sold two little water
color sketches, both of them bits of the upland
pasture back Of her home. The small sum she re-
ceived she put away in the bottom of her trunk to
be sacredy reserved for the use of MarmaduRe; IL
he wanted a scrap of something good he must nave
It, He was a person VINO qulte sppiecia'eu q"
scrap of something good.
Now, if MaFmaduke had not been waiting LOT
her IN her room. Rowena felt that she would have
hled to prolong her stroll Indefinitely. 1t was
spring. It was raining gently. Even the town
could not avoid letting one know that 1t was
spring And how busy the sparrowS were: How
they fought A few punches of fading trailing ar
butus were in shop-window that she passed.
She thought the heusatonia must be thick In the
lane that led from the cowyard, and the saXlfrage
among the rocks in the orchard. She sighed
But though she sighed she did not feel that poig-
hAQt Dang which she lldu kHOWh 30 tAdhy oAhiSo IL
ME first weeks of her stay.
She now hurried along with her tin pail When
fhe came in sight of her house she grew hot again
and thought of the interview with those girls.
hidden fear came to her that she would meet Mr.
Foster before she could possibly get TO her room.
She ran I'D the steps and did not sacken her pace
until she was at the top of the first flight Mar
maduke began to bark when he heard her coming
and when she opened the door OF her room she SET
down her milk that he might leap into her arms.
Sbe hinged him and Confided TO him the fact that
she had not half lived until he came; that she
should not half live if he should 20 away. She
had a Joy in the knowledge that 1t Is SO safe to
love dog.
In n short time she was drinking her coffee and
Narmaduke was tapping milk and greatly dab
bling his beard and moustache in the liquid. lie
kindly ate also a small quantity of boiled egg,
then went and sat on the windOw-ledge lest some
stray cat should walk over the roof below and he
should not her.
Rowena tried to settle calmly TO her work; she
was thinking all the time of the theatre party AT
last she rose and went downstairs, taking the
terrier under her arm She liked to feel his little
warm body held closely to her, and he looked out
from this position as if he were thoroughly used
to it.
Mrs Jarvis had just risen from her tickct-table.
Since spring had really come she wore until noon
palm leaf loose gown that had precisely the
same effect as the wadded gown, only it was not
wadded Her pompadour roll never varied by as
much as a hair. Her shabby face lighted a little
At sight of the girl.
I'm Jest going down for my breakfast" she
said. They've all gone finally, and hope en-
have a minutes peace Don't you want cup Of
coffee with me?"
Rowena went to the dinlng-room WIN her' Inc
girl had. almost come to have sort OF liking for
tho al,yavs tired hack of a woman by whom she
sat now.