Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-01-26

uSI strength Seallleti utterly eA1ttuaGSO
as she slowly dragged herself up the
stairs to the room she had made her
studio. With feverish energy she had
been devoting herself to painting, for
which she had more taste than talent;
but her dogged industry had accom-
plished considerable amount of work
that was far from bad, and in no other
pursuit could she so nearly find escape
from her burden of wearisome thought
The room was bare of furniture, save
for few chairs, an easel and table
covered with an artists litter. Sketches
in oil and water colors were pinned upon
the walls; an unfinished picture was
upon the easel; her palette, untidily set
as she had left it the day before, lay on
the table, and beside it, in a slender glass
vase, the rosebud she had painted had
burst into perfect bloom. She dropped
heavily upon a chair, staring duly
around at her work upon the walls A
rush of recollection was upon her. 1t
seemed as if she could see where misery
had made its mark with every stroke of
the brush. 1t seemed that in these
sketches she could see, written in hero
glyphic only her eyes might read, the
history of those dreary. dragging months
when with this work she had tried to
fight away thoughts of the unhappiness
that never relaxed its grip upon her.
She found herself dreamily wondering
why, when death would so quickly come
at CALL she had still lived on, piling the
burdensome days one on top Of another.
For what had she been waiting? Was it
in the weak hope that Donald would
come back to her when his tickle fancy
veered again? Perish the thoughtt
She began doggedly working, sketch
ing in the great pink rose below yester-
days painting of its half blown youth,
but her brush moved laggingly. Wearied
she was to the utmost limit of endurance
of her colorless home life, of the narrow
routine of the little town. its dull dissi-
pations of church socials and card par
ties, its treadmill round Of calling and
gossip peddling Why was it not better
to die at once? Or, if she would live, why
should she not make her life somewhat
worth the living? She was fairly rich.
Gray's money she had not yet touched,
and between Donald and herself it had
never been mentioned; but she had not
forgotten that it was hers, to do with as
she would. 1t was magician's wand in
her hand to open the treasury Of all
earth's pleasures. She would like to
study art, and here the opportunity was
hers if she would but take it. She had
always longed for travel; why now was
she hating? Of a sudden her resolution
was taken. She would write to her uncle
John at once to make the necessary ar
engagements and she would go away
4,
she would go alone; no Van Zandt
chaperon should be thrust upon her upon
plea of propriety, to drive her mad with
sociability She would not be coerced
into admiration for the fairest scene of
earth; nobody should drive her into any
pretense of enjoyment.
With bitter laugh she leaned back
in her chair, with half shut eyes study
ing the effects of the flower Tacitly
she had been admitting to herself that
her search for happiness would be fail
ure wherever she might go.
The blooming little servant appeared
at the door. IF you please, ma'am, Mrs
Allen is below, asking to see you, an she
says can't she come right up2 She won't
be staying minute"
Anita reluctantly regarded her rose
There were no more of it's kind in the
garden, and she had planned to paint il
more than once that afternoon Bu
Mrs. Allen must never be denied.
Mrs. Allen had been one of the pic
neers of the community. She loved tx
tell how she had. with a child in he
arms, driven a mule team across thu
plains, while her husband managed an
Ofl in t1nn y,
had migrated together. And the superl
strength that had laughed at the hard
ships of that overland journey had eve
since, in simple, wholehearted way
been sharing the burdens Of all Orodel
phia In the early days she had been
mother to all the homesick boys in tn
camp, nursing them in their sickness
} mending for them, and in her blum
kindliness taking many timely stitcl
in tattered morals. She was everybody
friend, always with time to spare TO
!: each ones necessities, and in som
strange way-for her extravagant char
ties had kept her almost poor-alway
J able to contrive substantial aid for
: neighbor in trouble.
She didn't put on any STYLE" as sh
expressed it in her simple vernaculal
! and she never made calls in the ordinar
sense of the phrase; but nobody foun
more time for neighborly visiting. Nc
body thought of entertaining Mrs. ALE
: in the parlor in ceremonious fashion
She generally slipped around to tn
5 kitchen door, with beaming apology fo
some appetizing Offering, and, howeve
t the family might be engaged, tier
t never was the smallest hesitation abou
= welcoming this guest into their midst
3 She talked a good deal in her simple
Q good natured garrulity, but everybody
8 secrets were safe with her; and, with a
y her lack of education and refinement
: all recognized in the rough quartz nj
lures true gold.
She came in now, fair, fat and smi
!; ing, the incarnation Of good nature.
jest run over with few fried cakes