The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-06-07

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WIN Hanley was handsome, and Il
was well understood that he was heir 70
snug fortune. Although my sister
was but Q child. my stepmother was
already planning out her matrimonial
career, and had conceived the idea OF
marrying her. when she had reached
womanhood. to Will Hanlcy. With
that aim before her It was TO her inter-
est to interrupt. and, If possible, break
up the friendship existing between him
and me. So she destroyed his letters.
and prevented any communication be-
tween us, leaving him to wonder at my
silence and me to chaff and worry be-
cause of her perfdy.
When my sister reached her fifteenth
year she was sent away to college.
wanted to go, too, because had great
love for learning, and in desultory
way had managed to pick up a very
good common school education. So
strong was my desire for term at COL
lege that dared approach my father
on the subject, asking in all humility
that might be granted that one pleas
ure. He heard me as falteringly and
tremblingly made known my wish.
then, turning on me with frown, said:
what do you want to go to college
for? You can't learn anything, and you
wouldn't do anything but disgrace Mary
If you went. Doyou suppose she would
want you there and have everybody
pointing to you as her sister,"
81 could go to a different school," I
ventured to suggest, where no one
would know of her, and where she
wouldn't have any occasion to feel
ashamed Of me-"
swell, you're not going anywhere, so
you needn't say any more about it. I've
got no money to fool away on you, and
besides you're needed here. Your ma
has plenty Of use for you, and the best
place for you is in the kitchen. You
haven't intelligence enough to do any
thing but homework, and You never
will have, SO you're going to stick to
it."
"Am / to be a drudge forever"
asked, exhibiting little spirit.
you're not going to college, and
you're going to stay here and attend to
your work. so that's all there is to it.
Now get out about your. business and
let's not hear any more foolishness from
you"
Reader, you may feel inclined to
doubt my statements. You may be in.
clined to think that parent could not
be SO unnatural. wish had reason
for doubling them myself. But, alas,
have not. Those cruel words of my
fathers cut too deep into my heart to
ever admit Of doubt, and should it be
possible for me to live an eternity
should never, never forget them.
If such a thing is possible, | was
more miserable than ever, though
think that not likely. saw nothing
before me but life OF drud9ery. II
seemed that was to be servant for.
ever. I lost the little hope | had en-.
tertained of a change for the better
which was to come sometime in the flu
ture. My soul was completely STEPPED
1 Ill ullSSiy dui I'LL Va Aoo oShos1eAOuo WCAS
full of pain.
But, as it TRANSFERRED, only two OF
three months of that life lay before me
Then change came, and whether i
was for the better or the worse my
readers must judge. was driven from
home and cast upon the world in al
my ignorance to make my own living.
My stepmother had a second child
who, ut the time of which | write, wa!
six or seven years old. One morning
this child did something which angere,
its mother and she undertook to punisl
it. She was in bad humor, even 70
her, and as she proceeded with the pun
ishment she became frenzied and bea
the child numerically. was presen
and bore with it as long as could, no
wishing to interfere where ! had n
right. But the child's pitiful cries an
the pleading manner in which it he'll
Its hand out to me wrought me up +
desperation, and unable to retain m
self-control longer sprang forward +
the rescue OF the helpless one an
dragged it away from its infuriate
mother, shielding it with my own per
son from her cruel blows. got tn