The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-03

of his nearest
and dearest. He was laid up with a
sprained ankle, and spent his time in a
| great window surrounded by papers,
books and periodicals.
| All his sisters answered at once.
docs she live next door?" asked
Jennie.
'Is she small and pretty?" eueried
Belle.
docs she wear dark brown dress?"
inquired Fanny.
Yes, yes, yes!" said Tony laughing.
"Ohi we know all about her." came
in chorus.
$50 on cried Tony. "Let me know
what you do
81 thought you were absorbed in lit
erature." remarked Tony's aunt. from
a far corner.
$50 / am, aunt; but human beings
interest me, too. Why not? / notice
that this girl goes out, rain or shine,
always alone. Sometimes she walks
quickly, and her expression is~bright
and restful Then again, her step is
slow, and her face very sad"
Il can account for that" said Jennie
"She was nursing Mrs. Robins, and had
q very hard siege of lt-up all night and
on duty during the day
as she a professional nurse?"
mo; that is the trouble" explained
Fanny. ''If she were professional
anything she would be at least sure of
living. She is an orphan, left to her
own resources, and has no special train
.rg.''
And is she a lady?" asked the aunt
Eyes. She has good friends. Mrs.
Allen, next door, rents her room. She
goes to her meals at the house of
another friend. She works at anything
she can get to do, and I suppose she
pays her modest expenses. She can
trim bonnets, make dresses, mend, and
even cook, il necessary. We met her
socially before we learned these facts"
And since then?" asked Tony, in a
clear voice, regarding his sisters quiet
ly and steadily.
eve occasionally see her at the
houses of her mothers friends" said
Jennie. ''She is very retiring, dresses
very prettily and looks as if she be-
longed to a past generation"
II do not quite understand you, Jen-
ME-" said Aunt Lizzie. What do you
mean by "a past generation'?"
"Oh! well, auntie. if you don't know
just what / mean, am afraid can't
make you. Miss Barton is shy and dig
nifed. If she feels like the other girls
about her she certainly does not act or
express herself as we do. OF course she
cannot enjoy what we do. She has
nothing TO say when public amuse-
ments are the topic, because she has
neither the time nor the money to-
Take them in" suggested Tony.
Exactly" went on Jennie. Il was
trying to avoid the slang, because l
wanted to convey proper impression
of Miss Barton. She listens eagerly,
but takes little share in general CONVEX
sation. She dances gracefully; she was
playing the piano, on one occasion, for
some one to sing"
The fact is interposed Belle, that
she has no more to do with our ways
and ideas than the man in the moon"
''She isn't in IT." said Tony.
Now you have it," said his aunt,
smiling.
Where are you all off to now?" cried
Tony, seeing his sisters putting aside
their bits of embroidery.
''Ohi we have hours of formal calling
before us, and three receptions"
II thought you were going out to-
night" He sighed and glanced at his
foot.
$50 we are
I'VE won't be home till morning"
sang Belle.
I'VE are very selfish" said Fanny,
''but this is such a lovely invitation"
"Oh. you can't decline on my ac-
count only wish / could hop along
with you Don't forget to come in and
let me look at you before you put on
your wraps"
NO. indeedl' :,
The door shut after the girls, and
Tony returned to his books When he
heard his sisters going out, he gazed
after their slight figures in their well
made waiking-tlresses, and while SO
doing became conscious OF Miss Bar
ton, slowly approaching them He 90
served their distant. nod of recognition
and her almost imPerceptible move
ment OF the head in return She reached
her own stoop and disappeared in the
veStibuie.
by Joye.' he exclaimed. "Id like to
shake theml"
shake wha;7 whom2" asked his
aunt
WHY. those sisters of mine. They
don't behave themselves Why should
they snub a girl because OF her pow
erty?7
why. indeed? doubt Il they could
do as well, if left pennies. Al. Toay,
this Is a very insirtceee world"
.I'Ll bet you.H