Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-09-28


wouldn't think of letting the money go
out of the family"
Miss March brushed bris1ly past her
landlady in the dark hall, mounted the
stairs to her own room and closed the
door. 1t was nasty of Mrs. Northup to
say such things to her, and yet it was
kind, truly kind. The words had shat
tered her little spun glass house, and
suddenly her feet felt as heavy as lead
and she was conscious that her head was
aching What fool she had been to
think for moment she could associate
with people like the Ashleys and partici-
pate in the life they led-she, poor
scribbler, with scarcely enough money
in her purse to pay her weeks lodging.
She had taken a bewildering draught,
and it had gone to her brain, but now
she was sober and well awake she must
put by all these lovely Elusive visions
and shut the door and buckle to her
task Shame on her for having forgot
ten Wills future for a single moment
That night Edith slept but little She
had hard tHssle with herself, but she
conquered in the end, as she always did,
and fell asleep at last resolved as to what
she must do.
A soft rain was pattering on the roof
next morning, mixed with the chirp of
nesting robins and bluebirds. The odor
of growing things and opening flowers
came in at her window as Edith ar.
ranged her little work table, everything
severely rectangular, to check the play of
Grant fancy and bind down her mind to
the grindstone of duty. There she sat
and wrought hour after hour, with the
monotonous scratch of the pen going Oh
over the. paper without pause. Trains
rushed by shaking Mrs. Northup's little
house with a giants hand every fifteen
minutes, The storm had cleared away
and now the sun blazed on the slopins
roof and turned the attic room to a fire
bath. Wasps and flies buzzed about
me lovely blue sky, full of floating
white Clouds invited her to look, but
still Edith wrought on, feeling neither
hunger nor heat, nor the small earth
quake shocks of the trains.
1t was four in the afternoon. She was
still sitting at her task with bent head
when voices were heard outside her
door Mrs. Northup was saying to
some one behind her:
Il keep tellin' her she'll kill herself
writin' day and night, and forgettin' to
eat, but it don't do no manner of good"
Then came a dainty little rap, and
Fanny Ashley, IN an exquisite light sum
mer gown and full feathered hat, stood
smiling in the doorway
you see have hunted you down; |
told you | should And this is the room
where you spin your pretty webs" and
she glanced lightls about at the little oil
stove, the two cracked tea cups ON the
shelf, the breadth of faded carpet before
the lame bureau.
But | don't intend to leave you here
shaving away all this beautiful afternoon.
We are to have a matched game of ten
mis- and then tea on the lawn, and later
drive in the cool evening air, and have
been ordered to fetch you straightway."
Il thank you so much" said Edith,
her voice quivering little, but | can't
possibly go have so much work on
hand" She had not even asked her
guest to sit down.
But you must, Miss March. Papa
has been reading your story in The Fire
side, and he wants to know you; and it
is so seldom he does care to know any
body, especially here in Littletield."
Il am so sorry, Miss Ashley, but l
have no time to spare.
But you must come. Harry will be
dreadfully disappointed, and will blame
me if l don't fetch you, and so will Mary
Trevor; they have all taken such fancy
to you"
Edith was pale now and slightly
tremulous. She arose and went slowly
but resolutely up to the very positive
young lady.
Miss Ashley" said she, 81 am CRATE
full for your kindness; | shall never for
get it as long as | live; but it is not pos
sible for me to have friends like you"
Fanny Ashley looked blank at first
during the half moment of silence, then
her cheeks rosed lightly with injured
feeling, "Why?" said she artlessly.
because you are too rich and | am
too poor. If gave myself up to your
amusements could do no more work. l
should be spoiled for laborious life, and
my poor brother, who needs my help,
what would become of him? Look about
this room! Do you not see it is impos-
sible you should associate on equal terms
with a girl like me- Our paths in life
lie too far apart. l am so sorry, for 1t
would be delightful to know you and
your family, but it would unfit me for
work, for life of narrow means and
stern self denial Edith's eyes were full
of tears and a dew had gathered about
Fanny's lids,
II don't understand it" said she, with
a touch of petulance; you want to cut