The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-19
HER GOOD TIME.

During her short married life she fetched
and carried for her husband as would a
spaniel and took his rough words with the
same doglike submissiveness. When Mark
Farley died, her youngest sister, Maud,
came to live with her Maud was big and
raw boned with ashy blond hair and a
temper which would have tried the meek
St. Francis. At first LucratiR's friends
hoped that she would be emancipated by
her sisters marriage, but as Maud slipped
from 20 70 80 unwed the hope died
Meanwhile Lucretia continued to do her
duty. She visited hypochOndriacs and cross
old people, who poured into her patient
ears all their symptoms and complaints.
When her neighbors were ILL., Lucretia
sat up with them every night, and if they
died she put the house in order for the
funeral and lent her Grape bonnet TO the
chief mourner.
She was president Of the Dorcas society,
and many 8 time she wore shabby shoes
and cotton gloves that she might give a
child cloak
There came a spring when she felt
strangely wea and Lstless. Her feet lag
ged as lie she were dragging ball and
chain and her hands We're 50 thin that her
rings dropped from her fingers. She stop
ped at DR.. Sturgeon IS office one day on her
way home from church meeting.
He pushed his glasses up on his forehead
and looked at her attentively. He felt her
pulse and asked her many questions which
seemed to have no bearing on the case.
Nothing much the matter, is there?''
she asked
"Oh, no." he replied briskly. en- give
you a tonic and want you to promise to
do what [ tell you to do"
"Au right said Lucretia, for she was
used to obeying his orders.
Have good time, - he began. 'Stop
visiting Mary Yost and those other sick
folks B1rv soma rO0d clothes 10 in
bed Of a morning. Let Maud see to the
house. Play cards Say mean things
about your neighbors. BE as selfish as you
can
lis that quite right, dootor?' Lucretia
objected.
1T is a prescription he returned.
" just as tell one person to take hot baths
I tell you to be selfish and lazy though
you haven Z much natural ability"
Poor little Lucretiar' the doctor
thought when she was gone. Mark Far
ley was a brute, and Maud is tyrant, and
the whole town imposes on her III try
to give her little good time, though it's q
late start ="
Lucretia endeavored to obey the doctors
orders as to taking life easy just as oonsci-
entiously as she took her tonic before
meals, but it was hard to reverse the hab-
its of a lifetime. The first morning, when
she heard the rising bell, she concluded she
would have her toast and coffee brought to
her. She was half terrified at her audac-
ity. Maud came in, her face redder than
usual from q recent scrubbing.
Aren't you ever going to get up, Lu-
cretiagi' she asked sharply, and poor Luz
cretia huddled on her clothes and went
down to breakfast like a naughty child.
But during the day she made some
progress. Mrs. Lynn sent word that
Jimmy is having fits and asks Mrs Ear
Icy to come over
I'm very sorry, % she said to the mes
senger, 90 but L IN not we'll; so I can't go. -
Her conscience hurt her sorely af5erward-
In the afternoon, however, she bought her
self two silk gowns and pair of high
heeled slippers.
She had also read literature of an uplift-
ing tendency, not so much because she en-
joyed it as because she thought she ought
Now she read the silliest novels on which
she could lay hands, and even subscribed
to a paper given up to jokes and gibes
She spent long afternoons playing casino
with Jimmy Of the fits. Poor Jimmy
was not an accomplished player, and he
sulked when he was beaten, so Lucretia
always les the boy win.
As the time passed even Maud could see
that her sister was very i'll, but even after
she was obliged to lie oil day on her sofa
Luoretia continued TO enjoy herself
One day when Mrs. wilkins called she
felt that she outdid herself.
Mrs. wilkins was not q pleasant person.
She had cultivated the virtues to the neglect
Of the graces.
Mrs. wilkins stared at these bold state
ments, then changed the subject.
When do you begin your hOuseclean-
ingf' she asked.
Il don Z intend to clean this fall, " the
other replied airily IT'S such a bore. -
On her way out, with the despised maya
zine under her arm, Mrs. wilkins met
Maud.
What has come over your sister9'' she
asked
Don't ask me" Maud returned. 'sShe
ism the same woman she was before she
was sick. Everything has to go her way
now
1t was very near the end before Lucretia 1
realized that there was no hope for her.
" Did you know it at hrst?'' she asked the
doctor.
Yes, - she answered
and you told me TO enjoy myself be-
cause you knew nay time was shortS''
Yes -
.'Oughtn'tI to have been preparing my
self for heavenF'' she asked after q pause.
You have been doing that all your
life, - the doctor replied. Il thought you
deserved little time to enjoy yourself in
a worldly way.
'.Wen, / have enjoyed it, - she said with
a sigh of content Even when L was well
I mover had such a good time. You heard,
doctor, how rude I was to Mrs. Wilkins
The doctor nodded and gTinned- Mrs
wilkins was no favorito Of his
But I have done worse things than
that Lucretia went on. & Maud never
would put enough salt in my oatmeal, and
once 4 picked up my shoe and threw it at
her 1t wasn't ladylike, but IL was such 8
relief. I have had a good time being
selfish and doing what L pleased You
don think it was wrong Of me- DOCTOR
NO, it was all right, - he answered
stoutly. Then Lucretia was content
At the very last she turned her poor,
dull eyes toward the physician. Il have