The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-11-26
As time passed even Maud could see

As time passed even Maud could see
that her sister was very Ill, but even
after she was obliged to lie all day on
her sofa Lucretia continued to enjoy
herself. Gradually the practice of self
ishness grew easier and she found she
was as anxious to have her OWL way
as she had formerly been to give it up.
One day when Mrs. Wilkins called she
felt that she outdid herself.
Mrs. Wilkins was not a pleasant per-
son; she had cultivated the virtues to
the neglect of the graces. Everybody
said they respected her, but they were
very apt to slip out the back door when
they saw her opening the gate.
Il came in to read to you," she IN
nounced, loosening her bonnet strings
and rolling her gloves into a wad.
What did you bring?" Lucretia
asked without much enthusiasm.
"The Scientific Journal, there is an
interesting article on recent discoveries
in electricity" she replied.
THANK you, but I believe I don't
care to hear t." Lucretia said.
Then probably you would like
Haines' article on Climatic Changes in
the United States.'"
mo-" said Lucretia, IT don't care to
hear that, either"
II had always thought you were in
terested in the worlds progress" Mrs.
Wilkins said r%eprovingly.
i've tried to be, but 1 guess I never
was," Lucretia owned-"just as I used
to make myself believe I enjoyed Mil
ton when we had the reading class"
Mrs. Wilkins stared at these bold
statements, then changed the subject.
when doeyou begin your house-clean-
ing?" .,..
II don't intend to clean this fall" the
other replied airily. "It is such a
BORE"
On her way out, with the despised
magazine under her arm, Mrs. Wilkins
met Maud.
What has come over your sister,"
she asked. "She Tolls on that lounge
in high-heeled slippers reading trash
and says she doesn't intend to clean
house."
Don't ask me-" Maud returned.
She isn't the same m she was be-
fore she was sick-everything has to
go her way now"
:. was very neal the enc before Lu-
cretia realized that there vas no hope
for her. did you know it at the first?"
she asked the doctor when he came
in one evening.
"Yes," he answered.
And o told me to enjoy myself
because you knew my time was short ?"
yes"
"Oughtn't I to have been preparing
myself for heaven?" she asked after a
pause.
you have been doing that all your
life," the doctor replied. II thought
you deserved a little time to enjoy
yourself in a worldly way"
"Well-I have enjoyed it," she said.
with a sigh of content--"even when l
was well 1 never had such a good time.
1t was real hard at first to assert my
rights, but after awhile I just gloried
in it. You heard, doctor, how rude I
was to Mrs. Wilkins?"
The doctor nodded and grinned. Mrs.
wilkins was no favorite of his.
But I have done worse things than
that" Lucretia went on. Maud never
would put enough salt in my oatmeal
and once l picked up my shoe and
threw it at her. 1t wasn't lady-like,
but it was such a relief. 1 have had
such a good time being selfish and
doing what / pleased. You don't think
it was wrong of me, doctor?"|
mo, it was all right" he answered,
stoutly, for he was used to taking the
responsibilities of the dying upon his
broad shoulders. Then Lucretia was
content.
At the very last she turned her poo
dull eyes toward the physician. 81
have-had-such a-good-time," she
whispered, brokenly. "such-a rest"