Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-09-24

boots, but she had mortified the fies
by wearing broad toes and common
sense heels.
She had also read literature of an up
lifting tendency, not so much becaus
she enjoyed IL as because she though
she ought, Now she read the STILES
novels on which she could lay hands
and even subscribed to a paper glveI
up to jokes and glbes.
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
here Lucretia had chance to be UNI
selfish while pursuing pleasure, and
she always let the boy win.
AS time passed even Maud could see
that her sister was very i'll, 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 own way
az she had formerly been to give 1t up.
One day when Mrs. Wilkins called she
felt that she outdld herself.
Mrs, wilkins was not 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 an
nounced, loosening her bonnet strings
ard rolling her gloves into a wad.
what did you bring?" Lucretla
asked without much enthusiasm.
THE Scientific Journal, there is an
interesting article on recent discoveries
in electricity" she replied.
THANK you, but / believe I don't
care to hear it," Lucretia said.
Then probably you would like
Haines' article on Climatic Changes in
the United States'"
NO" said Lucretia, IT don't care ia
hear that, either"
Il had always thought you were in.
terested In the worlds progress" Mrs.
wilkins said reprovingly.
I've tried to be, but guess l never
was" Lucretia owned-"just as used
to make myself believe l enjoyed Mil
ton when we had the reading class"
Mrs. wilkins stared at these bold
statements, then changed the subject.
When do you begin your house clean
ing"
Il don't intend to clean this fall" the
other replied alrlly. ut Is such
bore" sas
On her way out, with the despised
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 woman she was be-
fore she was sick--everything has TO
go her way now"
1t was very near the end before Luz
cretia realized that there was no hope
for her. did you know it at the flrst?"
she asked the doctor when he came
ihfbne levening,
Eyes" he answered.
"And you told me to enjoy myself
because you knew my time was short?"
Eyes"
"0ughtn't 1 to have been preparing
myself for heaven?" she asked after
pause.
"You have been doing that all your
life," the doctor replied. Il thought
you deserved little time to enjoy
in a worldly way"
a'iWell-I have enjoyed it," she said,
with sigh Of content-"even when 1
was we'll never had such a good time.
1t was real hard at first to assert NY
rights, but after awhile l just gloried
in it. You heard doctor, how rude l
was to Mrs. Wilkins?"
The doctor nodded and grinned. Mrs.
wilkins was no favorite of his.
"But have done worse things than
that" Lucretia went on. MAUD never
would put enough salt in my oatmeal
and once picked UP my shoe and
threw it at her. 1t wasn't lady-liko,
but 1t was such a relief. l have had
such a good time being selfish and
doing what / pleased. You don't think
it was wrong Of me, doctOr?"
'No, it was all right" he answered,
stoutly, for he was used to taking the
of the dying upon his
broad shoulders. Then Lucretia was
content.
At the very last she turned her poor,
dull eyes toward the physician. II
have--had-su good-time," she
whispered, brokenly. "such-a rest"
Foreign Hotel Names.