Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-26
"Pretty Mumsie's" Last Dance.

She was not beauty. perhaps. but
she was assuredly a fascinating but
terily OF a creature: even her woman
friends admitted that. And though
seven and-twenty. and The mother OF Il
girl OF seven. she still retained 50 much
of virginia. expression and contour that
imagination WAS 10th To- accept the
fact Of matronhood. one felt indeed.
that il the "E.wigc Weiblich,' change
fully changeless. radiantly soul-satis
flying. were to be rersunified. here was
the model. Gracious and graceful.
gentle and joyous she possessed tai
ents innumerable, all cultivated to a
certain degrce--tp a degree that had
quite suiticcd fur her OWE enjoyment
and the editcation of a host Of admir-
ing and not too "<acting friends. who
thought her a delightful prodigy and
spoiled her accordingly.
But now, cudgel the stunned brain
as she would. no real capability of
marketable value, as II mad been so
biuntly put to her even in these carly
hours of misery-Cousin Selma always
put things a bit bluntly. she felt with
little shivcr of annoya nce-no resource
could she discover tn stand her in good
stead in the dreaded day that had
come AT last. The bolt had fallen that
morning. and. with numb. folded hands
and dry, terror-filed eyes. she sat in
the darkest corner of her gay little
drawing room. beneath the CHASTITY
chamber whence were soon to be borne
the earthly remains of her husband.
What was she to do? How was she
to procure, not the luXuries without
which she scarce imagined her child
could exist, but the bare necessities of
life? Every piece of furniture i'll the
house was mort gagged to its full value
and her last jewel had gone to pay the
rent. Thank heaven they would nave
this haven for some time TO come. She
was in debt to butcher and baker. and
she had not had a new pair of gloves
for months. Shillings had become the
basis of expenditure as guineaS had
been hitherto.
In the morning sympathizing
friends came to support and assist
her through the trying ordeal. All
passed like Il dream. Tout passe
tout case" she said over and over,
but my heart is strong
Cousin Selma in the same room. in
the same chair. listening again to the
gusty rain as it beat against the win
dows. it was to her as if no appreciate
time had interviewed. Dreamily she
took up the thread of her thoughts
where she had dropped it that sad
night and the strange conceit came
back to her.
Women. less brilliant but stolid and
plodding. We're ensconced in journals
where she had disdained even to allow
her verses to appear. With voices in
no way comparable to hers, she saw
others succeed: while she. who sang
like a bird-but like bird. too. only
when inspired-could make no i'm
preston. and so. lowered as she was.
she was poorer and more helpless than
the humblest woman who could con-
scientiously knit pair of stockings or
embroider a tea-cloth.
The pretty face seemed pinched and
weary, two deep lines began to enclose
the dropping mouth. Il smile en- par
enthese," she said to Cousin Selma. as
she turned from the mirror where she
was trying to change the expression
of those quivering lips, that even at
the moment curved upwards. a Gu
| pid's bow. at the quaint conceit.
| More surely than ever she knew she
could ask no favors, but must put heI
own shoulder to the wheel. But what
| to do when all else failed? To dance
| on the stage. Why not? She could
dance; all her life she mad loved tc