The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-06-25

Dor if it had led to anything, but all
their efforts were scarcely even soften
ing their fail. Year after year the fam
lily was slipping down. The younger
ones were growing up to harder times,
less advantages, than even she had had
Jean had been obliged to leave school
last year to help at home, and Jack could
not continue after this term, but must
go to work, as he had already had to
do in the vacations. And she had tried
so hard to let them keep on little
longer. Jean was born teacher, If she
could only be educated herself, and
Jack had many talents. But there was
nothing for them in life but drudgery
nothing for the youngest children but
the same.
And she-she could not leave them
when she was so needed. She, too, must
toll ON hopelessly, and crush down all
natural longing for ease and bright
ness and girlish pleasures-crush down
even love.
She fairly hated the costly old furni-
ture, even while she watched carefully
over it's packing by the truckmeu, who
were inclined to be impertinent to her
tbout its weight and her care. Even
could help them so much, if only
tey were allowed to sell it.
She got hasty dinner at noon for
the others, but was too heated and tired
to eat herself. 1t was not till mid
afternoon that the last load started for
the new house.
TIE trucl<men, who had evidently had
somthing stronger than coffee to drink
after dinner, and were in hurry to be
through, being paid by the job and not
the load, piled the things on recklessly
high. When Frances ventured to re-
monsthte, they were insolent.
Jack, with the protection of his in
cipient manhood, was at the other
house; she could only stand aside and
pretend not to notice the half-drunken
fellows huttered contempt for "wom-
ems and aoor folks bossing.
The loal was packed at last. The
browning piece was the beautiful old
inlaid secretary that had been the pride
of Miss Dborah's library. AS the
horses novel under the whip and oath,
and the wagon started, making too
sharp turn INTO the road from its
backed-up petition opposite the front
gate, the SECRETARY trembled on its I'M
steady perch tottered - fell - and
crashed in piecss on the sidewalk.
The horses gut another cut for their
nwkwardness, aat without apology or
comment the teltllmen drove hastily
off. They were tob paid at the new
house, and they hoped to get their
money before newsd their carelessness
reached there.
To Frances, overweight as she was
IN mind and body, tie accident seemed
the last stroke of fac. She sat down
among the ruins a1lt cried, with her
apron to her eyes, caO+less who might
see her.
Dick Stedman saw ler afar as he
came up the quiet, ellrshaded street,
and arrived on run in his anxiety.
my dearest grill wlat are you do
ing?" cried he. "Are yoahurt or what
has happened?"
He was going on his knes beside her,
but Frances stopped himly rising with
the dignity of all the ceonial Dan
forths, embodied in a velgsmall wom-
an wearing faded Gallo dress and
large bingham apron.
Don't be alarmed, Dick' she said,
sand don't do the distractedRomeo out
here; for old Miss Wichitthas been
watching through her blinS all day
to see our things as they gopnd she's
probably looking at you nav. Pin
not hurt in the least, but nj Grand
aunt Deborah's writing-desk hs had an
accident, and is noble wreck n ruin
GUS perfection. Behold til" NTH
tragic gesture down at the ruins "Who
could deny tear to such iterallyallen
GRANDEUR"
i Very little could be done for I evil
IDENTIFY. The heavy fall on the spnes
had fairly split it in pieces. Its spdle
legs had sustained several compslnd
fractures; one side. was in splinfrs,
the shattered drawers had fallen put,
and bits of delicate inlaying lay pill
about the pavement.
Dick went on piling the Pics
methodically at one side; then movtg
the main part, picked up some papG
and rose to give them to Frances.
"Your letters will be blowing a
about the street if you don't take careI
| he said.
Letters? There were none IN tn
desk. No one has used it since m
grand-aunt did. These must be som
of hers, crowded out of drawer ant
in behind the frame somehow. 1t can
be any harm to see what they ARE
though, suppose"
She unfolded them as she SPOKE
! There was an unimportant recelpte
bill or two, a tax assessment OF the yea
Miss Deborah died. then a cracking