The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19
MISS ANNE.


a
and languidly picked up the book she had
dropped
With aching feet Anne dragged her way
up the stairs to the top floor
1t was small room and not too cheer
full. and it looked out upon the few dwarfed
fruit trees in the back yard. and beyond
that upon the rear ends of some implanted
tenements, where half-starved and wholly
wretched faces sometimes peered out
through the sInoke-clouded panes.
Il wonder If he'll mind" unused Anne,
with a wordless thought of the desolation
that so often swept over her own cramped
soul as she looked out upon this dreary
prospect. "He amt like a man that's al
ways lived boardin' around Looks like he
ought to have a home somewhere, and a
mother. He'd be good to one If he had
her. He's got good eyes It's pretty bare
In here" she added, regretfully.
Then, under some sudden impulse, she
crept stealthily along the dark hall to a
bedroom hardly larger than a closet, and
was back in q moment carrying something
carefully hidden under her apron. When
deposited upon the dresser it proved to be
a tumbler holding half a dozen glowing
carnations.
ket the day before, and. clipping their
stems, had revived them in water and treas
ured them tenderly since.
They'll make it little more homelike
for him. she said. And then she turned
to the prosaic work of changing the bed
linen, busting, cleaning and bringing in
soap, fresh water and towels.
She was a pale frightened-looking wom-
an, and as she left the room she turned
and looked hesitatingly at the glass of
carnations. Il s'pose 1 hadn't ought to
have taken that glass from the sideboard,"
she said. IF Aunt Holmes was to come up
here, do know what she'd say"
She smelled the sweet blossoms hesi-
tatingly then closed her lips with firm
ness pathetically out of measure. 81 don't
care she said 'I'll let 'em stay. 1t amt
so dreary when they're here"
Anne" cried queruloIs voice from the
sickroom, as she reached the lower hall,
have you got the lamps cleaned?''
Nom, not yet
well. what in the name of common
sense have you been doing all day? Are
those towels ironed, or the curtains up
in Miss Simpkins's room?"
1.-THE towels are ironed, but
There was long pause, for Anne was
meditating a further boldness. She con-
tinued presently. with a gasp: Gould
Gladys put up the curtains? I've got the
sitting-room ashes to empty yet, and all
the lamps to clean and fill, and your tray
to fix, and it amt but an hour tilr'-
''Gladysp' screamed a voice from behind
the portiere, and it's owner was purple with
rage. How do you dare. Anne Minton, you
lazy, snirkin' thing! Gladys is no pack
horse to carry your loads. You know how
delicate she is. Shame on you After all
I've done for yOu-you-penniless and de-
pendent-and Gladys giving you all her old
cloths, some of EN- good as new pretty
near That's. gratitude for you! You, that
might have been a servant in Somebo s
kitchen but for nay takin' you and maxim
over you as If you was my own Go
straight down stairs, and don't let me see
my tray. l couldn't eat with you breathin'
the same atmosphere. Are you gone?''
es M came with a half-sob, as-Anne
took, herself from the majestic and in
She wondered at herself for the tears
that would come and blind her in her work.
she had said with innumerable variations
since Anne, a small and shrinking child
was first taken under her motherly protec-
Yet even after she had finished the lamps
and was down on her knees before the sit
ting room hearth, her eyes were. still red
sallow cheek suspiciously moist
May see the madame?" hearty voice
the ashpan and turned to see the new
boarder, big, good-natured German, bow
Ing gravely toward her.
Holmes is an invalid, you know She only
sees people when they first come to engage
board. VIII I do? can tell you anything
l think, or | can take a message to Aunt
Holmes''--But there she stopped confused
rememoer1ng that she was prohibited an
audience with the offended aunt.
Her breath came more freely when Mr.
Schwartze said: IF could please be shown
to my room, And your dinner hour 1 hat
Dinners at g. said Anne with alacrity.
And IL show you to your ROOM"
AS she passed the new boarder at the
movement and held the portiere for her.
anne could not remember any such polite
aa!ttentlon IN the whole course of her life.
II gave her queer sensation, and she
walked. somehow, with her head a little
less bent up the two steep flights and along
The boarders sit downstairs a good
ueai' she said still regretting that cheer
less room 1.-The furnace don't heat very
ting room on account of the fire."
Then she returned to her ashes
She made the invalid's toast with unusual
care that night. and cautioned Kitty about
Keeping the soup we'll covered and hot.
AT O'Clock. in her fresh white apron
sn Nfr ste2d ready to wait On rne long table.
to obey the summons of the dinner bell BE-
iore ne came she had brought in several
plates or steaming soup, ard Mr.. Brown
had grunted with disfavor at sight of his
and gruftiy ordered it away muttering
something about "clam soup every night +"
She was Fastening to change his plate
when Mr.. Schwartze entered
The big German cast his eyes with friend
~ interest over the group at the table
IhFre was something hearty and genuine
about him, though his gait was trihe av k
W Mar ana nd, MS shoulders somewhat stopped
drew MS napkin from too close proximity
to Miss Simpkins's plate, and THANK vou''
10 anne when she gave him his SOUP If
the not stun had not been safely deposited
upon the cloth before him. it might have
Showered upon him in scaldng streams for
a TRank you to Anne was so unusual rs
to be absolutely startling. 1t made her du-
ant, although Miss Simpkins complained
that the tea was slop. and Mr.. Brown said
1t was pity If he never could get roast
beef he could eat
Anne's cheeks had crown into the habit
or burning through the long hours when
she served at table Aunt Holmes was safe
out OF hearing, and Gladys declined to eat
with the boarders. so there was only Anne
to face the storming when the cook made
mistakes or the marketman failed to bring
the best of his stock
There was only one boarder in the house
VINO treated Anne as If she were of more
Significance than the dust of the earth.
Thdt one was Baby Blossom
Baby Blossom had not learned in the two
years or his smiling existence that there
are people--overwor1ed. underfed spirifless
creatures-Whom ii is ONES nriviIeota 10
tread under foot. He had a friendly fash
lon OF cooling at Anne whenever he saw
her and holding out his dimped hands And
when Anne held him huMgrily in her tired
arms. he gave no evidence of Knowing thai
she was sallow and tattered and thin as n
rail-; and that her face was often streaked