New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-05
MISS ANNE.
THE STORY OF A DEPENDENT.

Having irritably given her directions. Mrs.
Holmes Law back with dismal groan and Ian
guilly picked up the book she had dropped.
Wi,h aching feet Anne dragged her way up
the stairs to the top floor.
II vas n small room and not too cheerful, and
l. looked out upon the few dwarfed fruit trees
n tie back yard. ard beyond that upon the rear
ends e unpaintcd tenements. where half-starved
ana wholly wrctchcd faces sometimes peered out
through the snokc-clouded panes.
Il wonder If he'll mind" unused Anne. with a
wordloss thought Of the desolation that so often
swept over her own cramped soul as she looked
out upon this dre1ry prospect. He amt Ike a
man that's always lived boardin' around. Looks
like he ought to have 4 home somewhere, and a
mother. He'd be good to one if he had her. Hes
got good eyes. It's pretty bare in here" she
added. rcErctfully.
Then under some sudden impulse she crcpt
stcalthily along the dark hall to a bedroom hard
" larger than closet. and was back In mo-
mcnt carrying something carefully hidden under
her apron When deposited upon the dresser it
proved to be a tumber holding half a dozen
glowing carnations.
Anne had rescued them from n waste basket
the day before and clipping their stems. had
revived them in water and treasured them ten
derby since.
They'll make it a little more homelike for
him" she said And then she turned to the
prosaic work Of changing the bed linen. dust
ING. cleaning and bringing in soap, fresh water
and towels
She was n pale. acknowledging woman.
and as she left the room she turned and looked
hesitatingiy at the glass Of carnations i pose
hadn't ought to have taken that glass from the
eidcboard." she said. IF Aunt Holmes was to
come UP hero. do know what she'd say
She srcllei tn, sweet blossoms hesitatingly.
then closed her lips with frmness patheticaIly
out OF measure. Il don't care. she said ''Ili let
'em stay IT amt drcary when theyfe here
"Anne." called qucrulous voice from the
sickrOom, she reached the lower hail. nave
you got the lamps cleancd?"
Nom, not yet
"WelI. what in the name Of common sense have
you been doing all day? Are those towels iroheu'
or the curtains UP in Miss Simpkins room!
The towels are ironed. but
Thore was a long pause. for Anne was medi-
ta;ing a further boldncss. She continued pres
emily. with a gasp: could Gladys put up the
curtains? I've got the sitting-room ashes to
empty yet and all the lamps 10 clean and I'LL.
and YOUR tray to fix, and 1t amt but an hour
tl"-
"CIadys"" scrcame! n voice from behind the
rorticrp and its owner purple with rage.
How do YOU dare Anne Mnton you lazy shirk-
I'm thing, Gladys is packhorsc TO carry your
loads You know how delicate she Is Shame on
you! After all I've done for you you Pennies
and dcpendcnt-and Gladys giving you all hcr
old clothes some OF 'em good as new. pretty
near That's gratitude for you. You. that might
have been Il servant in somebody's Kitchen Du'
for my takin' you and maxim over you a. II you
was my own Go straight down stairs. ana
don't let me see your face again to-day SEM
Kitty I'd with my tray. | couldn't eat with YOU
brcathin the same atmosphere. Are you gone!
"Yes'In." came with a haIf-sob. as Anne took
herself from the majestic and injured presence.
She wondered at herself for the tears chat
would come and blind her In her work. Tor Aun'
Holmes only repeating what she had shd
with innumcrabc variations since Anne. small
and shrinking child. was first taken under her
mo,hery protection.
Yet even after she had finished the lamps and
was down on her knees before the sitting room
hearth, her eyes were still red and the dark eye
lashcs that curlcd upon her sallow check sus-
pciously moist.
May / see the madame" n hearty voice called
from the doorway, and Anne lowered Ia" ashpan
and turned 10 gee the new boardcr. big. good
naiurcd German. bowling grayeiy toward her.
"I-Im afraid not" she said Aunt Holmes l.
an invalid, you know. She only secs i'copl" when
they first % engage board. VIII d.? ]
can tell you anything. think. or can take a
message to Aunt Holmcs"--- But there she
stopped confused. remembering that she VAS
prohibited an audience with the offended aunt.
Her breath came more freely when Mr..
Schwartze said: ''If could please be shown 10
my room. And your dinner hour / haf not
learned"
"Dinncrs AT g." said Anne with aldcrity. And