Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-03-03
CHAPTER Xxi.

CHAPTER MI.
Anne had entered DR.. Ericsson's
house as member Of the family. No
one had urged her to 60, but she had
como to See the necessity Of 1t. After
long illness her aunt had come back to
only Il quiescent consciousness of life
and with body partly paralyzed. The
reinS Of government had fallen from
her hands forever, and "a woman was
needed by her side Anne did not re-
nounce work to lie with her, but she
condensed it into as few hours as posi-
bic and spent her leisure i'll the Waiver
ly place house.
She had found it hard to be unselfish
and 90, particularly when she knew Da
vid had insisted Oh remaining there and
assuming the duties of Il son toward the
old man he loved and the woman he
pitied. She had struggled with her own
heart and had beaten down her pride
only after hard fight. Daily compan-
ionship with David Temple was the
last thing in the world she desired, and
she loved her free life as she loved the
sunlight. But there was nothing else to
be done. Mrs. Ericsson's apathy was
plea mingling with the voice within
her which commanded in the name of
duty. If only seltishly, for her own
peace, she obeyed it.
More than year had passed. 1t had
grown to be a right and natural thing
to Anne to meet David at breakfast and
pour coffee for him, to watch for his
coming at night. At first this had SEEM
ed unbearable, impossible, but habit is
coercing and inflexible and women. are
adaptable. She even managed not to be
discontinued though she lived in dull
atmosphere, in quiet house where
three disappointed lives drifted on.
Olga's name was never heard. Mrs.
Ericsson, calm, almost mindless, sat all
day by the window of her room, her
eyes fastened on the street. She seemed
watching for some one; she always
looked out. The attitude had become
mechanical long after realization Of
the reason had died. 1t was the express
sion of the passive desire in her MANNED
brain to watch for Olga's return. Da-
vid worked harder than ever, apparent
ly unchanged save that he was more ret
iceEt. DR.. Ericsson's practice was but
a name. and he looked an aged man.
As was expected, the newspapers had
made a sensational heroine Of Olga.
Soon after her departure photographs of
her from San Francisco had found their
way to Broadway windows and reported
interviews with her had been wired to
New York papers. These were highly
colored and probably false. Gossip toss
cd her name like shuttlecock from one
to another.
As an actress she had not met with
emphatic success. At first people went
to see her in great crowds because she
was the we'll known eastern belle; they
went second time because she was a
beauty. Soon her vogue lessened. 1t is
one thing to be rich woman dabbling
in profession, another thing to enter
the market and strive with practical
workers. The criticism aroused was
different too. Olga had found this out.
She had been too ambitious. With all
her natural talent she was still inform
ed, really fit only to interpret the rudi-
ments of her art, and what had seemed
praise compelling in fashionable New
York, where gloved hands awarded the
affirmation Of success, was merely prom
Using, sometimes impertinent, where
people paid money at box Office to see
o stranger.
Many things that must have stung
David were said Of her in every paper
except his own. But even to Anne's
eyes he was impassive. He went into
the world. particularly the society Of
men and clubs, as much as formerly, and
those who found pleasure in discussing
his affairs behind bis back were careful
to read the hint in bis attitude and offer
neither sympathy nor advice.
May was almost spent. At the cor
ners Of the streets barrel organs churned
antiquated love songs; sparrows built
their nests in theweakly budding trees;