Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-09
Miss Anne.

MIS-. I1OImG5 Idy DdCh Will q
dismal groan 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
cheerful, and it looked out upon few
dwarfed fruit trees in the back yard,
and beyond that upon the rear ends
OF unpainted tenements, where half
starved and wholly wretched faces
sometimes peered out through the
smoke-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't always lived
soardin' around. ooks like he ought
to have a home somewhere, and
mother. He'd be good to one if he had
aer. 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 a moment
carrying something carefully hidden
under her apron. When deposited up
on the dresses it proved to be tum-
bier holding half a dozen glowing car
nations.
Aone had rescued them from a waste
basket the day before, and, clipping
their stems, had revived them in water
and treasured them tenderly since.
They'll make it a little more home
like for him." she said. And then she
turued to the prosaic work of chang
ing the bed linen, busting, cleaning
and bringing in soap, fresh water and
towels.
She was a pale, frightened looking
woman, and as she left the room she
turned and looked hesitatingly at the
glass of carnations. Il s'pose | hadn't
ought to have taken that glass from
lne sideboard," she said. eff Aunt
Holmes was to come up here, I do
know what she'd say"
She smelled the sweet blossoms hes
itatingly, then closed her lips with a
firmness pathetically out of measure.
Il don't care" she said, I'll let 'em
stay 1t amt SO dreary when they're
here"
Anne" called a querulous voice
from the sickroom, as she reached the
lower hall, have you got the lamps
cleaned?"
Nom, cot yet"
We'll, what in the name of common
sense have you been doing all day?
Are those towels irOned, or the cur
tains up in Miss Simpkin's room?"
THE towels are ironed, but
There was a long pause, for Anne
was meditating a further boldness
She continued presently, with gasp:
Gould Gladys put up the curtains?
I've got the sittingroom ashes to
empty yet, and all the lamps to clean
and fill and your tray to fix, and it
amt but an hour till"
"Gladys!" screamed voice from be-
hind the portiere, and its owner was
purple with rage. How dare YOU
Anne Minton, you lazy, shirkin' 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 aud depend
ent-and Gladys giving you all her old
clothes, some of 'em good as new,
pretty near That's gratitude for you!
You, that might have been a servant
in somebody's kitchen but for my
takin' you and maxim over you as if
you was my own. Go straight down
stairs, and don't let me see your face
again today Send Kitty up with my
tray. | couldn't eat with you breath
in the same atmosphere. Are you
gomez"
Yes m" came with half sob, as
Anne took herself from the majestic
and injured presence.
She wondered at herself for the
tears that would come and blind her
at her work, for Aunt Holmes was
only repeating what she had said with
innumerable variations since Anne, a
small and shrinking child, was taken
under her motherly protection.
Yet even after she had finished the
lamps and was doyn on her knees be-
fore the sitting-room hearth, her eyes
were still red and the dark lashes that
curled upon her sallow cheeks sus-
piciously moist.
May I see the madame?" a hearty
voice called from the doorway, and
Anne lowered the ashpan and turned
to see the new boarder, a big, good
natured German, bowling gravely to-
ward her.
Tin afraid not" she said. Aunt
Holmes is an invalid, you know. She
only sees people when they first come
TO engage board Will I do? | can
tell you anything, think, or l can
take a message to Aunt Holmes
But Their she stopped confused, remem-
bering that she was prohibited an au-
dience with the offended aunt.
Her breath came more freely when
Mr. Schwartze said: eff I could please
be shown to my room. And your din.
ner hour have not learned.
Dinners at g." said Anne with alac
rity. And I'll show you your room.
AS she passed the new boarder a
the door he stepped back with a chiv
alrous movements and held the portiert
for her. Anne could not remembe1
any such polite attention in tie whole
course OF her life. IT, gave her a quoe
with her head a litt'n less hant. III
the two steep flights and along tn,
winding hall.
THE boarders sit down stairs
good deal - she said still regret fir