Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-03-09
Miss Anne.


tons, Mrs. Holmes lay back with
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 aud 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.
\ II wonder If he'll mind" unused
Anne, with wordless thought of the
Resolution that so often swept over
own cramped soul as she looked
ut upon this dreary prospect. "He
pint like man that't always lived
Doardin' around. ooks like he ought
10 have a home somewhere, and
bother. He'd be good to one IL he had
pr. He's got good eyes. It's pretty
hre in here" she added, regretfully.
Then under some sudden impulse
ne crept stealthily along the dark
II to a bedroom hardly larger than
sloset, and was back in a moment
frying something carefully hidden
er her apron. When deposited up
the dresses 1t proved to be tum-
n holding half dozen glowing car
nfons.
Ynne had rescued them from waste
baAfet the day before, and, clipping
thet stems, had revived them in water
an( treasured them tenderly since.
%rhey'll make 1t a little more home
Ill e for him." she said. Aad then she
t{ined to the prosaic work of chang
irk the bed linen, busting. cleaning
ann bringing in soap. fresh water and
towsls.
ShA was a pale, frightened looking
woman, and as she left the room she
turned, and looked Eesitatingly at the
glass of carnations. Il pose | hadn't
ought to have taken that glass from
Inc sideboard," she said. IF Aunt
Holmes was to come up here, do
know what she'd say"
She smelled the sweet blossoms hes
itatingly, then closed her lips with a
firmness pathetically out of measure.
II 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
c!eaned?"
Nom, not 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 SlmpSin's room?"
The towels are lroned, but"
There was u long pause. for Anae
was meditating further boldness.
she continued presently, with a gasp
"Could 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 1t
Fain't but an honr till"
il "Gladysl screamed a 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-pe0uiless and depend
ent~-epd 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 makio' over you as II
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"
AYes'm." came with a half sob, as
he took herself from the majestic
injured presence.
She wondered at herself for the
ars that would come and blind her
her work. for Aunt Holmes was
bnly repeating what she had said with
nnumerable variations since Anne. a
mall and shrinking child, was taken
hinder her motherly protection.
Yet even after she had finished the
kmps and was doyn on her knees be-
<ore the sitting-room hearth. her eyes
Fere still red and the dark lashes that
curled upon her sallow cheeks sus-
ypiciously moist.
MAY | see the madame?" a hearty
| voice called from the doorway. and
Anne lowered the ashpan and turned
4 Ia see the new boarder. big, good
cafired German. bowling gravely to-
her.
I'm afraid not" she said. Aunt
mU Is an invalid. you know. She
" sees people when they first come
engage board. VIII I do? I can
kll you anything, l think. or can
lake a message to Aunt Holmes"
{But Their she stopped confused, remem-
,bering thai. she was prohibited an au-
dience with ATTENDED aunt.
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