Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-11-09
} WOMAN WITH
! A CONSCIENCE.
II Was Too Nice For Practical
Purposes.

ITS u troublesome thing to have, Is
conscience abnormally developed"
ruminated Olivia. Next to being COM
monsensible or trying to be dignifed
there's nothing so likely to render one
ridiculous and unpopular. almost
wish 1t was possible to have ones con-
science shaved like beard, or ampu-
tated like n corn, or pulled out like a
defective tooth. Personally, I'm rath-
er tired OF being perpetual slave to
the thing called conscience"
whats the matter nowT queried.
You see, knew olivia very well-have
known her since she was an infant In
arms, in fact-and | could read the
signs of her mental unrest. knew she
had been Opening her mouth and put
ting her foot into II" once more, as the
Irishman said. Olivia Ii rather unfOr-
tunate that way always. II there's
any tongue trouble going anywhere,
she's pretty sure to pick 1t up some
how or other.
"Oh, It's nothing new-at least not
more than half dozen new brain
pangs or conscience pains" she replied.
III have merely been refiectlng-rather
sadly-upon the dolefulness OF POSSESS
ing conscience In good working order
when such an article is distinctly and
decidedly out of fashion and when one
doesn't know how to control II In tho
least"
A dear little girl IL Olivia. all the
more lovable, perhaps. because of the
inconsequence which IL naturally hers.
She "rambles on sweetly." AZ her SIS
ter says OF her when conversing with
her intimates-Just thinking aloud. |
knew should get to the bottom Of her
latest trouble presently II only didn't
interrupt and send her off on another
track at a tangent, no ] merely smiled
alphabetically and waited In silence.
"When | was child" she sighed
presently. 81 don't believe ! was bit
popular, although think most people
liked me. And | know | didn't have
half the fun some Of the other girls
did, and all because my conscience was
'bloated, AS my older brother said.
81 never left my Sunday school les
son unlearned or my music lesson I'M
practiced because wanted to go violet
hunting or coastIng Saturday after
noon" she continued, with n sigh. 81
was too conscientious for that. And
always owned up to the mischief I'd
done and refused TO share In the tri-
fling consequences OF the mischief l
hadn't done for the very same reason.
When | became trlfie Older, passed
low in many nm examination because
wouldn't make use of borrowed Ian
guage or look at my books the very last
thing. A little later | earned unpopu-
larlty among my fellows because
never would say was glad to see any
one when could not say so honestly"
And now
don't believe | ever was or ever Will
be one bit the better for all these con-
science troubles" was the commence
ment OF the next "ramble," for tho
sake OF which she left the previous one
unfinished. "As little child worrying
over my Sunday school lesson ] GER
tainly sinned just ns much on the side
Of spiritual pride and childish 'puffed-
upedness' as | would have done on
the grounds Of neglect Of duty had !
enjoyed my Saturday afternoons AZ the
other children did. II IL an open ques-
tion II wouldn't have been really
better girl had | sometimes kept still
about my own small wrOngdOings ms
well M tacItly owned up TO n few
which hadn't committed. The slightly
pharisnic attitude Of mind came
strongly into play again over the 'ex-
am. pads | wouldn't borrow and the
crib knowledge ! would have none Of,
and. although I never did say was
glad to see any one falsely, I've strain
ed the truth and cracked my con.
sciences funny bone many n time try
ing to think OF some other convention.
ally pleasant thing to say. And now
"Well, what is itT pressed her, de-
termined to fathom the trouble mt last.
"Whht has happened 'nOwr"
But sbe merely shook her head
mournfully and rnmbled on.
ITS n point Of conscience with me,
II always has been, TO look Mt all things
from both sides. and, ia consequence,
many n time I've looked at given
question from both sides OF the fence
until I've impnled myself upon II and
have writhed under the knowledge
that people thought was sailing with
the wind, and no on.
"'You run with the hare and hunt
with the hounds. don't your girl said
10 me last week, and. mean M she was.
I understood just how she thought II
was true. Aud yet was only follow
ing out the dictates Of my abnormal
conscience and trying TO be Just.
Another girl last week asked mo II
the powder on her face showed. and
when said yes she fairly hated me
MY conscience didn't allow me 10 say
| M and II never occurred 10 me until