Sharp County record., 1900-02-02
When Their Release Came
All Three Sisters Decided That They
Wanted to Get Away from Home
and One Another.
A Nd now, my dear nieces, that we

M NOW, my uedr HleccS, lnal we
n have arranged these sad details,
want to talk to you about yourselves"
said Uncle William, taking up his hat
and stroking the new hatband re-
tiectiyely.
Augusta remained unmoved, the in
valid Amelia sighed. Anne looked i'm
patiently round the room.
"As far as l can judge from q cur
sorry glance at your poor fathers af-
fairs" he continued, there is sum
OF about $4,000 to be divided equally
between you. Now, if this is carefully
invested it may bring in something
like g20O year"
Nearly f7O year each," interrupt
ed Anne.
"Hush!" said Augusta.
"Of course, it is impossible for you to
continue to live in the style you have
been accustomed to on such a sum as
that"
At this Augusta gave suppressed
snort capable Of any Interpretation.
Her uncle went on: But if you hold
together, and are content to take a
little cottage in the country l think
YOU will be able to manage pretty COM
fortably."
II absolutely refuse to do anything
Of the sort!" cried Anne, vehemently.
Hush, hush!" said Augusta.
"You must let your sister speak" in
terposed Uncle William. "She is over
age and quite independent of any of
u.s."
"Over age, indeed! And am not 20
years her senior? Have l no voice in
the matter?"
with regard to your share, certain
ly; but not beyond that"
81 should like to tell you what feel,
Uncle William" said Anne. "As you
know, papa vas i'll for five years, ever
since grew up. When was child
saw the others having splendid times;
they went here, there and everywhere"
"Oh, Anne, how can you?" cried
Amelia. you know l have never been
able to go out much"
"You mad your own room; you could
see your friends; everyone has always
given way to you" Anne continued,
feverishly: mo one l cared for ever
came near the place since I've been
grown up. Only the old friends of the
family have called and whispered and
sympathized. The rest couldn't come;
how could we expect any sunshiny per-
son to visit house with pail over it
the tomb of living corpse; to see
the body of man who had been great,
and was-worse than nothing?" The
girls voice broke in an uncomfortable
sob; she clasped her temples tightly
with her two hands and regained her
composure.
Anne, how can your" cried Amelia.
You can't know how hateful your con-
tempt for the ailing and the weak makes
YOU"
II have no contempt for the sick.
The sick have their brains; they have
some chance for recovery. But to sit
and watch-watch for five years-a
hopeless case, case in which each day
brought more foolishness, more hope
LESS imbecility, all through the best
years of my life, while my youth, my
precious, precious youth, which can
never come back to me, was flying
away!"
Nonsense, nonsense; you are child
STILL" cried Uncle William, moved by
her emotion.
my face is all over little wrinkles,
uncle. | am only 20, I know; but you
cannot keep young in tomb"
Coarse girl" muttered Augusta.
what do you propose to do, then?"
said the uncle, despairingly.
"In the first place, put London be-
tween myself and my loving family"
she replied, with sparkling eyes, "Then
| shall see II there are not some means
by which l can make decent income;
II so, I shall train myself for the work;
II not-well, I'll promise never to ask
any of you for help"
although l have no legal control
over you. Anne, it is my duty to warn
you that many dangers await young,
unprotected girl in London" said the
uncle.
"Oh, I know all about that. am
going to stay with an old friend of
mine. We were children together and
now she is widow; she has n little
house In Mayfair and has asked me to
90 TO Cowes with her."
do you know who this woman is
she proposes to live with?" said Au-
gusta, Jelly, Amelia was sobbing. I'm
Gle William shook his head.
"She Is woman In society, certain
ly, but her photographs are In all the
shop windows and she has actually APP
peared upon the public stage"
well. she was failure, at any rate"
burst In Anne; that ought to satisfy
you! But II | go on the stage III take
good care to succeed, you may be sure"
"Go on the stage Is that what you
propose to dop" cried Augusta.
"Oh, my poor darlingl" sobbed
Amelia.
And II I did9 Why, l should get