The St. Johns herald., 1900-08-04
When Their Release Came All Three Sisters Decided That They
 Wanted to Get Away from hOIne and One Another
< ND now. my dear nieces, that we
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 have arranged these sad details want 10 talk to you about yourselves, xaid Uncle William, taking up his hat aud s;roking the new hatbaDd re- flec:iVely.
 Augusta remained unmoved, the in- Yal.d Amelia sighed. Anne looked i'm patiently round the roo-I.
 'As far as l can judge from cur sCry glance at your poor fathers af- fairs" he continued, there is a sun Of about z 5000 to be divided equally between you. Now, if this is carefully
 nvested it may bring in something
 Ike G2cO a year"
 Nearly G7O a year each" interrupt d Anne.
 ''Hush:" said Augusta.
 'Of course, it is impossible for you to continue to live in the style you have 5een accustomed to on such a sum as mat"
 At this Augusta gave a 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."
 'I absolutely refuse to do anything i. 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 us."
 lover age. indeed! And am not 20 years her senior? Have I no voice in the matter?''
 With regard to your share, certain y; but not beyond that"
 "I should like to tell you what feel, Uncle William" said Anne. "As you Know, papa was ill for five years, ever since I grew mp. When l was child saw the others having splendid times; they went here, there and everywhere"
 ''Oh. Anne, how can you?" cried Amelia. You know I have never been able 10 go out much"
 You had your own room; you could see your friends; everyone has always given way to you" Anne continued, feverishly: No one cared for ever came near the place since I've been grown up. 0aly the cid 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 a house with a pail over it the tomb of living corpse; to see the body of a man who had been great, and was-worse than nothing?" The girls voice broke in an uncomfortable sob; she ciasped her temples tightly with her two hands and regained her eomposure.
 "Anne. how can you?" cried Amelia. ''You can't know how hateful your con- tempt for the ailing and the weak makes you."
 "L have TO 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 foolishHess. more hope less imbecility, all through the best years of my life, while my youth, my precious. precious youth, which can naver come back to me, was flying Iway!" Nonsense, nonsense; you are child still.' cried Uncle William, moved by her emotion.
 My face is aTf over little wrinkles, ancle. l am only g. know; but you cannot keep young in a tomb."
 Coarse girl" muttered Augusta.
 What do you propose to do, then?" said the rncle. desnairinglv.
 "in the hrst pace, put London be- tween myself and my loving family" she replied, with sparkling eyes. "'rhen shall see if there are not some means i by which can make decent income; if so. 1 shall train myself for the work: if not-well. m promise never to ask any of you for help" Although I 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. I am going 10 stay with an old friend of mine. We were children together and now she is a widow; she has little house in Mayfair and has asked me to go 10 Cowes with her."
 Do you know who this woman is she proposes to live with?" said Au- gusta. icily Amelia was sobbing. Un- ele William shock his head.
 'She is q woman in society. certain Iy. but her photographs are in all the shop windows and she has actually ap- peared uron the public stage"
 Well. she was a failure, at any rate" burst in Anne; 'that ought to satisfy you! But if go on the stage I'll take good-care 10 succeed, you may be sure." Go on the stage! Is that what you propose to do?" cried Augusta.
 "oh,- my poor darling!" sobbed Amelia.
 And if I did? Why. should get fond of you tive and send you stalls. Think Of that. Papa, in his grandest days. never took you to anything bet ter than the front row of the dress rirclei"
 My dear Anne, advise you serious Iy to reconsider the position. As was saying, your united incomes would amount to-"
 Don't trouble to make calculations on my account, Uncle William. have arranged everything for myself. My address will be 'care Of Mrs. Devass, 05 Brook street, Mayfair. w. and I ,hall ho nlad fn baar fr,,,,a