The sun., 1901-04-15
HAD HEART TROUBLE

"
They are not to be compared with me-"
said the girl visitor as she settled back in
the comfortable big leather chair and
looked across the table at the other woman.
"And it all comes of that lovely insurance
scheme. You know my sisters are older than
l am, and ever since we have been flatkeep-
ing have been general hack and errand
girl. They kept me doing chores every min |
ute that was at home. Well, didn't ex- |
actly shovel of the snow and split the |
kindling, but l did carry everything from |
microbes to messages and had worn path |
between our building and the grocer's. |
That's ali changed now, however.
.'Pm precious possession nova fragile,
delicate thistledown which may be blown
away at any moment. My strength must be
boarded, my health guarded. Oh, ii you
want your family to appreciate you, just
get some doctor to declare that you have
heart trouble. Yes, that's what's the mat
ter with me. It's my heart. Worry me?
No, indeed. never even suspected had
heart-that is, not since that love affair of
mine, when the boy who used ~ send me
roses on st. Valentines day moved to ap.
other town. Of course that may have been
the beginning Of the disturbance, but the
doctor didn't seem to think the cause was
romantic one. He told me, in fact, that the
valve probably had always been defective,
and always would be. But don't tell the
girls that.
"Whenever Bess says: Mary can dust
the parlor this morning. just kind of gasp
and sit down suddenly and say something
about how close the room is and Bess tells
me I'd better 60 out and walk in the open
air. That's my chance to get away for the
whole morning.
"But the insurance. You want to know
about that. Well, you see, fell into the
hands OF an agent. Never mind how Such
things are sent to us for purpose, no doubt.
This one was, anyhow. She found me work.
ing for my daily bread Had ever consid.
cred life insurance? Never | said, think
ing to settle the matter, but il was unwise,
as sooa discovered, for it only opened the
way to endless reasons why it should be
considered. In the first place, she assured
me that life was uncertain. thoughtof the
danger ran every tiHe ! went through the
tunnel and had to admit that it was. Fur.
thermore, youth was heeting and old age
will surely creep on when | might have a
snug little sum to my credit in the Eastern
Trust and Dust company or else be depend.
ent and penniless, which wasn't cheerful
anyway you looked at it.
''This would compel me to save my money
| / knew it wouldn't if | didn't have more
/ than enough to pay my necessary expenses,
but how could say that with the agent as.
Stunning that received large income, which
! was simply wasting in riotous living, or
dering sweetbreads every day for lunch
and actually affording the luxury Of wells
and fresh gloves? My pride wouldn't let me
protest, so / merely swallowed the reproach
of extravaganza and simply said that had
found it difficult to lay by very much.
"A mental vision Of my savings bank book
arose in my eye-the ten dollars put in, the
seven dollars taken out, the conscientious
industry with which eight dollars had been
added on several different occasions, and
the subsequent withdrawal which beto.
kened new gown. Undoubtedly it would
be better to have place safe from such
depredations. Then along after 20 years
when was, well never mind how old, there
would be that $3.50, the 81, 900 with the
accumulated interest. That certainly seemed
alluring. 1t might mean trip to Europe
possibly princely gift to one of my fam
lily, something pleasant, anyway, or else q
place in the old ladies' home. umph!
| utuh Inv chN iuCo, ~ tofu biN aBShe
thought I'd rather get married. tried moi
to resent the look she gave me, but it sale
plainly enough: 1T isn't likely you'll have
a chance
"Well, that was about all that happened
the first time she came and the second
third and fourth visits were merely repeti
tions Of the first, but my friend was per
sistent and very patient, and after l ha,
had the endowment plan explained to m,
about seven times | became quite con
, versant with the business and talked off
!, hand at home about policies, premiums in
vestments and all the rest of it.
my sisters were quite awed and planne,
what they would do with the money if
should die suddenly and leave them tina
vast fortune. Some of il would go to pay 70
my funeral, which didn't care to have elah
crate. This generally brought one of th'
girls to my side with a caress, and some
. times the idea of a young thing being cut oi
like that brought tears TO my own eyes
Then the rest was TO be divided-fairly, o
course -as | didn't want any two person
quarreling over my estate. i had made u
: my mind that the policy should be made ou
TO my estate;' il sounded better, though,
/. At other times | decided to leave it all I
: my little orphan cousin Tommy. 1t woul
! help with his education but Tommy is
n now and of course he might be too old
i educate, unless hurried up and died, and
wasn't willing to dc that even for Tomm,
, That was one drawback. couldn't dispos
:, of my money very well because | couldn
!. : tell just when | was going to drop off an
" therefore didn't know just how my friend
would be situated"
r We'll, cid You finally take out the ins,
OF rance?" the other woman asked when I'll
n, visitor paused long enough to indicate tn;
o, something was expected.
"Oh, ! tried, but the company refused |
!, let me. You see, that was where ! W;
= lucky; the doctor found something he cale
F. now wait minute-an aortic regurgit
i ton, whatever that is. 1T was an awful bio
Dc and nearly jumped for joy over my escal
until remembered my heart. Violent e
r. ercise might injure it, and above all W;
ii not to worrv. II friends and relatives die
-, around me | must not allow it TO distuI
my equnninity. | might lose my purse ,
% break limb, but that need not disturb N
al peace Of mind.
20 I'm the meantime ! am waiting for Il
next insurance agent who comes TO me- I
her can say, sadly, of course, as becom
the occasion: 1t is no use; have been +
jected.'
4. Now when l meet the old one on Il
=" street she looks into my eyes sympathetic;
a ly and asks how / am feeling that days,
III prised, l suppose, because | am still aliy
to and each time | assure her that nv heal
ID. could not possibly he improved