Barton County democrat., 1902-11-21

gretful sigh, and a last glance at the
interesting page.
Bring on your bars, she quoted,
'sI'm ready. Well see If we can't find
head and tail both.'
For the next half an hour algebra
held the floor. Ted gradually ceased
the desperate pulling at his hair, and
smoothed out his brows.
THAT'S BETTER" he said at last
"Guess can get it now. Much obliged,
sis. You're a cherub." And he gave
her back hair an affectionate rumple
by way of thanks.
Then mother, coming in for a mo-
ment's chat, must be told all about the
day at school-must give her counsel
as to the management of this or that
refractory pupil, her sympathy with
each trial of patience or temper, her
hint of the way to strengthen weak
places in the armor of the girls self
control. And when mother went away
again to set the bread and Madge, re-
turning to her book, had just resumed
that first absorbing chapter father
laid down his paper and polished his
glasses-the usual preliminaries to the
query:
"Who wants a game of chess with
me?"
Madge said nothing. She did not
want a game of chess, and she was
really anxious to read that book, SO
that she might return it to Anne. But
when the question was repeated in a
slightly disappointed tone, and she
glanced up to see him peering over the
gold rims at her, since Sarah had gone
upstairs, she put down her book and
went to get the chessboard.
There was silence in the room, bro
ken by an occasional cheerful whistle
from Ted, as another lesson book was
for tomorrow, or by CHECK, check
to your sorbed players"
"Checkmate!' cried the father at
last. "You fought pretty we'll, but I've
got you, missy!"
.Never mind" she replied, 'I'H have
my revenge some day. I'd have it now,
if it wasn't too late to play another
game"
Then the clock was given its even
ing winding, the good-nights were
said and the family trooped upstairs.
And as she slowly prepared for bed
Madge wished rebelliously that she
might have read that book; that she
had strength of mind or selfishness to
refuse the claims made on her time by
her family; that there were no six
hours of teaching to dread tomorrow.
''I would like to be free," she muir
INJURED, impatiently thinking of the
words passed on the road between
Anne and herself. Then her eyes SOFT
ened as she looked at Sarah's round,
flushed face on the pillow; and, bend
ing, she kissed her sleeping sister, with
kiss meant for all the family.
mo, DEAR" she murmured, remorse-
fully, "I don't-I don't The price
would be too high to pay"
And so the tired bond-slave fell
asleep, with her head close to the tum-
bled yellow curls of her sister.
The free woman, meanwhile, drove
to her boarding house, tied her horses.
ran up the steps, let herself in with the
latchkey, and telephoned to the sta
BILE for man to come and get the cart.
The dining room was deserted when
she entered. A maid, with disap-
proval of such irregular hours written
y
aggressive stiffness of her white cap
and apron, brought in Anne's supper,
and Anne mischievously prolonged her
eating of it to the greatest possible
extent. on account of that very disap-
proval.
But all things must end, even long
drawn-out dinner; and Anne finally
found herself in her room, with the
evening before her. She turned over
the new books on the ia BILE. They were
new books, but she had read them all.
wish I had brought home some
magazines today" she muttered.
Wonder why never feel like studying
any more? 1 used to enjoy it when
was in college. Suppose ones mental
powers become atrophied, like physi-
cal ones, when they're not used"
She stood drumming on the window.
''Wish 1 had somewhere to go, OF
some one to see. I'd run in to see the
old lady in the next room, but she's
such bore; and the two sisters are
each others company; and the college
girls are busy-oh-hum! guess I'll go
to the theater." She took up the pa
per. Opera? no, I've heard Carmen
20 times at least" She ran over the list
of plays. They're all old; why can't
they get new ones?" she grumbled.
Here's one I've not seen. I'll be too
late for the first act, but that don't
matter"
She sat through the remaining four
acts, although they bored her, being
but indifferently played; then she
called cab and went home.
The house was quiet, its inmates
nearly all in bed. She wandered about