The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-10-14
MAR,GAARET'S
VACATION
BY Virginia Barlow Ls Roy

"sixty dollars! I've got it this
time, and now I can look forward
to fine time this summer"
Margaret Driscoll walked rapidly
up and down her room, thoughts
of her summer vacation fitting
through her mind and anticipations
of delight filling her soft brown eyes
with light good to see.
Margaret, among her other du-
ties, was friendly visitor Of the
Associated Charities of Plainville,
and old Mrs. Raeburn was under her
sympathetic ministry.
Margaret had loved her from the
start, and her visits were always
sunshine to both of them. Today
as she walked up the little path
there were no friendly eyes watching
for her, no outstretched hands to
welcome her. Filled with forebod-
ings, she raped softly, then went
in.
On the great four posted bed lay
the frail old lady. ALL the life and
animation seemed departed from
her. Only her great hungry eyes
looked out on Margaret with visit
fulness SO pathetic it was heart
breaking.
"Dear Miss Margaret, desr Miss
Margaret, you'll save mel You won't
let them send me to the poorhousew
Here her voice, eager and shriI,
quayered and broke, while hot tears
rolled from the sunken eyes.
In spite Of Margarees efforts to
soothe her, she raised up in bed, her
eyes growing wild in the hopeless
ness of desperation, while her words
rolled out incoherently: GIVE only
q little while longer to live. love
this little home. It's part Of me.
I couldn't bide the poorhouse. Oh,
Miss Margaret, I mustn't go there!
couldn't meet Jim in heaven if I
went there. All my life I have tried
go hard to do right. I've tried to be
respectable and hold up my head
even when things looked dark. For
Gods, sake, Miss Margaret, let me
die here in my little home, where
my flowers are. p
Here her strength gave out, and
she sank back exhausted on her pill
low. After the wildness of her grief
had spent itself Margaret got the
story from her-how Mr.. Emery,
who owned the house, had come to
see her and told her that the new
law stated that people who were ,un-
able to help themselves and who had
no relatives to support them must
now go to the poorhouse, that she
would be better off there and that
she must make up her mind to go
soon.
"Miss Margaret here a thin hand
] earessed the girls brown hair as she
4 bent over the old lady-"t the Associ-
ated Charities will help me to keep
A this little home, won't they? You
/ can tell them that I won't live long
B and that these things can be sold,
H and that will pay them back:
h 'Don't fret any more, dear Mrs.
3 Raeburn." said Margaret ias she
d smoothed her pillow and straight
u eled out the bedclothes. RI think
z we can ff1 ff1 it it ali right for you. There
/ is meeting of the Associated Chari-
4 ties tomorrow. I will go and tell
them about it, and I know they will
make it alright. Now, promise me,
nycu won't worry any more and that
Nwhen I come to sec you tomorrow
Hevening you will be my dear sun
Shiny friend, eager for good sto-
ky."'
1T knew you would straighten it
put. Mr.. Emery frightened me. I
Eouldn''t follow him"
She closed her eyes with one
grateful pressure Of MargareHs
band, who hurriedly left the house,
Boing into q neighbor's to see that
hlrs. Raeburn would be cared for
Hnd then back. to her room, where
Pie once more took on the serious
kpect Of previous years, and the
py prospect Of the morning seemed
! bgue and. far away. ssi 5..}s .S NE ~
Thenexta aftterno ION. Margaret stat
4 her case before the meeting. She
y Rldfit as we'll as sho could, pictur-
4 Rg what q terrible blow it would
to thas old lady, used TO the de-
Bncies and refnements Of life, sem
1. &ve to q degree, to be taken srom
) se little cottage where; abe lived In
D sppy self respect to The poorhonse,
D. here all her happy visions OF By
. 10 days all her hopes Of the fu-
o. be, would be blackened abN the.
O. hdow Of disgrace. ,,s.syS,
. [After 3 short discussion the pres
|r Int 6si1e rs Is