The National tribune., 1903-05-21
DANERS.
A Good, 0ld-Fashioned Love
Story.
BY ROSE WILLIS JOHNSON.

years. DanerS was not strong. And
Daners had the tender and exquisite
beauty to defraud which would be most
cruel She must go on. Without argu-
ment or question l quit, secured place
in a mil, and wrapped enamel ware from
to 6, the year around.
We lived in little, old brick house
oh, it was old ms the hills! The senile
pile had settled below the sidewalk, and
there it dozed like a quaint Dutch dame.
The roof leaked, and the paper nodded
but we managed to exist i'll spite OF mala-
ria.
l loved the old place, although the
neighbors dubbed it The Rag-time Flat.
But when Daners entered high school.
instinctive,y | knew she was ashamed of
her surroundings 1t was but natural she
should want home of beauty, where her
friends could visit heg was determined
she should have it. l lay awake of nights
dreaming of plush carpets, pictures and
statuary. But how could results be ac-
complished? Although / hated mathema-
tics. set myself to solve the problem.
There is no problem woman will not
solve, given time and her own leadings.
/ took my own time and leadings. and
solved this one at so much per week. L
went to the diabolical furniture man
and furnished home for Daners, on the
instaEment plan. (Not the best plan, but
the only way for some people) Then l
committed myself again. 1 bought
piano-by the month-and engaged our
neishbor, Eben Marsh. to give her lessons.
Then the real delights of life began for
me; for every evening-though so tired
/ was an animated ache-I could lie at
ease ON my (rented) sofa and hear Daners
practice. DanerS slim fingers on the keys
evoked sublime melodies. I'm sure there
was nothing finer known to art. Any
way, there was nothing prettier than
~
frown, beating out the endless measures.
She loved harmony as I Ioved-her.
There isn't any use trying to describe
her / might tell you she had yellow hair
and blue eyes. but any number of girls
have yellow hair and blue eyes. l can
only say she was so sweet and so pretty,
when Prof. Eric Bent began to drop in
her home from school, l was not a bit
surprised, though the first time l was
flustered. 1 was ashamed to meet my old
teacher; and wrapping enamelware from
z TO 6 the year around does not teach
habits of grace and self-control.
l hadn't seen the Professor since my
withdrawal, and coming suddenly into his
grave presence in working garb, with tum-
bled curls and wind-blown cheeks, humil
iation and distress overlook me.
He was very kind. He took my rough.
red enamel-scratched hand between two
palms as soft as velvet-such warm, gen.
tie hands! In the old days reverently 1
used TO admire their beauty!
I'm afraid you forget your friends.
you is to trap you in your den. Aren't
you even going to say How do you do,
Mr.. Bent?"
"Oh, how do You do. Mr.. Bent?" 1
gasped. meeting his smiling eyes for just
one helpless instant. Then he took pity on
me, and l slipped away to repair my
damaged toilet.
Our little bedroom afforded no conso-
lation beyond the refreshment of soap
and water. For the first tirIe l realized
how scanty was my wardrobe! There was
absolutely no choice save between my
house dress "a red mother-hubbardl and
my threadbare black Sunday best. l put
on the red robe. sedately belted, and went
out to my sisters guest.
1 was dreadfuliy afraid of the tea
hour-but Daners is equal to anything.
The grace with which she presided gave
an air of elegance to the poor tools she |
handled. And l discovered there was no
need to blush for father. The Professor
listened to his quaint expressions and
rough logic with that look on his face |
which of old l knew meant warm and
eager attention. By degrees self-confi- |
dence returned, and more than once Mr.. |
Bent's smile surprised one from me, in re- |
turn.
1t was the evening for Daners' music
lesson, and the coming of Eben Marsh |
made little break, for she was obliged |
to excuse herself, and withdraw to the |
piano, leaving her guest to me-for faith
er jnnocently trotted off to bed.
We sat by the fire, chatting and listen
Ing to the piano. Somehow / was much |
more at ease when alone with him. We |
talked about the latest books and he sug-
gested a course of reading, jotting down |
titles OH the back of an old envelope.
81 have most of these" he said. ''If |
you will use them I'll send them to you |
by Daners-or bring them myself l |
may"
Il wish you'd come yourself:' 1 said |
and tben-blushed. My Pro-
fessor looked at me-with a smile!
Oh, dear! l disgraced the family that |
evening; but dear Daners did not seem TO
see or hear. She came back to US dreamy
ard beautiful, her soul full of music-for
Eben had been singing. Eben was very
except when he sang. He
was our lifelong friend-almost a brother
to US. / fancied / knew why he left us
after the lesson. He was a
bit jealous of the Professionals well he
might be!
But the Professor did not come back
for several weeks, and L began to be un-
happy for Daners. / fancied her eyes
were shadowed, her cheek a triie pale,
and / arose desperately in my might to
find and remove obstacles. If the Pro-
fessor was not in earnest he must be
made to be i'll earnest l must paint the
lily-make Daners prettier.
My income was my despair-it could
not be made to do more than it was doing.
Obviously my income must be increased
Straightway ! hit on a splendid plan. !
couldn't play chord. or paint a picture.
or write a poem, or give a recital TO save
my life-but / could crochet. / made
some darling little caps, and sacks. and
boctees in white, pink and baby blue
and the stOre-kcepers wanted more than
had right awav.
/ got DGners new ribbons and laces all
Eight. ard the result was all rIght, for my
Professor called again. with the excuse
of bringing books to me. l was ready for
him this time. quite dignified and se,f-pos-
sessed. and for half an hour talked Of
wind and weather. Then | excused my
saf ard srpped off to bed, leaving my
lovers together.
Still Daners seemed no happier-and
knit for more ribbon. There was some
thing lacking. The neighbors were say
Ing hilarious things about the rag-time
Hat, but l went point further. I got
new lace curtains for the tiny-paned, old
fashioned windows. Lace curtains were
a stride toward modern civilization. We
must modernize, for Daners.
What troubled me was her Indifference
to the pretty things! She wore them
and nothing could Dreyent ber