Middletown transcript., 1903-09-19
CHAPTER l
Addie, you must go!
No. mother-I must stay at home.

!
break down if you keep on any longer
No girl could stand it! This is an un'
expected opportunity, and the only one
YOU are likely to have. This girl has
remembered you.
Yes 1t is kind of her. 1t is more
than six years since she left the school,
and have only seen her once since then.
She must be kind-hearted girl. Well
this chance must not be lost. You
will get thorough change and will come
back more fit for your work. Addie, you
do not know what restless nights | have
spent lately, after watching you, when
you have been SO tired that you could
hardly speak, bearing up and being
cheerful for our sakes! 1t has nearly
broken my heart-I can bear it no lon
ger!
Mother dear, you watch too closely.
One cannot always be bright; even the
rich must sometimes flag.
How much more must the very poor,
bound as they are to constant round OF
monotonous work? / have always been
proud Of you, dearest-ever since the
blow came and you took SO much upon
your Young shoulders; but it is hard to
feel that ones child must work to sup
port
Mother!
No-I won't say it. | know it hurts
YOU. But tell me that you will give in
now and 60 away.
How can I, mother? How can leave
YOU and Monica? We have no money to
spare, and, if / go away and stop work.
ing, how are you to live, even for
month? And there is the question OF
clothes, too. 1t isn't possible, mother
dear.
1t must be possible! Whatever we
suffer, whatever we sacrifice, you must
90. You shall not wait until it is too
late, and your young life is permanently
injured. That is my only fear, Addie.
You need the rest, the change OF air, and
good food that Miss Dellwyn offers you,
and it is nothing that for week or two
Monica and l may have to contrlye
little more than usual. Addie, you must
not refuse-for my sake.
Mother dear, if you wish it so much,
will go-but it seems such risk Mon
lea isn't capable of taking up my work
Won know that. Well, then, suppose
while l am away and cease to remind
them of my existence, my employers
forget me, find someone else, and, when
come back, refuse me any more work!
| will think OF nothing know you
ought to go. How to provide you with
the necessary clothes and the money Tor
your journey is the only question.
Well, since you are determined, Will
90. Mrs. Lefane wants me to take six |
weeks holiday, as the children are going
away; but it is the shop work | am afraid |
OF losing. There is SO much competition,
and it was long time before | could get
anything bought.
Tell the shop-people that you are going |
away for week or two-it is the least
busy time of the year. And, Addle,
with great deal Of time on your hands,
you might do some painting.
Yes-I had not thought Of that, re-
piled the girl, her face Frightening IT,
as 1 believe is the case, the Deliwyns are
rich and have large grounds and plenty
OF flowers.I remember Nita was always
very fond of howers-I can do my de-
signing work much better there and
sketch from nature. Lately, l have done
very little good work; my brain has
seemed SO dull; have had no new ideas;
even my fingers have almost refused to
work; but there, as you say, might do
much better. After all, painting and de-
signing pay much better than needle
work, which is dreadful drudgery. Yes,
that lightens the scheme little, mother
mine. l could not bear to think OF going
if it meant that, during those weeks,
should not earn halfpenny-knowing
what it would signify to you.
Of course we shall save little-being
two, instead Of three, said her mother
doubtfully. Not much-we eat so little
but still something.
Not muchl Adde knew too well how
plain their fare was-kEew also that it
had come to be almost second nature to
her never to eat as much as she wanted.
No. Addie, there is only one thing to
do-my ring must go at last.
Oh, mother-no! We hafe always
managed to keep it.
And now it must CO. have ceased to
care, child-it will not distress me. What
is a ring? The tenderest memories are
nothing compared to the fact that ones
child is fading gradually before ones
eyes. The ring must go. We must try
to sell it to the best advantage, Addie,
for it is the only thing left to US. II pos
sible, we must save some of the money
we get for seme really urgent need.
Ths ring should be worth great deal
OF money, said Addie refectively. had
almost forgotten it, mother. But, though
am sorry that you must part with it, in
a way am greatly relieved. Now, at
least, shall know that you have some
money which you can use if need arises.
Shall we pawn it, mother?
No. We should have ho hope of re-
deeming it, and expect we shall get a
better price by selling it outright Try
to find out how we can best dispose OF it.
Then, when you have taken what YOU
need, we will put the remainder into the
savings bank and only draw it out when
it is really necessary.
The Delahays were very poor Mrs.
Delahay, although still fairly young I.
woman, was great invalid, and able to /;
do very little, and that little only ly
dint of indomitable resolution. When.
by the failure of large firm in which
Mr.. Delahay had invested his capital,
she had suddenly found herself penni-
n 4 L.. MA 4,