Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-12-26
BY QUEST.

i'll her hand, and ran straight to the in
valid couch i'll the parlor kitchen, and
throw them on the coverlet.
so You have come at last.' Well
she had known this would be the
greeting. Did they make you play
double time for the pay: 1t is well
you get something extra sometimes"
Indeed, it is very WE'LL Miss Col
lisson was already busy With the fire,
for it was past dinner time, and Betty
was always worse when she was hun
CRY. You must have something nice
for tea. to make up for this scrappy
dinner. Did you take your milk:'
NO. L am sure it is turning sour.
why can you not stop taking. it from
that woman? You know she has not
the best milk in the village. She can
not feed her COW properly on that bit
Of land. 1t is mistaken philanthropy
to let her think so. l have told YOU
so again and again. 1t he only had 10.
that husband of hers could get un and
work.
Some cinders fell Out. The poker
followed. Miss COLLISION rose in a
hurry and knocked over :, footstool.
There" she said. that is lighting
up nicely. VIII you have beef tea or
mutton broth today"
L do not care You know | have
Hev cared about what | gel to eat
since We are so poor. What a noise
YOU are making. And l have such q
headache. This cottage is like an
oven. Will you never agree to taking
those rooms in that farmhouse: |
know | should like them 50 much bet
ter
But you know quite we'll that you
could never sleep with the noise of all
those birds and animals about YOU all
day-MiSs COLLISION WAS laying the
white cloth swiftly. With glass and
china. and her face was quiet and her
voice as gentle as ever. And do you
not think you would tire of living in
another persons house:'
You know / would not mind any
thing if only I could get larger rooms.
| cannot breathe in these holes. You
would say the same yourself if YOU
had to live in them continually. and not
be able to get out whenever you like
The organist was silent. She was
never allowed out for more than an
hour at Il time. unless it was for service
or practice. The fretful voice went on:
What was the wedding like? You
never tell me anything. I have 10
wiring it out of you. l suppose they
did everything in the best of style.
Rich people can. We would have given
you as grand 4 II if YOU had only
married Richard. Torrens before papa
became bankrupt. He would have had
20 keep you then instead of throwing
YOU 81 like an Old shoe. and | could
have had what | wanted. instead of
having to PUT up With The scrapings
of what YOU can earn. Oh. if YOU only
had not kept putting OF your wedding
against all papa's wishes. just because
it pleased you to delay and dilly-dally
with Ricliard.'
The beef tea was boiling over. The
VI IAN " llt btt III GU Y IL.
pouring it into a bowl and bringin" it
to her sister quickly. Her face was
white: there was a dumb appeal i'll her
eyes. but not to Betty. That had been
useless tWenty-eight years ago. Only
to-day it was hitting her hard. Her
outer shell Of calm had been broken
in the church, and it was impossible
to hear all this unmoved. Oh, the long
lifetime it seemed since Richard Tor
rcns had gone from her. not because
she was poor. but because she would
not leave this helpless, deformed sister,
who always tormented like this for
the comforts she had lost.
Your beef tea will be cold, Betty"
"No. it is too hot. Give me a soup
plate to pour it into. and give me some
new bread, not that stale loaf. You
like old brcaG. What did Miss An
hacker wear? l Go think she might
have come TO see me before this. She
came seldom enough. seeing We arc
every bit as well connected as she is
But, of course. it is money. They are
ilCu anu VIC dic AL thS ell
ference"
"She wore white satin"
Yes, of course. She is 4 pretty cir.
! in a dolly way. Did she look well:'
"Loyely."
81 would not say that. Her features
are not regular. and she is always
smiling. l never could see what PEG
pie found to rave about in her. 1t is
Just because she is rich. We are as
good as they are, and yet who wants
to know us"
Miss Collision was removing the soul
plate. Suddenly Betty noticed her face
"HoW white you are. [ believe yol
played th#t organ TOO long this morn
ing. Why can you not take care o
Yourself: ThinE what would happier
if YOU were unable to earn any money
We should have to go to the poorhousC
and | should die Of shame. Do thinl
Il little Of me-
ooh, there is no danger of my fallin:
i'll, [ think" Miss COLLISION laughed
and then looked startled at the note 0
Bitterness in her laughter.
Had she really been thinking it woul,
be well to fall i'll and die? Surel.
! Betty's compIainings were not begin