The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-06
THE BROKEN BOTTLE
BY
KATE JORDAN

when she had TO face The truth: None
of these sacrifices brought peace TO her
soul. Twice in dreams she had seen
the. green bottle grown into an awful
living thing. with legs like beetle
and eyes like frog as it danced be
fore her. After awakening from this
terror in the stiffness Of the house
the little. little voice was heard SO
clearly;
'The days are going fast You can't
hold them back-no ono can hold them
back. Poor Fraulein will soon be gone
IL will be too late then, Susyl II will
be too late Can you let her go away
into the wide, wide world punished for
you! Can you do this, Susy?'
Late on. the next Thursday after
noon, Fraulein brought Emmy to call.
Genevieye told YOU how thought
your presents lovely. Susy7' Frauloin
asked affectionately- "fou were so
good TO think Of Fraulcin.'
Susy did not reply. She could only
stare. The girls face, SO thin and
grave, no longer broad and laughing.
was real torture 10 her.
But why you don't come over to
play any more with Emmy. dear Susy7
Franlein will soon be gone. Only till
Friday, am | here, liebchen. Then poor
Fraulein goes far away
Those words mnde Emmy whimper
wildly. On Susy they acted like a
lash, and she ran up the stairs. her
face frightened,
BY the time Susy reached the window
scat and had crcpt behind the curtains,
she know. As she laid her worn, little
face on her knees, she knew Happi-
ness was not 20 be found again by any
trick or evasion. Confession alone could
silence that little, little voice
Though harder to confess now than
At first, she must do it. How7 Whcn7
should she go TO her mother. or her
father, to Mrs. Woods or TO Fraulein7
But she shrank from facing any of
them Selecting as a punishment the
person whom she most dreaded, she de
cidod to write 10 Mrs Woods
The opportunity came when her fa-
ther and mother were dressed for the
thoatcr. She stole into the library, and
climbed into the leather chair al the
library desk. Her heart was full and
she was cold from nervousness as she
began in round, shaded letters;
''Doar Mrs Woods | hope you arc
well and all your family. I am not so
very we'll. | am sorry TO say I broke
your bottle and at first / thought that
Emmy would be blamed and then I did
not feel SO sorry because she is an
only child, and as ! am n middel child
that is not cared for so much by its
family
Her father had come without her
hearing him. His hand upon her shou-
dor was her first knowledge OF his
presence. She started violently, began
TO cry in shivering way, and turning
away pressed her hands on her face.
'Oh, papa, | am sorry" she wcpt;
Z" really am sorry--I-broke-br
the bottlc!-oh, papa, papa!"
Susy heard the paper rustic. as her
father took up the letter. and after a
pause laid it down again. deep
silence followed before he lifted her in
gentle. strong way and sat down with
Der, in his arms, both her cold hands
held in his big one
..Now. little woman, tell me all about
it, he said, and il was his tone that
gave her. courage TO lift her head and
gaze at him through her tears
lie said the words to her quito as
If she were Youngest or Eldest child
indeed he could not have spoken with
more love and understanding if she had
been an Only child.