Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-01-20
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Ann Appleby's |
parlOr
Her Sacrifice Brought
Its Reward
By CLARISSA MACKIE !
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

| uaHu over Ills Daiu Aetiu anu io'hSS
unhappily around the darkened inte'
rior of Miss Appleby's parlor.
The minister shifted his feet uneas'
| ily and looked across the room at Miss
Appleby's face, which seemed merely
confused blur in the gloom. He was
a youngish man, rather diffident in
manner, but brave to recklessness in
dealing with the problems offered by
the. stiff necked, rockbound members
of his little flock. Then he said:
Nevertheless l must adhere to my
opinion that it is your duty to offer Il
home to your cousin. Suppose you
had lost your house and its contents
by fire and the exposure to weather
had brought on an attack OF rheHma-
| tism which rendered you helpless.
Would you want to be cared for by
kind neighbors when relatively the
grace of God, Miss Appleby-had a
roof over her head?'
''Nlr. James, you know my house is
| filled I'D with summer boarders,' said
Ann Appleby in strained voice.
Every room"
"Yes," said Ann firmly. "Im sleep
ing in the clothespreSs myself
Cant you let one of your boarders
go?"
81 can't spare the money"
"Then let your cousin have this
room-you do not use it." ventured Mr..
James boldly.
\ For moment there was a silence
fraught with horror; then Ann spoke:
This room! Why, this is my par
lor!'
The minister arose, and his tall form
loomed near the ceiling of the room.
Its not your parlor, Miss Appleby;
| it's Gods parlor, and it is hiScommand
that you prepare it for the occupancy
of his handmaiden, Sarah Drew. am
going to your cousin now. Shall l tell
her you have prepared room for her
and that she will be welcome?
YES" said Ann Appleby grimly.
The rest of the afternoon Miss Ap-
pleby moved slowly about the parlor
with reluctant feet, pushing the furni-
ture into stiff rows against the walls,
unfolding one slippery sofa into a
springy couch, fresh with linen from
some secret closet where homespun
treasures were hidden in lavender.
Perhaps no one could quite estimate
the mental anguish that was occasion
ed by these preparations. 1t was a
violation Of AIMS most sacred tradi-
tions that the Appleby house should be
without best room. About this
gloomy apartment were centered recol-
lections of joy and grief. Weddings
and funerals and the minister's pres
ence at ceremonial tea were the only
events that marked the opening Of the
parlor. The -boarders had the use OF
the large sitting room across the hall,
and even us brief respite from the
stress OF Il long days work Ann would
not have dreamed OF withdrawing into
the parlors prim seclusion.
And now it must he opened for the
coming Of Sarah Drew, 1t was to be
used as Il sleeping room by an invalid
the mantelpiece. and lint from the bed
clothes would tieck the cherished car
pet. But Ann found Il certain savage
pleasure i'll leaving untouched the pic
lures and ornaments about the room.
Sarah Drew might occupy this room,
but she would always uncomfortably
feel that she was violating the almost
sacred precincts of her cousins home
1t. must always be Il parlor. and the
occupant would be proportionately un,
comfortable, for Little River folk We're
! not given to desecratirg family affairs
When Sarah Drew hobbed into the
room the next day her mild eyes
opened wide with amazement.
You're never going to put me in
here. Ann" "1She gasped.-
why not?" queried Ann grimly,
twitching the washstand well into
view and rattling the china bowl and
pitcher. II guess you'll find every
thing pretty comfortable. Sarah. If
you don't just ring this here bell and
Emeline will wait on YOU"
But l can't sleep here, Ann," qua
vered her cousin TREMENDOUSLY "Why
it's your best room. l never slept In
anybody's best room" ..
mo more did l." returned Ann rather
tartly. But 'tiSn't my room. Mr.
James says it belongs to the Lord,
so you see it's no credit to me that
you're occupying it,"
"Oh.. did Mr.. James say that be-
fore you would invite me? I'm dread
full sorry. Ann. | wish didn't have to
come, but. you see. the house burned
| all down. and | didn't have stick
left, and so ! came to Little River to
stay with Mrs. Bell, and now all the
children are down with the measles,
and there wasn't any place to go but
here. l amt got nothing till / collect
my insurance money. I'll pay you
Ann pushed her into chair and re.
moved the straight brimmed hat that
settled unbecomingy over Sarah's
| nose.
PAY nothing!" she snorted con.
temptuously. II | seem ungraciou~
Sarah Drew. you can lay, it all to the
| fact that | never could find the can
celed mortgage note on The place after
Uncle Abel died. Your place was left
| free ana clear. and I've had to pay
| Josiah LEEDS $3.50 dollars Il wear III
tereSt. and I'm wore tn skin and bone