Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-01-20

|
In wretched silence, while Emeline
padded heavily to and fro, arranging a
supper on the marble topped table.
She moved the glass bell anG the
shell basket to one end Of the table
and spread Il damask cloth. On it she
placed Il dish of creamed toast, fresh
! berries from the garden, ginger COOK
| les and tea.
+ When Emeline had departed Sarah
came to the table and tried to eat. but
| the coldness of the marble seemed TO
| strike through the damask cloth and
| chill her rheumatic limbs " the bone.
AS she slipped the tea from one OF
Ann Appleby's fine china cups her
mild eyes evaded the glances OF the
stern vlsaged family portraits. 10
her nervously wrought fancy these an
cestors glowered in angry disapproval
I of one who was thus shattering all
the Appleby' traditions at one stroke.
"We wouldn't eat in the parlor,"
| they seemed to mutter at her.
81 don't want to eat here, and l
know | can't sleep here!' cried Sarah
Drew desperately, pushing her teacup
violently away from her. And then
she gasped in terror. for the cup
struck forcibly against the glass bell
and showed it over the edge of the Ia
BILE, where it fell crashing to the floor,
bearing the delicate shell basket to ut
ter ruin.
The noise brought Ann Appleby to
the door Her face grew white with
anger as she understood what had
happened, and the anger was not ap-
peased at the sudden realization that
this long cherished parlor had ceased
to be, The sofa bed and the wash
stand with its toilet articles, the dress
er showed aWkwardly in a crowded
corner-all of these things intruding
on her fine carpet seemed to degrade
the other. furnishings to lower level.
1t was not a parlOr; it was not bed
room. To Ann Appleby's orderly mind
1t was chaos.
What is the matter?" asked Ann IN
a strange voice.
Sarah Drew turned frightened face
toward her cousin and then shrank
into a detected heap over the dlsor-
dered table. Some Of the cream from
the toast stopped over and dripped to
the carpet, making a little white poo!
in the heart of great blue rose.
81 can't eat in a parlor." walled
Sarah mournfully. 81 never did such
thing, and | know l shall never have
mite of sleep here. l feel like was
putting you out, Ann. If | didn't have
to see all your best thngs-and I've
broken your shell basket, ANN
81 see it," said Ann duly.
"When l get my insurance money |
can pay you back again, only | don't
believe you can get another shell bas-
ket like that. know. you was choice
of it," mourned Sarah, stabbing her,
self with these pointed facts.
Father brought 1t from the West
Indies" reioined Ann. "lt had assu-
cations"
Sarah Drew struggled to her feet
and went to the sofa bed, where her
hat and cape were primly laid. Il
guess i better not stay any longer,
Ann"
"Where are you going, Sarah Drew"
demanded Ann fiercely.
Maybe to the hotel" faltered Sarah.
"Have you got any money!!
at was all in the house, and it went,
too. but there is hotel where | can
STAY" retorted Sarah, with sudden
spirit The town provides for theta
that
Like whirlwind Ann Appleby swept
into the room and denuded Sarah's
head of the unbecoming hat, stripped
off the cape, threw u blanket over the
slippery surface of the biggest horse
hair chair and backed her cousin un-
tremendously into its depths.
~ left this room be like parlor be-
cause | wanted you to feel uncom-
Portable, Sarah Drew. I'm a mean
woman. but the kindness seems to be
all worked out of me-Im that tired.
Now, you sleep here tonight, and to-
morrow We'll clear everything out and
turn this into Il bedroom. It's the sun
niest room in the house, and you can
have fire on the hearth when its
chilly. l guess you'll soon get over
your rheumatic ! won't hear another
% |
the matter with me is Pm lonesome
for some real kin to boss and Scoid at.
You'll do first rate. You can stay here
for good if you want to-
Ann. leaned over and kissed Sarah
Drew on the top of her thin brown
hair, and she was quite as surprised
at the act as Sarah herself. Then she
dashed from the room and returned
with brush and dustpan. III just
sweep up this glass" she said apollo
getically. Il was getting awfully tired
of that shell basket, Sarah. Oh!''
"What is it?' asked Sarah eagerly.
Ann arose and came around the ia.
BILE with Il crumpled strip of paper in
her hand. Her voice trembled. "See
what you did for me. Sarah Drew,
when you broke the basket. It's the
receipt Uncle Abel got from Leeds
when he paid off the note. It was
stuck inside the little basket. Now
can get back the $4,000 interest l paid
that old skinfintr'
''Why do you suppose Uncle Abel
put it there?" Quavered Sarah Drew
excitedly. ITS like a miracle some
how"
"It's one of those things that's al