Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-18


been at her work in the glove factory, vigorously
treadling heavy machine. Mrs. Ryan continued
staring and squirting
"Shes turrblc grand she commented. That's
uew suit on hcr-and hat, too
Its her old hat with new flowers" Lizzie stated,
ronng away
Mrs. Ryan looked disputatous, but after glance
at her daughters firm closed lips, she yielded the
hat.
"Well, anyway, she did we'll by herself in life"
,he sighed.
Her mother did we'll by her in the first place
When Rosie made fool OF herself at sixteen, run
ming off and marrying fellow who drank and
beat her. twas the mother who and took her
home and paid for a divorce and got her new
clothes and place and fresh start in life.
If shes married good man now, It's her mothers
doings. Her mother made her"
"Well, her mother could--she didn't have but her
self and five chdcr to do for Mrs. Ryan was dis
tine lively defensive. Tan't if she'd had my ten
and himself
She jerked her head to an open door through
which the sound OF heavy shores and the odor
OF bad whisky.
YES, only five said Lizzie. bitterly "And why?
Because she'd had the to throw out the
drunken loafer who'd have fed her and her chill
dren and ruined them all Gawd visit you'd
kicked him out long ago." She gave tragic look
at that open door, Ten Of u.s." she went on, press
Ing out rufle after ruf7e childs dainty dress.
Ten of us. julie married to another drunkard, with
four OF her own; and Harry in Jail and Johnnie
liawd knows where with the gang, and me working
every day and Sunday and Annie doing up bundles
three Easements below ground; and Pete working,
100, at twelve, you swearing two years of mis- age
n the affidavit; and Maggie and Gertrude, too
,ndng and understood to be anywhere else but at
.chool and four kids underfoot in the
lleys, and him in there, stealing our money and
Eating Our food and beating the kids when
sacks is turned-and why? Why? Because you
owed him Because you hadn't the grit to get rid
IF him when you knew he was bad poison.
Love-" she repeated, her voice breaking "a lot OF
love it was for us!"
She bent closer over her work, her mouth witch
Ing Then she threw back her head with gesture
Of reputation Her features stiffened into an ex-
preston OF hard contempt, strangely at variance
with their delicate youth. ~ want none of that
love for me-" she proclaimed. when marry I'll
be lettering myself"
I'm glad to hear it." There accent Of
Irony in her mothers tones She shuffled back to
her tub hastily, if rousing from tho spell her
daughters words had cast over her. II hope ye live
up to it."
"I'm going to-" the girl somberly insisted. "It's
no hot air. I've had few fellows after me-fne
on huggng and kissing and throwing their money
down their Threats like all the rest-and cut them
all out. ! met older at Smulski's who's
been taking out once or twice. He's nearer
forty than thirty, an he's been married before-his
wife died three years ago; but he's got good job
at Rothchid's and he home OF his It's
on Sangamon street. He's asked me to go and
look at it with him this afternoon, and I'm going
to-and if he asks me if I'll live in it, I'm going TOP
She replaced her iron on the stove with bang
and stood erect a moment resting her tired back.
The sweat was pouring off her scarlet face.
Mrs. Ryan rubbed mechanically for a time
without speaking "And you twenty" she said half
to herself "Well, don't gansay you Lizzie.
Maybe you're right. Gawd knows your father made
4 fool Of me. II you can DO better. pitch In and