Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-05

You, that does more for the poor than any other
woman in the city! You, that gives away hospital
beds, an college courses an libraries"
"Oh, wait. Anne!" Miss Churchill put up slen-
der protesting hand as she rose to be undressed
mo libraries thus far" she added as the others
deft fingers unfastened hooks and buttons. "Only
few books. But, really Anne I'm getting into
dreadful rut. You see it. Three meals day.
a conventional drive in the afternoon, few conven-
tional calls, church, hope not too conventional
an occasional contribution to worthy cause
That's my life. 1t isn't enough. How long have
been living like this?"
Twenty years. Miss Eleanor" The old servants
tone trihe unsympathetc. She liked living
like this very we'll. She knew just how much she
had to do and she did it, with purrng intervals.
Twenty years. Anne Miss Churchill drew
herself up suddenly that the staid servant
startled. Anne, need young society. If had
young nicccs and nephews would invite them here
for-for years" she added desperately. But
E haven't | think"-there was a moment of preg-
nant silence; then the words with deliberate
hardihood-"Anne. think III adopt baby"
baby! Yes With the words, Miss Churchill's
vision widened; took in far horizons. A baby would
interrupt the Routine. 1t hardly too much to
hope that baby might shatter it to bits, and then
rebuild to the hearts desire. A baby would
would for: something could love.
Anne let Miss Churchill's wrapper drop from her
nerveless hands. The action equivalent to hys
terics in anybody else. Then, without word, she
stopped picked it up with trembling fingers, and put
it on her mistress.
There, there Miss Eleanor" she said, soothngly
having found her voice. ITS tired we ar out OF
sorts, such idecs wouldn't be comm into yer
mind. Take nice hot bath before we go to bed, an
in the morning yell feel better"
Miss Churchill laughed little as she sat down on
the side of the bed and continued her train of
thought She had sudden exutant sense of free
dom. She doing something unusual. She was
breaking the Routine!
"Of course" she unused, dayine with the eo-
quent theme zone child would be very lonely here,
with no one around her-or him q don't know which
1t will be)-but me and few old servants Very
lonely. M-m-m-m she reflected, Il might adopt
two-a boy and girl They would be company
for each other. Two boys might be better-no, two
girls"
Even Miss Churchill's suddenly stimulated ina
nation halted this side of the picture of two small
boys being company for each other in her peaceful.
abode 1t was all very we'll to destroy the Routine
but she did not wish her home destroyed. Home had
not paed on her. 1.-TWO girls" she said again, posi-
lively. "And yet,"-her spoken thoughts ran on re-
gardless of the dazed bewdered listener before her
they might be different; they might not agree
Il have i'll"
She sprang to her feet. and cutchcd Annes
shoulder in her excitement.
"Annc!" she exclaimed, "Ill adopt twinsr'
"Is it fever ye have, Miss Eleanor"
Anne's voice breathess with fright az sh.
laid quvering fingers her mistress brow
Get into bed now, and lie STILL that's a dear an
III get the doctor right off,"
Miss Churchilr crept dociely between the sheets.
Then she laughed again, this time with a kind Of
abandon She seemed to hear the Routine crumblinp
audbly before her insurgency.
Poor Anne!" she murmurcd. ri don't wonder il
startles you After twenty such years as we've had
And coming suddenly, too. But don't get tho
doctor yet won't need him till morning, and then
only to advise me to what institution I ought TO
apply Why, Anne, shake your mind up bit and see
what beautiful idea it is Only think of it, Two
little toddng darngs around. to brighten this
gloomy old house, and cheer US up We everything
to them and they just grateful untaxing factors in
our happiness"
Anne groaned TITS cheerin' up I'll need, bad. if
we've two toddn' babies around this house" she
predicted, bitterly. AN who'll take care of them t'
she added after moments silence, as If realizing
at last that horrible as this thing seemed it might
not be passing nightmare. Her mistress was GER
tainy awake She could not Aatter herself that she
was not, also.
"A nurse" Miss Churchills response was promp,
and enthusiastic "Pll hire to take care o,
them who knows all about children We don't Blu,
can love them and enjoy them. One doesn't have
to learn that"
"Whatll we do when they have measles an scarlet
fever, an dipthery? Both at vance,"
Miss Churchill did not reply. Anne struck again.
an pneumony, an infant paralsis!" she added
deliberately, following up her advantage. Mis-.
Churchill frowned and closed her eyes. With no"
many infantlc ailments Anne acquainted?
IF you're going to talk that way think III 90 tc
Sleep she said, with hurt dignity. Turn off tn.