Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-10-04

among them. They progressed with
an un-American deliberation, tasting
the delicate sweetness Of the air. re-
toicing in the sky and the sun, paus-
ing to look at the dark business Of
dracaena against a wash Of blue. the
skeleton blossom Of Century plant,
the pool Of thick scarlet made by
parterre OF geranium.
The three sisters-Hannah and
Pearl leading. Berry and Hazel walk
Ing behind with Josh-fared buoyant-
ly down the street AS they passed.
they commented on the houses and
their inmates. They had plenty OF
stories Of the jewellers In those solemn
palaces. many Of whom were people
whose humble beginnings they knew
by heart, and whose rapid rtse had
been watched almost awe-stncken by
an admiring and envious community.
AS the Ryan house loomed into view
their chatter ceased and their eyes.
serious with staring attention, were
fixed on the mansion which had 80
them. Sensations Of varying degrees
Of animosity stirred In each Of them.
except the child, still too young to be
tainted by the corroding sense Of
worldly injustice. She skipped along
sidewise, her warm, soft hand clasped
In her Aunt Hannah's decently-gloved
palm. Some wave or vibration Of the
intense feelings of her elders passed
to her, and as they drew nearer the
house she, too, began to grow grave.
and her skipping Quieted down into a
sober walk.
That's Uncle Dominick's house,
isn't it?" she said to Hannah.
Hannah nodded. BY far the most
amiable and wide-minded Of the sis
tiers. she could not rise above the
sense Of ranking indignation that she
felt against the Ryans for their treat
ment Of Berry.
That's the biggest house in San
Francisco" said Pearl over her Shout
der to her parents. Amt 1t. Popper?"
II guess II is" answered Josh, CIV
ing his head a conf1rmatory wag. and
even II It amt. It's big enough, the
Lord knows!"
Il can't see what a private family
wants with all that ROOM" said Han
nah with a condemnatory air. There
must be whole sootes Of rooms on that
upper floor that nobody lives In"
Don't you fret. They're all occu-
Pied" said Berry. Each one Of them
has their own particular soote. Cornie
has three rooms all of her own, and
even the housekeeper has a private
BATH"
And there's twelve indoor serv-
ants" said Hazel. They want lot
of space for them. Twelve servants,
just think Of IT,"
Twelve servants" calculated Han
nah almost with a groan. We'll, that
don't seem to me right"
They were close to the house now
and silence fell on them, as though
the antagonism Of its owners was ex-
hailed upon them from the mansions
aggressive blk. like an unspoken
curse. They felt overawed, and at the
same time proud that one of their
number should have even the most
distant affiliations with a family too
exclusive to know her. The women
with their more responsive al sensi-
tive natures felt It more delicately
than Josh. VITO blunderingly expressed
ole of the thoughts Of the moment by
remarking:
Some day you'll live in there, Ber-
ny, and boss the twelve servants"
Rats" said Berry, giving her head
an angry toss. I'D rather live in my
fat and boss Sing"
Josh's whistle Of facetious incredul-
ity died away incomplete. for at that
moment the hall door opened and a
portly masculine shape emerged upon
the porch. Berry, at the first glance,
was not sure of its identity, but her
doubts were dispelled by her brother