The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-10-08

tlnB-rOOm. VINO can put herSe1 IL
the place OF that despairing, hunted
creature who knew that blood was or
the hands with which she ate, and
whose eyes were filled with visions OIL
the death-chair?
So great was her fatigue that lone
before she finished the meal her tired
lids began to droop, her head to nod
in s~pasmodic ~surrenders TO an over.
towering desire for sleep. Suddenly
she dropped the fork from her fingers
and sank back in the comfortable
chair, her head resting against the
soft, upholstered back. Her lids fell,
her hands dropped to the arms of the
chair. A fine line appeared between
her dark eyebrows-indicative of pain.
For many minutes Sara Wrandall
watched the haggardness deepen in
the face of the unconscious sleeper.
Then, even as she wondered at the
act, she went owe and took up one OF
the slim hands in her own. The hand
of an ~aristocrat! 1t lay limp in hers,
and helpless. Long, tapering fingers
and ~delicately pink with the return Of
warmth.
Rousing herself from the mute con
temptation of her charge, she shook
the girls shoulder. Instantly she was
awake and staring, alarm In her dazed,
bewildered eyes.
You must go to bed" said Mrs.
Wrandall quietly. Don't be afraid.
No one will think of coming here"
The girl rose. As she stood before
her benefactress, she heard her muir
muir as if from afar-of: Just about
your size and figure" and wondered
not a little.
"Ycu may sleep late. I have many
things to do and you will not be dig
turbed. Come. take off your clothes
and get into my bed. Tomorrow we
will plan further"
"But, madam" cried the girl, 81
cannot take your bed. Where are you
to"
IF l feel like lying down, l shall
lie there beside you"
The girl stared. Lie beside me-"
Eyes. Oh, l am not afraid Of you,
child. You are not a monster. You
are just a poor, tired"
"Oh, please don't! Please," cried
the other, tears rushing to her eye
She raised Mrs. Wrandall's hand to
her lips and covered it with kisses.
Long after she went to sleep, Sara
Wrandall stood beside the bed, look
ing down at the pain-stricken face,
and tried to solve the problem that
suddenly had become a part Of her
very existence.
1T is not friendship" she argued,
fiercely. 1T is not charity, it is not
humanity. It's the debt | owe, that's
all. She did the thing for me that |
could not have done myself because
| loved him. / owe her something for
that"
Later on she turned her attention
to the trunks. Her decision was made.
With ruthless hands she dragged gown
after gown from the innovations" and
cast them " chairs, on the floor,
across the foot of the bed; smart
things from Paris and Vienna; ball
gowns, tea gowns. lingerie, blouses,
hats, gloves and all of the countless
things that a woman OF fashion and
goes abroad for that purpose and no
al INDUCES herself in when she
other to speak of. From the closets she
drew forth New York "tailor-suits" and
other garments.
Until long after six o'clock she
busted herself over this huge pile of
costly raiment, portions of which she
had worn but once or twice, some not
at all, selecting certain dresses, hats,
stockings, etc., each Of which she laid
carelessly aside; an imposing pile of
many hues. all bright and gay and gilt
tering. In another heap she laid the
somber things Of black; a meager as
sortment as compared to the other.
Then she stood back and surveyed
the two heaps with tired eyes a curl
Gus, almost scornful smile on her
lips. "There!" she said with a sigh.
THE black pile is mine, the gay pile
is yours" she went on, turning toward
tho sleeping girl. What a travesty!"
Then she gathered up the soiled gar
ments her charge had worn and cast
them into the bottom of a trunk, which
she locked. Laying out a carefully Sc
lected assortment of her own garments
for the girls use when sho arose. Mrs.
Wrandall sat down beside the bed and
waited, knowing that sleep would not
come to her.