Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-12-28
CHAPTER u.

Sidney could not remember when
Ezser Aunt Harriet had not sat at the
table. 1t was one of her earliest dis
EIEusiOaments to learn that Aunt Har-
net. lived with them, not because she
wished to, but because Sidney's father
Mad borrowed her small patrimony and
size was boarding it out"
Eghteea years she had boarded it
asst" Sidney had been born and
grown TO girthood; the dreamer father
%1ad gone to his grave, with valuable
xeaSents lost for lack of money to re-
mew them-gone with his faith in him
self destroyed, but with his faith in
8FIe world MISUNDERSTANDING he left his
rxTfa and daughter without Il dollar OF
fife insurance.
Harriet Kennedy had voiced her own
,GiesF of the matter, the day after the
1EuaeraI, TO one of her neighbors:
"He left no insurance. Why should
ne bother? He left me-"
no the little widow, her sister, she
had been no less bitter, and more ex-
EsEfcit-
at looks to me, Anna" she said, ''as
Ef by borrowing everything l had
George had bought me, body and soul,
Ear the rest of my natural life. I'll
sfay now until Sidney is able to take
Hs0sd. Then I'm going to live my own
s7fe. 1t will be a little late, but the
EeGnedy's live a long time"
THE day of Harriet's leaving had
seemed far away to Anna Page. Sid
meg was still her baby. She had given
srSe her dolls, but she still made clothes
Gsr them out of scraps from Harriets
sewing room. In the parlance of the
Street, Harriet "sewed'-and sewed
aFesi-
She had taken Anna into business
-Sufth her, but the burden of the part
slership had always been on Harriet
I7e give her credit, she had not com
Tyiatned. She was past forty by that
rIgrGe, and her youth had slipped by in
that back room with its dingy wall
paper covered with paper patterns.
-3n the day after the arrival of the
arssManer, Harriet Kennedy came dow
In breakfast a little late. Katie, the
EezzeraI-housew0rk girl, was serving
breakfast. Mrs. Page, who had taker
advantage of Harriet's hardness tt
read the obituary column in the morn
-5ag paper, dropped it.
But Harriet did not sit down.
sidney"
@Yes, Aunt Harriet
Sidney, when your father died,
organised to look after both you ant
cur mother until you were able t
take care of yourself. That was fv'
years ago. OF course, even before tina
6 had helped to support you"
~n you would only have your coffee
nfarrietT
Hrs. Page sat with her hand on tn
aasndIe of the old silyer-plated coffee
not Harriet ignored her.
sYou are a young woman now. 70
QEave health and energy, and you hav
Sautii, which l haven't. I'm past fort,
&A the next twenty years, at the gu
side, I've got not only to support m,
ae1f but to save something to kee
oc3e after that, If l live"
Sidney returned her gaze steadily.
Il see. Well, Aunt Harriet, yOu'l
qE{fe right. You've been a saint
us, but if you want to so away
Harriet walled Mrs. Page, you
mot thinking"
please, mother"
Harriet's eyes softened as she look,
sat the girl.
we can manage" said Sidney ~
aetly. f'Well miss you, but it's tin
1--we learned to depend on ourselves"
After that, in a torrent, came Har
Gets declaration Of independence. Ar
naked with It's pathetic tumble of
examinations, hostility to her sistel
1kEead husband, and resentment for h
lost years, came poor Harrlet's hop
,gaud ambitions, the tragic plea Of
woman who must substitute for the {
aimisn and energy of youth the gr
discrimination of middle age.
81 can do good work." she finish'
TIN full of ideas, If | could get
~rhance to work them out. But ther
me Glance here. There isn't a won
sfsa the Street who knows real clotl
akshen s1ac sees them
Mrs. Page could not get back
%Inrriet's revolt to its cause. TO h
isHar44et was not an artist pleading
Eaer art; she was a sister and Il bre
winner deserving her trust.
@Tm sure she said stifly, 1--WE p
t7ou back every cent we borrowed.
you stayed here after George died,
twas because you offered TO-"
x. Her chin worked. She fumbled
the handkerchief at her belt. But
hey vent around the table and fun
tvsung arm over her aunt's shoulders
s@wiay didn't you say all that a y
saxc4 We've been selfish, but w
hno4 MS bad as you think. And IL a
) Id this world is entitled to succ,
Eau are. OF course wen manage"
H~arriet's iron repression almost 8
zzzy. She covered her emotion v
xEefafIs.
aMne. Lorenz is going TO Let
sazzke Christine some things, and
kAeyrre all right, ! may make her trs
sseau."
~rrousseau-for Chfistinep
she'6 not engaged, but her mot