The Detroit times., 1917-03-19


LsvHntia Bump climbed slowly to
the attSc She climbed by her left
foot. dragging the right painfully up
the step. The attic stairs were steep
and slippery and narrow. and she
never mounted them without fear
Of falling. Her lAmtness made her
tImid.
The attic lay under the roof OF ire
large house, which had not long been
built II smelled strongly OF new
lumber this hot August morning
when the sun beat upon the shin
gles. There was a high window at
each end thru which the air came
feebly.
At the head OF the stairs Levantia
paused a moment. perspiring. with
her heart going very fast. Tabor
gathered about her tired mouth. The
close, hot smell OF the attic Emotu
her with falntness. 1T don't seem
as n ever could In thiS world, ="
she said TO herself.
Her eyes lifted toward the center
OF the low space. There. suspended
by cords, each girt about the middle.
were seven huge, fat feather beds
IN the cleanest OF hlue and white
striped ticking. They seemed Ia
await LevRntia helplessly. Here
We are" they seemed TO say. We've
got TO be aired ami beaten and In.
spected for moths. bat we can't do
II for ourselves"
at don't seem as II I ever oould
IN this world" repeated Levantla 40
herself.
She sank down on the top step
and leaned her head on her hands.
She had been up since O'Clock
She had got breakfast for her hus-
band and had done q hundred other
things which her housewifely I'm
dincts would not allow her TO aeg.
ltct. All the time the thought Ct
the feather beds remained with her.
They must be attended 30, however
n UGH she dreaded the task.
OF course. "a far ac Ell and Horny
we're concerned she need never 20
near the beds Al all. they would not
know. They trusted her. Besides,
men-like. they had doubtless BY this
time forgotten whether there were
three beds OF seven But Leyantia's
sense Of duty was powerfully 81.
teioped. To have neglected those
feather beds one day would have
been to lay a weight on her con.
science that she could not remove.
When Henry Bump had written
that hts mother was stricken sud.
Gently and that hi and his wife
must come At once, Levsntia had
dropped the task that engaged her,
packed Els shirts and a few things
fer herself. and flown on the wings
OF duty and pity. During the three
weeks that Mother Bump had strug
Kled to Keep her grasp on life
Levantia had forgiven her every
thing and been the tenderest OF
nurses. Tor Mother Bump had net
wanted Lsvantia In the family. and
she never would have been II Eli
had not had o streak Of his mother
in him. He was Just AZ determined
10 have Levantis a. bis mother was
determined he should not have Der.
However. she had had her own way
with Henry. and he had not mar.
RED AZ all 60 n was that when old
Arg. Bump died Henry and Ell were
left joint possessors Of the big
house. with its vast accumulation
Of old.fAshioned f'irnisnings. not The
least Of which wers the seven fcath.
er beds
1--WE hung them In the attic" said
cid Mrs. Bump 90 Lsvaniia. giving a
last Injunction II donr have en-
on the oeds. Of course. In summer.
and Henry never VIII sleep on one.
don't know whers be sot The no
ton not 20. for brought hm up
on feathers think n GOOD dcal ~
nv bedr. Vanchv Every onf ~
ems made from E'cff fcatHe, fy
picksd There's one for each bel w
tht house n used 20 30 consider.
"a disRracstul not to have v"~r