Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-04-26

mothers bed and getting it ready !;
opened windows, brought order and
quiet. And then, with death in her
eyes, she took up her position beside
her mother. This was no time for
weeping; that would come later. Once
she turned to K, standing watchfully
beside her.
Il think you have known this for
a long time" she said. And, when he
did not answer: "Why did you let me
stay away from her? 1t would have
been such little time"
'We We're trying to do our best for
both of you," he replied.
Anna was unconscious and sinking
fast. One thought obsessed Sidney.
She repeated it over and over. 1t came
as cry from the depths of the girls
new experience.
"She has had so little of life," she
said, over and over. $50 little! Just
this Street. She never knew anything
else"
And finally K. took it up.
after all, Sidney" he said, 1.-THE
Street is life; the world is only many
streets. She had a great DEAL She
had love and content, and she had
you"
Anna died a little after midnight. a
quiet passing, so that only Sidney and
the two men knew when she went
away. 1t was Harriet who collapsed.
During all that long evening she had
sat looking back over years of small
unkindnesses. The thorn of Annals in
efficiency had always ranked in her
flesh. She had been hard, uncompro-
missing, thwarted And now it was for
ever too late.
K. had watched Sidney carefully.
Once he thought she was fainting, and
went to her. But she shook her head.
Il am all right. Do you think you
could get them all out Of the room
and let me have her alone for just a
few minutes?"
He cleared the room and took his
vigil outside the door. And, as he
stood there, he thought of what he had
said to Sidney about the Street. 1t was
house were death and separation; Har-
riet's starved life; Christine and
Palmer beginning long and doubtful
future together himself, failure, and
an impostor.
When he opened the door again, Sid
He went to her, and she turned and
put her head against his shoulder like
a tired child.
"Take me away, H." she said pitt
fully.
And, with his arm around her, he led
her out of the room.
Outside of her small immediate
circle Annals death was hardly felt.
The little house went on much as be-
fore. Harriet carried back to her bust
ness heaviness of spirit that made it
difficult to bear with the small irrita-
lions of her day. On Sidney-and in
less measure, of course, on K.-fell the
real brunt of the disaster. Sidney kept
up well until after the funeral, but
went down the next day with low
fever.
"Overwork and grief" Doctor Ed
said, and sternly forbade the hospital
again until Christmas. Morning and
evening X. stopped at her door and
inquired for her, and morning and eve
ming came Sidney's reply:
"Mueh better. I'll surely be up to-
morrow"
But the days dragged on and she did
not get about.
Downstairs, Christine and Palmer
lad entered on the round of midwinter
gayeties. Palmer's crowd was
lively one. There were dinners and
dances, weekend excursions to coun-
try houses. The Street grew accus-
toned to seeing automobiles stop be-
fore the little house at all hours of the
night. Johnny Resented, driving
Palmer's car, took to falling asleep at
the wheel in broad daylight, and voiced
his discomfort to his mother.
"You never know where you are with
them guys" he said briefly. eve start
out for half an hours run in the eve
ning, and get home with the milk wag-
ons. And the more some Of them have
had to drink, the more they want to
drive the machine. If get chance,
I'm going to beat it while the winds
my way"
But, talk as he might, in Johnny
Rosenfelds' loyal heart there was no
thought Of desertion. Palmer had CIV
en- him mans job, and he would stick
by 1t, no matter what came.
One such night Christine put In,