The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-07-29
MY OWN PEOPLE
BY ELIZABETH N'NAUcHT.
SSeSeeeseeSSe9g9eSSee SSe9eseSeS


ducive to the happiness of twenty
year-old visionary such as she hap.
pened to be.
There was Grandma Schwartz. com.
fOrtably situated, with no real worry
of an impoverished old age, yet for
ever lamenting her growing feebleness
and its attendant loss of usefulness
and Grandpa Schwartz, continually
railing against the present generation
and last, Rebecca's father moody and
silent, constantly worrying that "A like
wise unjust world, just then whisper
ing prohibition, might bring it to an
issue. And he in the liquor business
To gentle retiring little Rebecca
the very smell Of the stuff was an
abomination. Dutifully, she worked
unseen in the little compartment be-
hind the bar, labelling, bOttling. seal
ing but worked mechanically, for al
ways her mind was far ahead i'm the
future, far removed from that damp,
heavy atmosphere. Before her minds
eye many futures visiOned themselves
mistily, many modes of life, many
friends. And, impulsively, without a
moments notice she reached her great
decision.
Amid the tears and pleas and dire,
bewiidering predictions of her near
ones she passed into the gray stone
walls of the county hospital TO emerge
four years later positive little soft
voiced Rebecca, spOtless in white
linen, bearing so much dignity, yet in
huencing so Sweetly. Not even her
father dared to challenge her VIXEN
she sprinkled her queer smelling dis
infectants about the house nor vet
when she calmly disagreed with many
of their lifelong traditions. Slowly,
yet patiently she worked for the
change. And slowly it came.
No longer did grandma pray aloud
that her last sickness might be I'll
short bed; grandpa, if he still re-
tanned his own opinions. kept them
pretty well to himself. especially in
the presence of this capable young
changeling, and father, the former
master of his own and others desti-
MES, had cause to be iubilant, for, be-
cause of the earnest solicitation of
Rebecca, he had stepped very grace
1uIly and financially safe from the
business year previous and compli- |.
menting himself on his shrewdness,
sat back and dared real prohibition
TO do its worst Thus they sat salts
fed, atop of their little world of hap
piness. Suddenly, their world caved .
in! Father saw him first.
"Why, was simply on a case with
him." was her only explanation, given
with a tinality that was eloquent in .
Its defiance, or such it seemed to the
meek old man. But the cases became
most frequent.
Like most old ladies, grandma had
the habit of sitting down in he -. rock
Ing chair with something TO read, then
going TO sleep to awaken just as the
small black roadster bearing away her
daughters child turned the corner.
One evening she awakened about three
seconds sooner than usual or just in
time 10 catch glimpse of the mystery
man. Her vantage point was the bed
room window and the moonlight, abet-
ted by fading vision, interfered
Her heart stood still. for
he silvery grayness of the hair and
he paleness of the skin proclaimed
him Gentle. The trembling knees
grew weak and shakingly she crept
beneath the sheets, sore at heart, fear
ully apprehensive, yet an ally.
Rebecca would marry whOmever she
hose, this the old lady knew, yet she
llsO knew the hardness of the non !
father, and after weeks {
# dwelling in such misery, it was not [
that she took to her bed, Z
eally sick this time. One evening, he {
INVADED their home; straining hard,
he invalid heard Rebecca's happy -,
dice and CHEEKY laugh welcoming
lin. {
"Oh, God of Abraham" she prayed 9
umbly, take me TO your BOSOM" a
Great drops of Precipitation stood e
ut on her forehead and it was quite +
few minutes before she became con-
ciOus of a cool hand soothing her n
row. Slowly, she peered up, seek Il
lg for a little comfort in the kind :,
yes above her bed, but they were
lsewhere.
II shouldn't have left her." Rebecca =
'as saying, "the heat is so depressing u
,day." "
Grandma's eyes encircled the room, u
eeking the intruder and one look into y
pair Of somber black eyes and her Il
ueish, grayish, swaying old world up b
I'D righted itself. What matter L
Onde-like hair or Gentle features?
or, instinctively, Grandma Schwartz 7,
new she was being supported by the
rong arm OF a son OF the chosen
eOple. A little gasping half-uttered
IplanatiOn in Rebecca's ear, a few II
ervOus tears and II was all over as II
e girl said chidingly: m
"Grandma, dear, where is your trust ID
me? l never could fOrsake my own Il
,Ople, my own faith; II for a mo- il
ent doubted that / should, / would Va
I'VE dropped il all four years ago." IN