Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-04-13

self with scorn.
| Had she, indeed, fallen so low as to
be ready to quarrel over a man, as a
dog would fight, for a bone? Doubt
less, anyway, John Kennison preferred
Edith.
1t was merely another case of the
smaller tart.
After all, was there not such thing
as too much self-sacrifice, too continual
self-repression? A certain amount, of
course, was beautiful, virtuous, and
altogether commendable, but might
there not come point where they
became actually fosterer of other
peoples seltishness, and sin against
ones own individuality? AS if a
perpetual seeder of raisins and eater
of chicken wings could live a full,
free life-a life that really brought
out the best within ones self and
within ones fellow men! Indeed,
MOI And there should be change-a
rightabout face. She would see to 1t
that there was. With sweet, gentle,
yet firm dignity, she would take her
rightful place.
And with this thought in mind, Kate
Denny rose to her feet, prepared her
self for bed, and then determinedly
raised her window before opening the
connecting door leading to her sisters
room.
AS expected, she did not have long
to wait.
"Kate!" called her sister.
Eyes, Edith"
where's all that wind coming
from?"
"From my window, perhaps; it's
OPEN"
"Open! Why, Kate Denny, you
never have your window open ~
81 know I don't; but l thought
would tonight. | wanted the air."
But it's so cold I'm half-frozen.
Do you want me to catch my death of
cold?"
"Why, no, of-of course not" MUIR
: INJURED Kate. Involuntarily she started
to get out of bed; then suddenly she
fell back. With stern resolution she
wet her dry lips and said, "If you're
cold Edith. why don't you pull up an.
other blanket?"
"'Coldr Another blanket!' Why
Kate, what are you thinking of, wher
you know how I hate q lot of stuffy
clothes over me! never knew you
to act like this! Well, if you won't
shut it, I shall-that's all !" And the
swift patter of bare feet and the de
termined bang of the window sash tolt
that Edith had made good her word
There" exclaimed an aggrievedlN
triumphant voice, as the patter re
treated through the open doorway.
On the bed Kate Denny made one
more effort to rise-to catch the fleet
ing "sweet, gentle, yet firm dignity
, of her promise to herself then wearil!
she fell back.
After all, it'll be easier to begin
tomorrow in daylight when--when In
sides, there won't be anything so hare
as that window is, to-assert my rights
,, about"
Tomorrow" however, proved tina
; dignity had neither to do with day
light nor being dressed, and tina
, whether it were an open window or ;
proffered invitation about which on,
wished to assert ones self, there wa
no variation in the difficulty of doinj
= it.
She had arisen early and startet
breakfast Gin spite of it being Edith
!. week to perform that duty, She ha,
washed the dishes while Edith went t.
d market, because Edith liked to go t.
:, market-when it was pleasant. Whel
. it Eained, Kate herself went. AS usual
l she had tidied the kitchen and tn
[ bathroom, leaving the lighter dustin
t to Edith and her mother, who pre-
p ftrred that kind. #'A ual too, a
a luncheon, she had ssgj the golden
t brown crusts of her rolls to Edith
n not because she herself did not lik
1 golden-brown crusts, but because Edit
B. always wanted them. To be sure, Kat
d had tried to keep them herself today
o but Edith reached for them as a mai
ter of cOurse-and got them.
u At two o'clock John Kennlson cam
o with the invitation to go sleighinl
Kate was dressing, and Edith had gon
n to the door. Kate could hear nov
d what her sister had called out merrill!
r saucily:
l. 'Oh, she's busy, Mr.. Kennison; bu
It I'll go. I'll be right out"
d Kate had run then swiftly into tn
1t upper hall, and had uttered some sol
h of protest. But Edith had only laughe
J. and answered scornfully:
a "Why, Kate, you We're busy-yo
III know you were! You were dressn.
n Surely, you don't want me to chang
now, and-and tell him you won't l.
ID me go, do your"
c.. Kate had murmured faint NO {
e. course not" and had crept bacl
te ashamed. into her own room. And ne
n, until she had heard the selgh-bells g
/; jIngllng down the road did she remen
m Der that Sweet, gentle, yet firm di
to nifty" that was to have been hers thu
day.