Sioux County pioneer., 1922-04-13
By ELEANOR PORTER
Author Of Pollyanna." " Just David" Etc.

a shamed red, and began to lash her
self with scorn. FAa s
Had she. indeed, fallen so low as to
be ready to quarrel over man, as q
dog would fight, for bone? Doubt
less, anyway. John Kennison preferred
Edith.
1t was merely another case Of the
smaller tart.
After all, was there not such q thing
as too much self-sacrlfce, too continual
self-repression? A certain amount, of
course, was beautiful, virtuous, and
altogether commendable, but might
there not come a point where they
became actually fosterer Of other
peoples selfishness, and a sin against
ones own individuality? AS II 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 meh! Indeed,
no! And there should be q change
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.
"Yes, Edith"
where's all that wind coming
from?" &
"From my window, perhaps; it's
open."
"Open! Why, Kate Denny, you
never have your window openl"
II know I don't; but I 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" mur-
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?"
"'Cold!' Another blanketv Why,
Kate, what are you thinking of, when
you know how hate lot Of. stuffy
clothes over me! I never knew you
to act like this! Well, If you won't
shut it, shall-that's all! And the
swift patter of bare feet and the de-
termined bang Of the window sash told
that Edith had made good her word.
"There!' exclaimed an aggrievedly
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 wearily
she fell back.
after all, it'll be easier to begin
tomorrow in daylight when-when Pm
up and dressed" she told herself. "Be-
sides, there won't be anything so hard
as that window is, to-assert my rights
about"
Tomorrow" however, proved that
dignity had neither to do with day.
light nor being dressed, and that
whether it were an open window or a
proffered invitation about which one
wished to assert ones self, there was
no variation in the difficulty of doing
it.
She had arisen early and started
breakfast Tin spite of 1t being Edith's
week to perform that duty). She had
washed the dishes while Edith went to
market, because Edith liked to 60 to
market-when it was pleasant. When
1t rained, Kate herself went. AS usual,
she had tidied the kitchen. and the
bathroom, leaving the lighter busting
to Edith and her mother, who pre-
ferred that kind. AS usual, too, at
luncheon, she had given the golden
brown crusts Of her rolls to Edith,
not because she herself did not like
golden-brown crusts, but because Edith
always wanted them. To be sure, Kate
had tried to keep them herself today !:
but Edith reached for them as mat
ter Of course-and got them.
At two O'clock John Kennison came
with the invitation to 60 sleighing.
Kate was dressing, and Edith had gone
to the door. Kate could hear now
what her sister had called out merrily,
saucily:
"Oh, she's busy, Mr.. Kennison; but
Ill go. I'll be right out" IN
Kate had run then swiftly into the
upper hall, and had uttered some sort
Of protest. But Edith had only laughed
and answered scornfully:
why. Kate. you were busy-you
know you We're! You were dressing
Surely. you don't want me to change
now, and--and tell him you won't let
me 60, do you7'' y IA
Kate had murmured a faint ..No. Of
course not" and had crept back.
ashamed, into her own room. And not
until she had heard the sleigh-bells 70
jingling down the road did she remem-
Der that Sweet, gentle. yet firm dig