The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-06
Ilrab Rose


 l If rose Burney was ever mentioned it WAS as Helen Prices sister," She had no other status in Billport society.
 Helen Price had been married for fifteen years to a mild. inoffensive man l whose entire business in life, as it seemed, was to provide for his wife and children. There were our children, be- ginning with June. already flapperish at IA. And ending with Junior, who was spoiled babyyof six. Even with four children and d husband and a good sized house Helen found time fir many outside affairs, which would have Deen something of marvel had not one known of the existence of her sister.
 Ten years before. after the coming of the first three children. Helen had said to her husband
 Art, really think we ought to ask poor Rose to come and live. with us. What say:'
 Arthur Price had answered pre- cisely as she had known he would. 1 Suit yourself. my dear"
 Therefore, Helen had suited herself and sent for her sister. But the mes sage contained not so much a. desire to help Rose as a strong plea for Rose to come and help her.
 II need you so, dear. what with three children and all. And then we ought not to be separated this way. We are all that is left off our family, you know, and we ought to hang together" {"
 Rose Burney came. She was 31, two years older than Helen and tired of doing for herself without home. love. tender companionship. She dreamed dreams of being with her sister. of being loved by her sisters children. But all that was ten years ago.
 Now she understood well enough what was expected of her and what she must expect. They were kind to her l-oh, of course, Jessica sometimes kicked her shins and the boys "sassed'' her, but for the most part things went smoothly. All she had to do was to cook and sweep and scrub and make beds and wash windows and make the children's clothes and do the family mending and generally look after the af- fairs of the house. If she had been a housekeeper hired at a wage she de- served she would have earned a hun dred dollars month easily. As it was, she got her board and clothes and all occasional gift of money at Christmas O. on her birthday. They never forget her birthday, oh, no! She was never allowed to-. Even Helen said, 'pityingly, Poor Rose is getting on," and Arthur had sly joke: You'll soon be the last Rose of summer, sis"
 A Rose, indeed; This woman, with her tired eyes and faded face and figure kept thus by exacting duty. A drab Rose, perhaps, certainly no other kind. She had as the years passed lost all in- terest in life beyond those of her daily work and associations.
 One night Arthur brought man to supper. He led the guest in to the liv- ing room, where the family were as- sembled, and then came out to the kitchen where Rose was at work.
 Gal Lewis is going to be here to supper, Rose," he said. Here's some heefsteak.'
 The beefsteak came in handy, for it it and incidentally her own counte- nance. When she took her place at the table Helen introduced her to the visitor. Their eyes met casually. He was a middle-aged man. rather gray, | Witu AAuus HeFEys pAalh, yct dllTdC- tive face. Before the beefsteak was consumed he had the. children hanging on his every word, had Helen laughing and Arthur roaring. Even Drab Rose smiled little wearily.
 Who is he, Art?' Helen asked after he was gone.
 Can't tell you" Arthur answered. Sort of drifter, I guess. He's been working for the firm about two months and everybody seems to take right to him. I like him myself. He seemed kind O lonesome, so l brought him up to give him a good time. He had it all right"
 And he made us have a good time, too," Helen said. You may bring him again"
 Arthur did bring him again. From that point Mir. Lewis seemed to feel that he would be welcome to drop in of an evening. He and Arthur would smoke and chat while Rose bent over her sewing and listened with secret amusement.
 She was going up Main street toward home on a mild. gray February morn. inX with q Basket of purchases, when she met Mir. Lewis. Herhad come out