The Story Teller.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 168, 21 October 1892, Page 7

The Story Teller.

SISTERS-IN-LAW.

Both Holcombe satin ber mother’s large, scantily-furnished sitting room, awaiting the appearance of her lover, Donald Godwin. He had half promised to take her to hear a famous violinst. She was a lover of violin music, and herself no mean performer on the instrument.

Beth was the daughter of a widow, and at the time our story opens her only support. She had picked up an education, by hook or crook, attending short terms away from home when she could be spared, and if the money for board was not forthcoming she resolutely found a place where her work would be accepted in payment, She earned enough to pay for her tuition by doing copying or posting books. She had been teaching the village sehool for three years, and liked her work as well as any home-loving woman can like outside employment ; but there was beginning to be a little impatience mingled with her reflections. Beth bad a grievance. Her engagement to Don Godwin had lasted more than two years, and he was as kind and sensible a lover as any girl could wish ; but there was a flaw in her happiness. Don had promised to take her out of the school—room within a year, and now it was growing into three and still 3he must teach.

4 lf I could stay at home as other girls do, how I would practice ; ’ she mused, as she watched through the honeysuckle shaded window for the coming of her lover. Her thoughts were busy with the Godwin household, consisting of a maiden aunt, Miss Fessenden, four sisters and two brothers, all grown up, and all but two of age. They were people who had seen better days, and held themselves a little above their neighbours. Especially were they prejudiced against doing any work to earn money, and remained at home in idleness, although Louise and Jennie could have taught school, Mary had been asked to become saleswoman for Woodruff and Company, and Imogen had been offered a sitution in a milliner shop. 4 None of the Fessendens ever had worked,’ was a common saying in the family, and it caused Beth a fit of exasperation every time she hoard it, 4 And their house is so elegantly furnished !’ Beth murmured on this particular evening. ‘ I have nothing but empty promises.’ Then she thought of good and patient Don, how willing he was to sacrifice everything for others, and a great wave of tenderness swept over her heart. ‘ No, I will not do it,’ she said. 4 lt would hurt him so, and then he would be as kind and ever.’ Don, with his large family, was generally in an impecunious condition, and often, when he wished to take Beth to places of amusement, he was unable to do so, for lack of cash, For the first year they laughed over t-lvir privations, and also during most of the S 'cond year ; but when Don’s sisters dressed well, received company and enjoyed the very entertainments that Beth was forced to miss, she became just a little bit nettled. What she had intended to do was to offer to treat her lover to the opera, or at least to lend him the money to buy the tickets. ‘ But I won’t do it-,’ she repeated, as she watched the tall, kind-looking man approaching. 4 You’re late,’ she said, as he entered the hall, 4 1 hope it isn’t the same old reason.’

4 Yes, but it is, though,’ he answered, a little wearily. 4 When I went home 1 found that the girls had sent down town and engaged seats for Bcttie and Laura Wing, who came in this afternoon, I had barely enough for our tickets, and of course had to give them the money. I really should not have done it. but I felt sure of collecting some from Ray.’ 4 Never mind,’ Beth said, rolling forward the easiest chair. ‘ I shall probably have another opportunity to hear a violinst if' 1 live, and if I don’t, it would only be wasted anyway, I should like to talk a little business this evening,’ she went on, seating herself near him and looking into his eyes with some of their old sweet tenderness lacking. 4 I have been thinking of our affairs, and I fail to see any promise of a change in them. At first the engagement was to last only a year ; then another passed and now still another is fast going, with none of the conditions changed, Each snoutb your wages are spent? and the girls

complain that there is no more money ; occasionally you go in debt. What are your prospects ?’ * The boys are coming on,’ he replied hopefully, 4 they will soon be able to keep the family,’ 4 1 don’t believe you have any right to ask them to do it,’ said Beth. 1 You have spoiled the girls by your indulgence, and you alone ought to take the consequences.’ 4 I have often thought something near the same thing,’ Don answered ; 4 the boys are young, and it dosen’t seem right to hamper their young lives as mine has been hampered.’ Beth elevated her chin and fanned herself slowly. It was too exasperating! Don seemed to love her and cling to her against all odds, but he allowed everybody to interfere with her prospects of happiness, provided those prospects depended upon him. ‘ In that case I suppose we are to be married after the girls find husbands and Aunt Rose dies ?’ 4 Well, it is hardly so bad as that,’ Don answered, with a not very cheerful smile ; 4 the girls will marry in the course of a few years, and Aunt Rose will probably live with one of them. I should think she would wish to do so.’ 4 She has been a mother to me,’ 4 Yes, and you cannot turn her out,’ Beth assented heartily. 4 But listen to me Don,’ she went on, speaking rapidly and eagerly. 4 It is not your duty to keep all those girls in idleness. You ought to find work foi them to do and require them to do it. It isn’t fair to yourself to toil late and early for nothing.’ ‘ Do you call duty nothing ?’ 4 Is it your duty to ruin the lives of four girls who might make worthy members of society if directed aright ? W hat does their fancy work and trashy reading amount to ? And what do they amount to, looking to some one else to clothe and feed them ? Aud then think of the selfishness that is consuming what little good there is in their hearts. For what could be more selfish than to uselessly burden a brother as they are burdening you ? If they knew how swpet independence is they’d quickly change their course.’ 4 I really think you are a little too hard on the girls, Beth ; they are not to blame for the conditions under which they were born,’ 4 No, but you are to blame for allowing these conditions to have weight.’ 4 1 have tried to reason with them,’ deprecatingly, 4 but no one can make any headway against Aunt Rose,’ 1 You should stop reasoning and cut off their allowance.’ 4 And if I did that Aunt Rose would go to the city and get trousers to make at 14 cents a pair, as she did before when I tried to check her extravagance. It is beneath the dignity of a Fessenden to work openly, you know, and they would toil like slaves in one of the back bedrooms up-stairs. The confinement and labour would soon toll on them, and the doctor’s bills and medicine would come to mere than they made, as they did at the time I ref r to.’ ‘ 1 should let them pay their own bills,’ Beth declared. 4 1 just can’t. I’ve tried everything I know, but they manage to make my schemes impracticable * Tell them plain'y that you cannot marry until they are off your hands.’ ‘ They know it,’ ‘ Tell them that they and their friends deprived me of hearing this violinist play, and that they always come first.’ 4 They' are aware of it, and think it their due,’ ‘ Do you know, dear,’ Beth began, incon - sequently, ‘ that I sat down here intending to break our engagement ’ ■ Don’t say that !’ he exclaimed in agony, ‘ you are the only creature that ever was really kind to me.’ 4 I will never give you up,’ Beth answered leaning forward and imprinting a kiss upon his forehead, 4 but if you do as I advise I see a way cut of the difficulty.’ ‘ God bless you, darling !’ he answered, clasping her in his arms, e if it was not for you I should feel utterly discouraged. You don’t know how doarly I love you, nor how much I trust and believe in you.’ 4 Then remember after this that I, and not your sisters, go to places of amusement, and also put a stop entirely to the credit business They talked for a long time, and Don, ! thoroughly frightened ac the idea of losing

hie little sweetheart, fell entirely in with her plans. Looking at affairs through her eyes, he could not but admit that instead of doing his duty he had committed an actual wrong in allowing his sisters to mature into idle, extravagant women, whose demands he could not satisfy, try as hard as he could. As their elder brother, ho should have taught them to be useful and independent. The next mcrning Don sat in his place at the foot of the.table, and waited until the members of the family were seated. He helped each one, drank his coffee, and waited until they had finished breakfast. Their whole conversation was of the violinist and his playing. Louise declared her intention of buying a violin and beginning at once. ‘ Where did you and Beth sit’ Aunt ? Rosa Fessenden asked. ‘We were not there,’ Don replied. * I had no money to buy the tickets,’ ‘ Oh, well,’ exclaimed Imogen, ‘ Beth is used to staying at home—she has always had to work, and doesn’t mind privations. ‘ And she has her own violin,’ chimed in Jennie, * For that very reason,’ said Don, exasperated by their selfishness, ‘ she should have heard this great violinist and seen how he handled his instrument. After this, do not engage my money quite so recklessly. In future, I will chose what plays you can see, and decide how my money is to be spent.’ ‘ We are to be shut up like nun 3 ?’ Mary asked, beginning to cry. ‘ You are to have a little consideration for me and the lady I am going to make my wife,’ said Don, with dignity. ‘We can make trousers,’ Louise interposed. ‘ Whenever you do that Beth and I will get married and leave the country. Then you can manage matters to suit yourselves.’ ‘I told you how it would end, girls,’ Miss Rose put in, nodding her head vigor ously. * Every time he goes to see Miss Holcombe there is some new economy for us.’ ‘ You know that is unjust, Aunt Rose,’ Don answered, mastering his anger. < Betli has sacrificed herself to this family’s extravagance time and again. She is a thorough musician at heart, yet she continually misses seeing what few artists we have here. If this state of things keeps on she would better throw me over before her youth is gone, for she will have to do so eventually.’ ‘ It, might he a good thing for you,

saucily put in Imogen, 4 Here is the law,’ Don went on with an unusual look of determination ; 4 1 will do all the buying after this, and when you must have anything ask me about it aud I will investigate matters. Now, Aunt Rose.’ be added, turning to that irate lady, who had fully made tip her mind to catch the ten o’clock train for the city and bring back some shop sewing, ‘you can get as many trousers mad; as you wish, but I will furnish Oelse with some locals on the subject for the Eclipse. 11l have him put in his paper when you went to town and what for. I will report from day to day how many trousers you finish, aud not forget that munificent price—l 4 cents a pair. 4 You wouldn’t dare !’ Aunt Rose exclaimed, rising from the table. 4 You bring that wretched work hero and you will see. There’s no disgrace in earning money openly. And Louise, Jenny—l want you to be examined for teachers, Mary; you and Gene can go down town and apply for positions in the stores. 4 But what if we all should commit suicide together ?’ asked Imogen. • Before that happens I will clap everyone of you into the asylum,’ Don replied with angry emphasis. 4 lam at the end of my patience,’ lie went on s ‘it has come to the final test. I can’t live this way for ever, and the sooner I stop it the easier it will be for all of us Don’t think 1 am not sorry for you,’ he continued, as five pocket handkerchiefs were applied to as many pairs of eyes, ‘ but I am not to blame that the family traditions will not dovetail with circumstances. I wish I were not inelegant to look out for the necessities of life ; but lam sure it is more refined than to starve. You couldn’t do a more useless or senseless thing than that ; and as for suicide, it is not only sentimentally foolish, but it is possibly indecent.’ The five pairs of eyes looked _ at the speaker, and four of them were wide open with horror.

* Wo wouldn’t commit l killed us !’ Mary declared . fright. * Imogen was only ta. don’t think it was in very g either.’ ‘ I wish to speak, if you please, Aunt Rose said with what majesty .e could muster. Then, turning to Don, she went on, * You can change the usage of centuries if you like, and I can’t protest, being only a woman ; but I shall never believe you treat me fairly in my helplessness.' Here her handkerchief was again in requisition, and her utterance was choked in sobs. ‘l’m sorry, aunt, but I ean’t help it,’ Don protested deprecatingly. ‘lf I were willing to sacrifice my whole happiness fo your whims you could go on until the end, but if you are selfish enough to accept tha sacrifice, why you aren’t; worth it, that’s all. And beside, Beth won’t allow it. I am literally between two fires, and the one on the other side is the strongest.’ ‘ I knew perfectly well before yon told me,’ Aunt Rose said bitingly, * that Miss Holcombe was at the bottom of all this extraordinary behaviour’ ‘ Yes, she is,’ Don admitted, ‘ and I think it was unwise of her not to have interfered ere this, for she has brains while our family are deficient in that respect. Come, girls, I will go with you and help you to find situations.’ Their success was phenomenal. The shopkeepers were glad of the chance to en*» gage such influential saleswomen ; their presence gave the store an aristocratic air. Mary and Imogen accepted positions in the two leading stores, and from the first were popular. They liked the work, and iu less than a week were delighted with the change. Incidents at the store were the chief topic of conversation at the table. When payday came their delight was boundless. But they were prudent. ‘We will bank our money,’ they confided to Don, * and if Louise and Jennie are successful in obtaining schools, why then we can take the household machinery off your hands.’ And they were successful. ‘ I don’t see how we lived,’ Jennie declared after teaching a month. 4 I couldn’t endure the old order of things again. No wonder Don and Beth became impatient.’ ‘ I suppose you know that the wedding is to take place scon,’ Miss Bose enquired from her comfortable chair by the fire. ‘ No !’ in chorus. 4 When is it to be ? ‘ln two weeks, They are going to Otsego, and have the affair finished up in the quietest mariner—no one is to be invited. They will begin housekeeping at Mrs Holcombe’s, and I hope they will be happy.’ • They deserve to be,’ Louise answered, with genuine sympathy, * and I think their way is always the best. For intelligence Beth’s equal is not in the county ’ Beth continued her school until the end of the term. Then she resigned and devoted herself to h-r household duties. Her patient waiting made her married life all tlie happier by the gain in that divine quality, patience, which is the one indispensable condition of a happy or even peaceful married life.