What Diantha Did

the Old Ma

rtner or

ss and hap

dden, ine

d old me

yard or garden; it had wide pillared porches and "galleries," showing southern antecedents; moreover

ortgages. Mrs. Roscoe Warden and her four daughters reposed peacefully under

on skein of soft, bright-hued wool, cut it all up into short lengths, tie them together again in contrasting colors, and then crochet this hashed rainbow into afghans of startling aspect. California does not call for afghans to any great extent, but "they make such acceptable

cally and with dulcet rhymes: Madeline and Adeline were the two eldest, Coraline and Doraline the two youngest. It had not occurred to her u

n the doorway, "dere pos'tively ain'

dulously. "Why, Sukey, I'm sure we h

, more likely, moth

quite earnestly, as if the date of that tub's delivery would furnish forth the sup

artistic Cora; and "the de-lines," as their

s' Bell?" suggested Sukey;

agreed. "It is so hot. But what

for what I borrers-and yo' know, Mis' Warden, dat waffles and sweet potaters and cohn bread dey do

l, and ask her for some; and be sure you return it promptly. Now,

you can, mother," said Adeline, dreamily. "

tell him," said Madeline with decision; w

gure moving heavily away under the pepper trees. "And I meant to have asked

ork, not too regretf

ou," said her mother; which statement was tac

ve smell was not the natural and necessary odor of refrigerators. Neither did she think that a sunny corner of the back porch near the chimney, though convenient, was an ill-selected spot for a refrigerator. She couldn't find the ice-pick, so put a big piece of ice in a towel and br

," she said. "I wish y

u, Do?" her si

needle and then for her thimble, and then fo

said Adeline; "I do despise a kitchen." And this s

ub," said Mrs. Warden; "and your Aunt

ctions" of whom she was duly proud and "kin" in such widening ramifi

pursued their mother, somewhat severely, setting her glass on t

h!" remarked Dor

ora. "We've never seen one of t

te decision, laying down the silk necktie she was kn

mother? Do you k

ly spirit," replied Mrs. Warden. "Her mother was own cousin to my grandmoth

arge eyes turned to the horizon, her hands in her l

other, firmly. "You have a good home and a

in Coraline, in a tone of complaint; "no parti

You must not add a straw to dear

her but that once; and she wasn't very cordial. But, as you

ain, I'm going to recite f

reed. "I'm sure you have talent; and Madam Weatherstone would recognize i

e was illuminating a volume of poems, painting flowe

d, laying down her brush and holding the

rmly. "It is not only the beauty of it, but

of outing flannel, upon the breast of which she was embroidering a large, intricate design-fo

id, a little wearily. "What are

d one is so worn. And noth

ill looking down the road; and they all

suddenly-faced maturity upon him, opened the g

ling hair a little longish, and a rich profusion of ruffled shirt. But his hair was sternly short, h

step or two. Madeline and Adeline, arm in arm, met

ked it lovingly. The sisters gathered about with teasing affection, Dora poking in his coat-po

early, dear?" a

ter supper, anyhow." They flew to get him camphor, cologne, a menthol-pencil. Dora dragged forth the w

she covered him with her latest completed afghan, gathering up an

s. But the headache did not stop, nor the worry that caused it. He loved his mother, he loved his sisters, he loved their home, but he di

me. That the expenses of running the household were three times what they needed to be, he did not know. His father had not questioned

ine was "frail"; Cora was "nervous," Dora was "only a child." So black Sukey and her husband Jonah did the work of the place, so far as it was done; and Mrs. Warden held it

and only source of income. There was the house, a steady, large expense. There were five women to clothe a

ld in science, expecting to go back for his doctor's degree next year. Instead of which the older man had suddenly dropped beneath the burden he had c

de with which he undertook to fill his place, he had not in the least estimated the weight of care he was to carry, nor the time that he must carry it. A year, a year or two, a few years,

of happiness made all life look easier. They had been engaged six months-and it was beginnin

had figured this out to a dreary certainty, he would still not be free. To pay the mortgages off, and keep up the house, even without his sisters, woul

re was

adacheless for the moment, and joined her. Mrs. Warden, from the l

rd for him. But he carries his difficulties nobly.

ered arm-he clasped it warmly with

in and see mothe

must get home and get supper. B

so many houses along the road he

m keenly. "Heada

thing; it's g

?" she

e got a good home, a good mother, good sisters, and-you!" And he to

, but seemed preoccupied, and walked in silence

d, brightly. "There are things I wa

hing on earth to

y-four," she b

ted at

wenty-one

h awful revela

d ever since my birthd

are facts

tly frank with me? May I ask y

estion you like; it co

re goes. What would you think if Madeline-o

ly, but with a little s

't allow i

asked you wha

to me," he answered. "But it's no use talking about that. None of the g

ose you never would per

" He held his fine head a trifle hig

et me work-to h

omething far harder than that

d. "Sometimes I feel as if I ought not to hold you at all!" he b

y from side to side. "And if there were-millions-I would

e would crush it. "It won't be hard with you to help. You're better wor

t science?" s

ake that up later. We're young enough,

well face the worst-how many years

ught, it did not seem quite the thing for her to ask. A woman should not seek too d

," said the girl, quietly, "and I'd wait for you, if I ha

It oughtn't to be at the outside more than fi

tgages. But the business is good; and I can carry it; I can build it up." He shook his broad shoulders determinedly. "I

s a seat, walled in by evergreen, roofed over by the wide acacia boughs. Many a long good-night h

she began to do housework-should require servants, seemed to this New England-born girl mere laziness and pride. That two voting women over twenty should prefer being supported by their brother to supporting themselves, she condemned even more sharply. Moreover, she felt well assured that with a different family to "support," Mr. Warden would never have broken down so s

but I've got to get supper, dear," she said, "and you must

ing straight and proud while her eyes were on him, throwing her a kiss from the corner; but his ste

her well-shaped head as straightly held as his. "It's a shame, a cruel, burning shame!" she told herse

a grocery

how for all that

They just live-and 'keep

to be sixty! But I'