again, this time gleaning the newspapers and magazines. That made quite a hole in the floor space. Next she dragged the twisted blankets off the mattress and threw them down the stairs. Somehow they must be washed or aired or replaced before that bed would be fit to sleep in. After a thoughtful moment of looking over the banisters at them, she descended and carried them all to the little backyard, where she hung them on a short line that had been stretched from the fence to the house. They made a sorry sight, but she would have to leave them till later. The sun and air would help. There wasn’t much sun, and there was still a sharp tang of rain in the air; it had been raining at intervals all the morning. Well, if it rained on them, they certainly needed it, and anyhow it was too late in the day for her to try to wash any of them. She must do the best she could this first day.
Thus she reasoned as she frowningly surveyed the grimy blankets, her eyes lingering on a scorched place near the top of one. Suddenly her expression changed. “You’ve just got to be washed!” she said firmly, and snatching the blankets from the line, rushed in to arrange for large quantities of hot water, cleared off the stationary tubs and dumped in the blankets, shaved up the only bar of soap she could find, and then went rummaging in the front room while the water was heating. Of course all this took strength, but she was not realizing how weary she was growing. Her mettle was up, and she was working on her nerve. It was a mercy with all she had before her that she was well and strong, and fresh from gymnasium and basketball training. It would take all her strength before she was done.
She emerged from the parlor twenty minutes later triumphant, with a number of things that she was sure would be needed. She went to work at the blankets with vigor, rubbing and pulling away at the scorched place until it was almost obliterated. Did Carey smoke in his sleep, she wondered, or did he have guests that did? How dreadful that Carey had come to this, and she away at college improving herself and complacently expecting to make her mark in the world!
The blankets were drying on the line in half an hour more, and she glanced at the clock. A whole hour had gone, and she must hasten. She sped back upstairs and went to work again, dragging out the furniture to the hall, picking up books and magazines from the floor, till the room was stark and empty except for cigarette buds. She surveyed them in disgust and then assailed the room with brushes, brooms, and mop. She threw the windows wide open and swept the wall down vigorously. Before her onslaught dust and ashes disappeared, and even the dismal wallpaper took on a brighter hue.
“It’s got to come off and be repapered or painted some pretty, soft, pastel shade,” she threatened in an undertone to herself as she surveyed the room after soap and water had done their best on floor, woodwork, and windows. She was looking at the bleary wallpaper with a troubled frown.
Of course she couldn’t do everything in a day, but Carey’s room must be clean and inviting before she would be satisfied. No wonder he stayed out late nights, or didn’t come home at all, perhaps, with such a room as that. There ought to be more windows, too. What a pity the builder had been so stingy with them! It was a dark, ugly hole, and there was no need for it, for the room occupied the whole end and could have had openings on three sides and been delightful.
Suddenly she began to feel a great weariness stealing over her and tears coming into her eyes. She was overwhelmed with all that was before her. She sat down on the upper stair and looked about her discouragedly. All these things to be put somewhere! And time going so fast! Then she remembered her bread and with an exclamation rushed down to put it into the pans.
It had risen almost to the top of the bread raiser, and with a mental apology for her forgetfulness she hastened
Thus she reasoned as she frowningly surveyed the grimy blankets, her eyes lingering on a scorched place near the top of one. Suddenly her expression changed. “You’ve just got to be washed!” she said firmly, and snatching the blankets from the line, rushed in to arrange for large quantities of hot water, cleared off the stationary tubs and dumped in the blankets, shaved up the only bar of soap she could find, and then went rummaging in the front room while the water was heating. Of course all this took strength, but she was not realizing how weary she was growing. Her mettle was up, and she was working on her nerve. It was a mercy with all she had before her that she was well and strong, and fresh from gymnasium and basketball training. It would take all her strength before she was done.
She emerged from the parlor twenty minutes later triumphant, with a number of things that she was sure would be needed. She went to work at the blankets with vigor, rubbing and pulling away at the scorched place until it was almost obliterated. Did Carey smoke in his sleep, she wondered, or did he have guests that did? How dreadful that Carey had come to this, and she away at college improving herself and complacently expecting to make her mark in the world!
The blankets were drying on the line in half an hour more, and she glanced at the clock. A whole hour had gone, and she must hasten. She sped back upstairs and went to work again, dragging out the furniture to the hall, picking up books and magazines from the floor, till the room was stark and empty except for cigarette buds. She surveyed them in disgust and then assailed the room with brushes, brooms, and mop. She threw the windows wide open and swept the wall down vigorously. Before her onslaught dust and ashes disappeared, and even the dismal wallpaper took on a brighter hue.
“It’s got to come off and be repapered or painted some pretty, soft, pastel shade,” she threatened in an undertone to herself as she surveyed the room after soap and water had done their best on floor, woodwork, and windows. She was looking at the bleary wallpaper with a troubled frown.
Of course she couldn’t do everything in a day, but Carey’s room must be clean and inviting before she would be satisfied. No wonder he stayed out late nights, or didn’t come home at all, perhaps, with such a room as that. There ought to be more windows, too. What a pity the builder had been so stingy with them! It was a dark, ugly hole, and there was no need for it, for the room occupied the whole end and could have had openings on three sides and been delightful.
Suddenly she began to feel a great weariness stealing over her and tears coming into her eyes. She was overwhelmed with all that was before her. She sat down on the upper stair and looked about her discouragedly. All these things to be put somewhere! And time going so fast! Then she remembered her bread and with an exclamation rushed down to put it into the pans.
It had risen almost to the top of the bread raiser, and with a mental apology for her forgetfulness she hastened
Similar Books
