Three Lives | Page 9

good.
Anna was stubborn always to Miss Jane, and fearful of interference in
her ways. Miss Mary Wadsmith's mild advice she easily could always
turn aside.
Mrs. Lehntman was the only one who had any power over Anna. She
induced her to let Dr. Shonjen take her in his care.
No one but a Dr. Shonjen could have brought a good and german Anna
first to stop her work and then submit herself to operation, but he knew
so well how to deal with german and poor people. Cheery, jovial,
hearty, full of jokes that made much fun and yet were full of simple
common sense and reasoning courage, he could persuade even a good
Anna to do things that were for her own good.
Edgar had now been for some years away from home, first at a school
and then at work to prepare himself to be a civil engineer. Miss Mary
and Jane promised to take a trip for all the time that Anna was away,
and so there would be no need for Anna's work, nor for a new girl to
take Anna's place.
Anna's mind was thus a little set at rest. She gave herself to Mrs.
Lehntman and the doctor to do what they thought best to make her well
and strong.
Anna endured the operation very well, and was patient, almost docile,

in the slow recovery of her working strength. But when she was once
more at work for her Miss Mary Wadsmith, all the good effect of these
several months of rest were soon worked and worried well away.
For all the rest of her strong working life Anna was never really well.
She had bad headaches all the time and she was always thin and worn.
She worked away her appetite, her health and strength, and always for
the sake of those who begged her not to work so hard. To her thinking,
in her stubborn, faithful, german soul, this was the right way for a girl
to do.
Anna's life with Miss Mary Wadsmith was now drawing to an end.
Miss Jane, now altogether a young lady, had come out into the world.
Soon she would become engaged and then be married, and then
perhaps Miss Mary Wadsmith would make her home with her.
In such a household Anna was certain that she would never take a place.
Miss Jane was always careful and respectful and very good to Anna,
but never could Anna be a girl in a household where Miss Jane would
be the head. This much was very certain in her mind, and so these last
two years with her Miss Mary were not as happy as before.
The change came very soon.
Miss Jane became engaged and in a few months was to marry a man
from out of town, from Curden, an hour's railway ride from
Bridgepoint.
Poor Miss Mary Wadsmith did not know the strong resolve Anna had
made to live apart from her when this new household should be formed.
Anna found it very hard to speak to her Miss Mary of this change.
The preparations for the wedding went on day and night.
Anna worked and sewed hard to make it all go well.
Miss Mary was much fluttered, but content and happy with Anna to

make everything so easy for them all.
Anna worked so all the time to drown her sorrow and her conscience
too, for somehow it was not right to leave Miss Mary so. But what else
could she do? She could not live as her Miss Mary's girl, in a house
where Miss Jane would be the head.
The wedding day grew always nearer. At last it came and passed.
The young people went on their wedding trip, and Anna and Miss Mary
were left behind to pack up all the things.
Even yet poor Anna had not had the strength to tell Miss Mary her
resolve, but now it had to be.
Anna every spare minute ran to her friend Mrs. Lehntman for comfort
and advice. She begged her friend to be with her when she told the
news to Miss Mary.
Perhaps if Mrs. Lehntman had not been in Bridgepoint, Anna would
have tried to live in the new house. Mrs. Lehntman did not urge her to
this thing nor even give her this advice, but feeling for Mrs. Lehntman
as she did made even faithful Anna not quite so strong in her
dependence on Miss Mary's need as she would otherwise have been.
Remember, Mrs. Lehntman was the romance in Anna's life.
All the packing was now done and in a few days Miss Mary was to go
to the new house, where the young people were ready for her coming.
At last Anna had to speak.