Show elye e l ye the temptation of atlas by rose willis johnson copyright oh dear and oh dear and isn t it queer icings mix up the way aney doa here am I 1 with ever opportunity and bar ren of talent as a cabbage head and there is barbie the gifted spending her life in fighting the harpies why cainoy I 1 be barbie and barbie some body elsea miss frankie carter sighed as dis mally as tho gh the mixed up state ot affairs really concerned her per she had little cause tor corn plaint her winter school was over a very successful school the commit tee informed her and the financial resu t made a neat bank account with youth health good looks and vaca tion it would seem the oh dear ex cla matlon was uncalled for yet in truth there was barbie and barbie meant carl and the chil dren and the general of one of life s misfits she did not un der stand her sister in law but this much she did understand she was i thoroughly out of place here on this wind swept knoll a poor man s wife her white nervous hands chained by motherhood it was a glimpse into the kitchen which called forth the dejected ex cla matlon barbie was getting sup per she wag a fragile woman with great mournful eyes shining in a small brown face the small brown face was flushed with weariness and a suspicious tremble came and went about her lips A very fat boy baby kept catching at her dress as she passed him the open door framed a pleasant picture of sloping green and hedge row snowed over with bleaching linen three other children were out there with their family of dolls and a pup she shut her book and went out to the greasy belligerent straightway applying the wet corner of a towel barbie she said smoothing the silky brown curls why don t you teach school or or do something how can you stand this toil and pov discouragement Is making carl gray headed and you why you are old at 30 mrs carter was frying eggs carefully she laid the last in the hot dish not raising her ees when she re plied there was fine sarcasm in her tone atlas knew where to find the golden apples but there were the heavens to uphold frankie Is it possible you don t see why I 1 don t do something 9 oh you know what I 1 mean you are doing something all the time I 1 mean something which will pay you for just a second the elder woman paused with uplifted eyes then she I 1 mean something which will pay you smiled you are imaginative my frankle no I 1 m not I 1 practical I 1 I 1 ve been studying about you and carl all winter it has seemed so selfish in me to be pegging away for myself al ways for myself I 1 have paid my board and washing and that Is all either of you would let me do it was enough proudly yes but carl Is my dear only brother and these are his babies we all see the tide Is setting against him there is nothing 1 ut debt debt debt why sho ild I 1 be so dainty and comfortable and you and carl so wretched because carl and I 1 chose to risk life together I 1 suppose and you are gifted you are twice as smart as I 1 who am barely able to teach a country school there was a darkening of the asplen did eyes a paling of the face in what am I 1 gifted franka with the special capacity for burning victuals and scalding my fingersh 7 I 1 could sing if I 1 had the chance what other one thing can I 1 doa you can do well what I 1 am doing poorly teach school I 1 know you can hush wait I 1 know there have been years of dust and rust and your wits need a brushing A term at a normal school will do that I 1 don t understand there was something alne in the girl s face as she turned it toward tho other ennobled by its earnestness I 1 hate ben saving my money for three years as you know intending to go to college but I 1 have thought the future out soberly and have found a better use for my little pile I 1 want you to go in my stead barbie and leave carl and the children to me fiere was a long silence in which mrs carter mechanically went on with her preparations for supper mistily she caught a vista of the fu ture held out to her the old bright future relinquished for loves sake did frankle realize all she bad spoken 7 one anin nervous hand went up to her throat in there in that delicate wonderful bigan of sound lay her hope of greatness an was not dead once born it n yer dies she had firm faith in herself the old scenes crowded upon her memory the smell of musk and cologne the flash of lights the throb of the orchestra below the upturned faces rapt and listening reaby to storm her with flowers and applause the world her little world at her feet talk to carl she said not all at one not easily did the proud spirit consent to accept its ran som when she did break away from her children her heart seemed broken too in the strain frankle s face was the last she saw as she leaned from the car window her tears made a blurred halo around it as it smiled its hopeful smile frankle s eyes were wet too as she and carl went dumbly back to the farm which already wore th mourn ful look of having lost something bravely the little hercules set about adjusting the burden of responsibility her first cat was to admit all the sun shine she could coax to enter the old fashioned windows the next was to tempt carl s appetite and the last the hardest to put the children to bed for the first time without a mother s good night kiss the weeks which followed were as she afterward said a record of continuous failures gradually wo man s sphere evolved itself fram the confusing mists rounding out to grace ful proportion and frankle grasped the truth which often evades the in of woman that her work Is clothed with dignity and honor and Is as important to the onward march of man as the labors which receive the crown of laurel leaves letters came regularly from the ab sent barbara brave letters never be braying by a word the yearning tor her babies the loneliness of her life the constant goading of an unseen toe temptation s insidious whisper kept urging cpr from the path of duty with its promise of fame and alluring mem orles of the life she had loved motherhood god s special gracious gift to woman hers in atonement for the narrower life comes royally to some to others with pain and ques cloning but no less as a blessing it was to barbara a crown of thorns how it dignified and pierced her brow it alone held her back carl and the old green hill slope with its orchard and meadow and corn rows climbing rank on rank like disciplined soldiers faded and dimmed like a dream of the night she was young she was fearless and the apples were her reach the opportunity to grasp them came naturally it Is not easy to hide the possession of a great natural endowment she began singing in the choir of the church she frequent ed then she was asked to a parlor musicale a concert or two and then your voice Is gold a famous op era manager said I 1 am not afraid to prove it I 1 will give you a leading role and star ou through the next season if you are equal to study and will put yourself in training I 1 have seen many a success have helped make them and I 1 can promise you a future fiercely Fie icely the blood assailed her heart fiercely back rushed the tide to her reeling brain what right had that old mistaken duty to call her through the day and night which followed her soul battle wrecked and helpless tossed like a ship torn by the enemy s fire she realized there was no halt way ground it she gave herself to art it must be unreserved ly on the other hand was carl dear carl her children and the modern success of a school teacher carl was a sinking plank falling her but the little soft hands god like in their power drew her shoreward in the dawn the conflict ended the ever left her y so in the end at the close of the year of preparation a letter found its way to the farm I 1 have been fairly successful she wrote have secured license and a position tor the coming term I 1 think it will be far better for you to join me here dealda my teach ing I 1 can get many engagements to sing and a musical class for outside hours so I 1 can follow the beloved art afar off after all afar off with feet uncovered carl will have no trouble in finding employment and you will come elih them in the brightening future I 1 want you near to prove how much I 1 love you so the little hercules relieved of responsibility was free to resume her accustomed labors which she did with soul enriched by the accomplishment of a generous deed and never dream ing how her atlas had been tempted to abandon her |