The Man in Possession — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 13 and where a policeman or a street watchman were the only signs of living humanity. She shivered as she drew the warm folds of her cloak about her shapely figure. It was all so dull and dreary and depressing, and she was going back to a life just as gloomy and just as depressing. She was twenty years of age and fair and good and sweet as any maiden could be, or any man desire, and yet, life was all wrong for her—or so she felt it to be, all wrong, and there seemed no hope of its ever getting better or ever being set right. This is not a pleasant thought for a girl of twenty, or indeed for any age, but youth specially resents troubles and grievances, and is somewhat selfishly in- clined to think that the world has been created for its benefit, and to minister to its happiness. Fortunately there are always plenty of opposing and aggravating causes to dispel this illusion, otherwise there really is no knowing what sort of selfish and exacting thing youth might become. As it is, the chastening hand of disappointment is generally lying in wait, to moder- ate its expectations and subdue its enthusiasms. To Kate O’Brien it seemed as if she had never pos- sessed either of these blessings. What is the use of expecting a change for the better, when every year shows a Steady surplus of ‘‘ the worse?” and how can any one be enthusiastic over a prospect of un- paid debts, heavy bills, shabby dresses and general discomfort. Early in life it seemed to her that she had been obliged to learn that great lesson called, in feminine parlance ‘‘managing.” She had to manage her father in his weak and rash moments, which were COMicloe (Sri C(O)