She must live on; and suddenly she
discovered that she could live _free!_ Not after years of
doubtful struggles, of reverses, of success so hardly won that
she was left exhausted. But now--at once--_free!_ The heavy
shackles had been stricken off at a blow. She was
free--forever free! Free, forever free, from the wolves of
poverty and shame, of want and rags and filth, the wolves that
had been pursuing her with swift, hideous padded stride, the
wolves that more than once had dragged her down and torn and
trampled her, and lapped her blood. Free to enter of her own
right the world worth living in, the world from which all but
a few are shut out, the world which only a few of those
privileged to enter know how to enjoy. Free to live the life
worth while the life of leisure to work, instead of slaving to
make leisure and luxury and comfort for others. Free to
achieve something beside food, clothing, and shelter. Free to
live as _she_ pleased, instead of for the pleasure of a master
or masters. Free--free--free! The ecstasy of it surged up in
her, for the moment possessing her and submerging even thought
of how she had been freed.
She who had never acquired the habit of hypocrisy frankly
exulted in countenance exultant beyond laughter. She could
conceal her feelings, could refrain from expressing. But if
she expressed at all, it must be her true self--what she
honestly felt.
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