The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-21
HIS INsPIkArION.


and The old ones one upon another.
"Just twenty" che said. with a low laugh
like the thrill OLA hsppy bird.
But before go any further let me tell you
something about Hope Whitney.
Her father died before her birth, and the
pale young mother. baptizing the uncon.
scious baby face with bitter tears, had named
her Hope.
Then she had taken mp the hand-to-hand
struggle brsvely-almost cheerfully, for lit.
tie Hopes sske-as women of deep natures,
who have loved once truly and well, are apt
to do
She hung oct small sign. Mrs. Whitney
Dressn aking," just at the side of the door,
and above the red ross tree which her has
band had planted the very day he brought
home to the birds nest" as ne called the
little one-story cottage. And after that the
headaches and the backsches--and worse
still, the heartaches, because there was no
one to care-began IN earnest
Seventeen years of struggle, of ingenious
innings to make the most out of q little.
and then the story of her life ended-as near
~ as life-stories ever end. For this life of
ours possesses strange element that is not
seen, but is alec 70 leave behind upon the
earth an enduring induencs either for coed
or for evil.
The heat OF the summer had been intense.
Mrs. Whitney had overHorked and there
bad followed few days Of quite alarming
illness
1t WIS the early evening of a sultry sum-
meT day. The sun had sat in food of
splendor. the birds had chirped their good
night and the moonlight Hooded the room
xrtf hcta ~ Ia
Mother ana daughter were alone. with
low heart talks falling in between the tender
peufes tbst seemed filed with nameless
something that drew Hope closer to her
mother.
Mrs Whitney had been lying with face
turned toward the open window, whsre the
red roses nodded their sweet, heavy heads,
when suddenly she stretched out her thin
white haDts with glad cry:
oh, Harry Eauy!'
And Hope, knesliDg beside the bed awed
into si'encs By the smile as OF a great peace
that still Icy upon the beautiful face knew
that she vas mofherless.
The three years that followed were hard
ones TO Hope, bot she pc. sessed brave
bright tpiJit end courage that knew no
5alteriDg.
For two years she had been teacher of the
village school and. By careful economy, had
made the debit and credit OF her accounts
tslance at the end of each year.
For months she bad been laying by lit
tie. now ard then, for the purchase of q win
ter rloak until tie dollars counted up TO
twenty.
Doyou think the getting of new cloak an
easy matter?
To her it was not But her old one was
worn and had q behind the-times look that
annoyed her every time she put it on.
1t Is natural fer young girls-and old ones,
too to like nice, becoming clothing.
Hope, my little heroine. was only brave,
sweet, natural girl, and liked her all the
better because she did care for the pretty
effect of bow of ribbon, fall of lace, or
bright fower at her throat or among the
waves of her brown hair, and because she
wanted new cloak to show of her trim,
graceful figure.
Just the very thing. is it not9" asked the
polite merchant as Hope viewed her rehec-
tion in the full-lepgth mirror, habitsd in q
handsome, warm cloak.
The girl smiled softly, while bright rose.
flush touched her face
She was about to say, II viii take it."
when her attention was arrested by the con.
versation OF two plainly dressed women at
her right.
"Yes," one OF them was saying, "thev are
going to take Grandmother Harris TO the
Poor house next week. You see, she's down
with the rheumatic. same as last winter, and
they think that's the best place for her,
But think OF it." the other retorted;
''there is hardly afamily in the village but
ut some time or other has been glad of Grand.
mother Harris help and sympathy in the
dark days of sickness and DEATH
II know that, but it's tbs way OF the
world. Old folks are like old horses; when
their days of usefulness are done, the
quicker they're out of the way the bstter."
There was strange look in Hopes eyes as
shs put aside the new 3loak and took no the
old one again. And firm lines began ts re.
place the smile about the corners of her
mouth.
'.shaIl do up the cloak. miss?"
Not to day."
And before he recovered from his surprise,
Hope was IN the midst Of the fast-.alIing
snowfakee, going swiftly in the direction of
Grandmother Hsrrls' house. where the old
woman had lived for more than fifty years.
simple. motherly woman, with work.
hardened hands and tender heart. who re-.
1o,ced with those who rejoiced, ard wspt
with those who wept
1t vas Aiehtfall when Hope entered her lit
sie room Then the reaction came. her hero
Ism vanished. Taking eff her cloak. she
nUng IL across chair that stood near.
Lie thsfe. you shshhy Old thing. hate
you. the exclaimed, bursting into a perfect
tempest Of tears
But the storm econ ended, better feelings
came ipto ner breast, and she put away the
ola carmen. as though 1t were some holy
thing. ano then went about the getting OF
ne9 supper Win song upon her lips.
Rev. Robert Dean had psen settled over
his first parish about three months. And.
though there had been some very tempting
bait thrown out by pious and ambitious
mammss and marriagesbe daughters. and 3
score of bright eyes-gray, brown, black and
blue had looked shyly, and ssucilv. and
hopefully. and tendsrly into hopeful, honest,
infinitely expressive ones, he had gone his
way. modest well bred, unakuming. and if
one judged by his appearance untouched.
But that is all you can tell by appearances.
for Robert Dean knew that IL 1t CHANGED (ns
1t seldom did, that ehy, sweet apprcciative