The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-08
THE TWO SISTERS.

WI; ~. l saw the beast an gave
aim kick for his thicvin'. He had /,
nit O. my tripe in his mouth, an wa,
ehokin an glowcrin' us though he
wad gang clean out o. his head. Gin
catch him ut his tricks again there'l,.
no be cneuch o. him LETT TO max ::
dinner for Aud Sandy's dog"
"Hoot, boot, Joan! Ken ye no tho
words O. Holy Writ: The mcrcifuI
mon is mcrcitul unto his BEAST mn
With what measure We mcte it sail bo
measured to you again?"
"Wecl, Grizzlc, tho beast is name ~
mine, an gin any mon catches me
stealth his dinner frac him he NAV
serve me us he chooses"
"Ihere now, Joan. We re clean wrnnp
The puir beast hae no the sense to ken
ike human. An his nature bein' to
steal, it is clear that he maun hae been
predestined TO live in that way for the
glory o. God. Hoo, then, can We rec.
oncile it wi yer ain conscience to
abuse the puir beastie?"
can hoo cud hac kicked him for
1t, gin had ma been predestincd to
DO it? Answer me that moo. Gr,z.
zle." '' "'N
"llcch. lsadly fear yc were so pre-.
destined. an that it shows yo to be vet
in the gallo bitterness an the bond n:
iniquty, bein' even as Pharaoh
whose heart was hardened by the
Laird" WV
"Gin Pharaoh were like We, Grizzle.
an cared mair for II beast than for a,
human, twas no Il hard matter to
harden his heart"
1.-The Laird kens wccl that - mir
6eastle is better nor Il human, whites.
Decd, l misdoubt me sair that He'll
llae some o. them IN glory, for thouuh
the Guide Book says Without are doris )
it says nae word o. cats"
"Hoot, foot, what blasphemy are We
sayin', Grizzlc? fear We are ane o.
these unwary souls wrestling the Scrip.
lures to their ain description, as Paul
says. Min We not the words o John ::
~ any mon shall add anything to
this book, God shall add unto him the
plaques in this book?' Hand yer
tongue, Grizzlle, an be more carefu'
hoo pc spcyke G. the Laird's DEGREES. :"
"lts no blasphcnly. Let no mon
think o himself more highly than he
ought to think, said the Guide Book.
and l hae thought lang sync, Joan. We
were takin' too much upo' yerseT.
The Laird did na ask you ABBOTT His de-
crecs, an whan gat yo private inform
otiOn o thcm?''
"Gln We spcyk that gait to me, (;riz-
zle, III never speyk to We again. ="
'Sma' loss will it be then Joan. rin
ye spend yer time tcllin' me the Laird
has predestincd me to the i'll place. /
haze nae wish to hear We talk We can
say something plcasanter to hear nor
that
The fury of the sisters was now at
white heat. They sat, each with Killed
SKIRT on her own side of the fireplace
without speaking for an hour. Then
Joan suddenly rose and. going to her
huge work basket that stood on the
east window ledge, took out a piece of
chalk and string. Coming back she
measured accurately from the middle
of the one door the little cot.
tage possessed to the mid
die OF the fire place, and drew chalk
line connecting the two. Some arti-
clcs of Grizzlies tina, were on her side
she put across this line, and then sat
down and, taking up the biz old Bible.
began to read. Grizzlc watched her n
minute, and then muttcring to herself
"Gin She GAGS to heaven She'll fin me
there toon' took up an old Bible that
lay on her side of the room and began
to pore over ii.
The cottage had but Il single room.
IL faced the south, and opposite the
old fashioned divided door was the
narrow Fireplace. On each side of
the chalk line that now lay across the
red brick floor was Il bed, IL chair and
il little stand. The upper half of the
door was open, and the summer sun
shine and the sweet summer air came
in like bencdiction. while the two
gray old women for they were mast
fifty years old-sat like incarnatinns
of hate and wrath and read their
Bibles.
When the sun began TO set Joan
rose, and bringing out the simple
stores that were in the cottage, di-
vided them and the dishes without a
word. Then she gave Grizzlc half
the ready money, and then, closing
The door, began to prepare her evening
meal. Grizzle did the same.
This was the beginning of Il terrible
life. And the re of it was according
10 this beginning. For twenty years
they lived, those two sisters, one an
zach side of that hitlcous chalk line.
Every tender thought and loving ,o.
ion in the past that should have
'1awn them together once more was
recalled to add bitterness TO that es-
1t was u sight to make
angels weep when the two knelt down,
each at her own bedside. ut night, and
prayed the Lord to have mercy upon
he hcatlien,and those in foreign lands,
aprepan His true servants for their
entrance into glory, ending with the
lwful cry, Come Laird, Jesus. come
quickly. an tax Thine ain hame. an
ct Thine enemies who will ma repent
perish in the ill place forever. An
Thine sail be the glory. Amcn!'-
n, at morning, when the rosy flush
# the dawn came through Joani's win
low and tinged the gray faded forms
With a lovely hue, as they knelt by
heir separate little stands and said
Our Fathcr!' to watch them
Walking on the Sabbath day to kirk,
nd sitting dccorouslv side by side in
he narrow pew, while they joined in
he psalm singing or said Amen, with
GLENN junction to the prayers, or lis
ened to the Gospel of peace and for
.ivcncss. a strange and horrible
light, and one never seen before or
Incc. Yet hold! Are there no hus.
ands and wives, no brothers and Sis
ers and friends, who have knclt down
With hot hatred in their hearts and
aid the Our Father" together? Let
i'm that is without sin among us cast
he first stone.
The neighborhood everywhere came
n, OF course, TO demonstrate with the
'retclled pair aud to 80 home and Cos
ip about them, but the sisters turned
deaf ear to all remonstrance, and
ven when occasion demanded sent a
tone into the encmy's camp that
NIGHTLY discounted them. For to more
han one Joan made answer: "Look at
'ame an min yer children that quar-