Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-02-11

again"
81 thought so myself" said Tom !;
"but | wasn't sure. You'll see her,
then ?"
"I'll 60 to- day, Tom"
And SO great was her anxiety to help
poor Susie 10 overco no her silly weak
ness that sh, went at once TO sea her
went indeed, with an eagerness that
very Learly marred that repose of man
ner which made her chief calm to dig
nifty.
If the truth be told, Susie was not
glad to see her, for, strangely enough,
what Susie admired In Tom she despis-
en- in Toms mother. A fact of which
that stately lady was well aware, but
which, nevertheless, did not destroy
the pleasure she felt in doing good to
Toms misguided wife.
tom asked me to come and see you
this morning. SUSIE"
ST did rot know he was going your
way" said Susie. Take off your
things. or course you will stay for
dinner"
"Thank you; cannot to day."
Toms mother was never more state.
ly; Toms wife never nearer to breaking
down without doing it.
"Tom Is very much worried about
you, SUSIE"
Susie could have kissed her for say
ing that for she had only just been
thinking with some bitterness, that
Tom did not seem to care.
"And he asked me-" went on Tom g
mother, Ito come and talk with you
about it,
"You are very kind" murmured
Susie, gratefully enough, though she
would have liked it better if Tom had
talked with her about it himself.
az have no wish to be harsh, +" began
Toms mother assuming one of her
most commanding Attitudes. .I know
you really believe yourself sick"
Susie's placid look was suddenly
gone. She was dignifed now. Her
lips closed and her brown eyes flashed.
She began to understand.
Toms mother continued
"You should endeavor to control
yourself. A little self control"
"Do I understand you," broke in
Susie In low voice, "that Tom asked
you to tell me this 2''
"This or the substance of it," an
swered Toms mother ''and it is only
right-just to yourself and just to Tom
that you should overcome these fancies.
Exert your will. Look at me, look at
Tom-we are never sick"
Susie looked at her and belieyed her.
No, she had never been sick, that was
certain. But Tom Had Tom asked
her to say this to his wife ?
But this was only the beginning.
Toms mother had much more to say,
aud she said l. with a calm dignity
that proved she had only Susie, for
throughout it all Susie was not once
frivolous; she did not interrupt. Toms
mother went home full Of peaceful
calmness her dignity had not known
for some time.
When Tom came home that evening
Susie said to him
"Your mother was here to-day,
Tom"
"Yes; she said she would come"
"She spoke to me'-Susie's voice
was very low-''about the necessity Of
exertlng control over my-over my
nv foolish weakness.
"Yes-yes. that was right. You
can do it if you will, Susie. Your will
has never been developed. Susie. Look
at mel never was sick.''
Susie looked at him. She would
have hidden her face and cried !; she
would rather have lain down to rest
her aching back, but no-she would be-
gin to develop her will !; she would try
and smile; she did smils.
Tom had no more reason after that
to complain ofSusie's foolish weakness.
She worked hard to develop her will
and keep down any foolish desire for
sympathy. She did not succeed very
we'll at that, but when she foolishly
fancied she was IN agony from her
back, she did not betray the fact.
Her will was not sufficiently devel-
oped to control her pain, but 1t was
something that she could smile when
she wanted to cry. Oh, yes. she would
succeed some day.
Tom often congratulated her on her
success, bat then he did not know how
little real success she was having. Still
she was failing in the important item
of pain; she jus5 kept steadily on deyel-
oping her will.
And at last she had her reward. She
succeeded in so developing her will
that at last she had nothing left her
but her will, and then she found that