The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-01-26
A BOGUS ANCHORESS.
The Story Of the Mysterious Sister
Veronica.


The Doctors wife scanned her visitor i
silence. Who was to assure her that tn
contributions she had already made woul,
be faithfully dedicated to the purpose TO
which they had been given? Whut if thes
black-robed women were not sisters" afte
all, but merely bold impostors, who as
sumed the dress of the order for the time
for their own selfish aims and purposes'
She recalled herself from her reverie witt
little shudder, and her voice was hard and
cold as she spoke.
"Sister Veronica, really do not feel jus
titled in helping your hospitals and asylums
any more l think it is time we were look.
ing up the poor about us. There may be
fellow-beings suffering in our midst without
murmur; people whose pride forbids
them to appeal to public charity. 1 thinl,
we should be doing more nobly if we de.
voted our time to looking up such cases,
instead of contributing to the support OF
distant institutions, of which we know moth
ing"
20, madam If others wore only OF your
thinkingv interrupted the visitor, impctu-
ously.
"What then! fear you would not sue
ceed so well in your missions"
hTS. ledueu lOTWdTu aS sue SPOKE,
and gazed curiously upward into the counte-
nance beneath the peaked white bonnet
The momentary fiutter and the crimson
wave which had transformed her callers
calm face passed away, leaving it cold and
still in its purity.
"One must rejoice at any lessening of the
great sum of human misery" was the quiet
response.
The anchoress turned TO go. She had not
only failed in her errand but had met with
decided rebuff; yet at tho door she paused
a moment and held out shapely white
hand, which met the others in a sympathetic
grasp.
The DOCTORS wife stood at the window,
with mingled curiosity and interest, aud
watched her visitor depart. To her surprise
the latter did not continue up the street,
but retraced her steps along the lonely path
leading in the direction of the station-house.
Was she then only stopping off between
trains, and had she squaudered the few mo-
ments she had in which to ''don the little
New Mexican town. or had she grown hope
less of success after her first fruitless eff
fortl
Several months sped by. and the good lady,
in spite of her creditable resolutions had
taken no active step toward ascertaining
the circumstances of her neighbors. One
day had been too chilly, another too windy.
a third too warm, to sally forth on her char
liable errand. So she had contented herself
with making few inquiries of chance Wis
itors. She had been laughed at for her
pains. 1t was an axiom in the New Mexican
town that no worthy and industrious person
could ever suffer for lack of food or raj
ment.
There came day when the doctor was
late to his six-oclock supper The table
was spread in the cosy dining-room and tho
tea simmered on the hearth. The young
housewife vibrated between table, stove
and window. The little cathedral clock on
the parlor-mantel sounded the half hour.
The young wife busted herself picking off
the dead leaves from twining smilax which
stood in the window-so many withered
leaves do the house-plants show in that ex-
asperating climate! The clock solemniy
knelled the hour of seven. tue little woman
had grown too accustomed to the exactions
OF physician's life to feel more than impa-
tient. She sat down to the table alone and
tried to eat, but only succeeded in swallow
ing cup of tea and bit of fruit Then she
resumed her post at the window. A light
rain was falling, which increased until it
came in gusts and squalls, then settled into
steady down-pour.
II was after nine O'Clock when she do
scried dark figure hurrying up the street
The gate opened and shut with click, and
the doctor bounded up the steps OF the por-
tico, to be met with q fearful greeting on
the part Of his wife.
80, RobertI You don't know what
have suffered. was so afraid that some Of
those dreadful men who are always shoot
ing on the streets downtown"
.'Nonsense, childp' But his voice was
k4.Ir, u,,I ha haH n.
laid a long morocco case on the table, she
noticed that his face was pale and drawn.
'An operation, deari What was itf'
He did not answer at once Indeed, ne
sat down to the table and drank his cup of
tea and ate slice or two of bread aud but
ter, chatting meanwhile, in an absent way
ON Indifferent topics. 1t was only when
they had gone into the little parlor. and ne
had thrown himself into great easy chair
before the glowing fire, that he recognized
her question.
"A sevcn-year-old boy. dear. Leg crushed
beneath the cars, Stood IL like herot"
Show did it happen-the injury. Imeanf"
s'Slipped and fell under backing engine.
They seem to have been pretty badly Off
the mother and child-and the fireman of |
yard-engine No. 26 had been In the habit OF |
throwing of Jumps Of coal for tue little fel- |
low 10 PICK up. To-day the lad tried 70
climb up before they had slowed down. and
missed his footing and fell"
'How he must have sufferedp'
"He never seemed TO think of himself at |
all. Was possessed with a fear that the |
fireman might be blamed. Beautiful little |
fellow In spite OF his shabby clothes. Broad |
white forhead, curling brown hair, and |
gray eyes. DO you know can't
get rid OF u certain fancy that I've seen the |
Guild beforep'
Probably on the street," suggested Mrs.
Beldea.