Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-11-10
FROM DOOR TO DOOR.


in her lap and two very decided tears
in her soft brown eyes. Her pink
Vatican wrapper was very becoming,
and her pet rose-bush in the window
was Just coming into bloom; but these
facts were no consolation. All the
same, Mabel was very unhappy.
''My dear" said the sage elder sis
ter, who was all the mother she had
ever known, 81 wouldn't fret about
it!'
Mabel raised the liquid brown eyes,
fringed around with dark lashes.
''But am sure" said she, THAT
he preached directly at me. Oh,
don't think he should have done
that''
''NOnsense, my dearl' said Zuleima. "
One of the big round drops de-
tached itself from the curly lashes,
and fell with a plash, directly on
Pug's fine, shelf-like nose.
"What else would he have me to
do?" demonstrated Mabel, pIteously
Il belong to all the societies, don't
1? And go to all the services, and
visit every one of the poor people in
my district. Does he want me to go
to Africa and be missionary, won
der? Or join a sisterhood, and wear
a horrid black nightcap over my hair,
and go about without speaking to
anybody"
''I'm quite sure that he doesn't
want anything of the Sort" said
Zuleima, gently.
f1ce," said Mabel, unconsciously
= IL Ill
in her enthusiasm, until that
much enduring beast uttered a
yelp of anguish. ''It isn't work that
I'm afraid of. Didn't l wash all the
little Riley children's faces last week
for the mission school, and mend
Johnny Ruttkay's horrid clothes so he
could 90 to the anniversary? And
I m sure only want the chance to be
a Heavenly Una, or gray nun, or
pilgrimesS, or any of those people
that give up their whole lives for the
cause of humanity. I'd do anything
to help my fellow creatures any
thingI"
MabeIs lips Quivered and an inVol-
untary tremolo came into her voice.
Zuleima gazed admiringlY at her.
''I'm sure you would, my darling"
said she. ''And now if you feel in
clined for a good walk, you might
take a glass of jelly around to old
Betsy Blundell, in Charcoal street"
''It's a shame" she said tC herself,
''for any one to expect that human
blossom to work any harder than she
does. 1 do wish Mr.. Rockingham
would leave off preaching those har-
rowing sermons"
Old Betsy Blundell was as deaf and
as cross as ever. 1t was tribulation
to go and see Betsy. Nothing suited
her, and the element of gratitude
was apparently left out Of her nature
She glared at Mabel as if she were
an emissary of the evil one.
'gThat last tea you left tasted
smOky!" snarled she; land I'm pretty
mortal certain the rice was damaged.
may be a poor creetur, but that
amt no reason l should be p'isoned.
Jelly? Wal, s'pose you may leave
it, though there amt much nourish-
ment in such kickshaws. LOUSY she's
kind O. complainin', and maybe she
will eat it.''
SIS Louisa sick?"
Mabel turned quickly around to the
of the room, where a pleaSant-faced
girl of about twenty lay, covered with
a faded blanket shawl.
iOh, it amt much, Miss Mullen. -
said only rheumatism. But
it cripples me so that 1 can't move off
the couch. and Id just got bushel
o. them tippets and capes knitted all
ready to carry around to the doors
and sell-a dozen of each. I'd put
all my money into the material. aud
think they'd a sold well. 1 used to
sit up nights anG knit 'em after fac
tory hours
''ls it hard to sell them?" Mabel
suddenly asked.
''Oh, no, miss. - Louisa responded.
''It's real light. pleasant work.
'Twould be nothing but fun for me. "
Mabel breathed quick and fast
Two red spots came out on her cheeks:
brown lightnings flashed under the
curly gateways of her eyes.
Here was the opportunity at last
coming, it was true, in no poetic
guise, surrounded by no attractive
circumstances, but an opportunity all
the same.
Louisa, f" said she, 81 will take
and sell them for you.
''You, Miss Mellen?"
'Yes. Why not?'' said Mabel, with
curious little dry laugh. 81 had
stall once in fancy fair Why should
not 1 sell tippets and capes and nit
tens? I'll go out with the basket
this very day. Are the pieces all
marked?''
She did not even consult Zuleima,
this impetuous, impulsive child Of one
idea.
''Zuleima win be sure to oppose the
plan. ," said she. 'There'n be