Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-06-08

ged comb, hers only In name, and an
ancient almanac with the precious
thumb marks of her friends upon each
page. She did not love Jane. Duty
was hard.
80 ye're goin' over 10 Queen Beck
worth for good an alp Sarah Dunn
sneered
"Oh, don't, grils," Maria walled. al
hat to do it,
ITS some o. her airs. She cd git UP
If she wanted to-" Sarah went on ag-
gresSively. The others chuckled ac-
| quiescence. Maria stuck her pipe on
the agitated pyramid of her worldly
goods and scuttled Off. Her endurance
seemed to be growing soft and pulpy.
She tried to harden IL with a bit of
Scripture, but her memory was faulty
and her lack of education prevented a
fresh search for Biblical strength.
God bless our home won't work in
right" she thought. There's A sower
went forth to sow his seed But L
amt any seed an / amt sower. L
don't know no more, though, 'cept
Blessed air tn peacemakers.' Praps
oh, no. l couldn't make peace be-
tween them. They're as fierce as mig
gers"
There seemed even less hope OF mis-
sionary work of this sort when she con-
fronted Jane, looking particularly sharp
and unpllable in her bed. Anyway,
I'm goin' to try it," Maria said to her.
self, although her legs shook under her
and her head hung abashed mt the mere
suggestion. When she administered the
first teaSpoonful of medicine she whis-
pered so family that she could hardly
hear it herself. Don't We b'lieve yed
feel easier [ make up with the girls
now you're stretched so lowT
James foxy little face seemed to ex-
hibit new angles for the occasion.
What! with them old maids" she
shrieked as distinctly as she could for
coughing. IF they should come in that
door this minute, do We know what I'd
doY Chuck the pillcr at EN-" Maria
wiped tear upon her patchwork when
she sat down To it. Her hearts rs
hard as Jobses," she sighed But she
was tenacious Of her purpose. The no.
ton OF being peacemaker never left
her mind.
After n few days Jane grew weaker.
Her angles softened considerably.
When prayer meeting night came ana
those Of the paupers who were availa-
bic met in the long dining room for de-
votions, as was the good Keepers GUS
tom to have them do. Maria begged 10
have intervening doors left ajar that she
might hear the singing. The harmony
Of this exercise might have been mar
red for more critical ears by the eccen-
tricity OF one luSty-vOiced old man,
who, whatever the hymn chosen by the
assembly, selected another to his own
taste and tune, and sang it independ-
emily at the top Of his lungs. When
the last notes died away Jane exclaim-
ed, cXcitedly: THAT was dretful nice
/ enjoyed the colonel more'n the rest.
I'm kinder tired O tn Wanderin' Boy"
The coloners choice lad been Il Want
to BE an Angel" why" cried Maria,
with hope in her voice, would We like
t be a angel, JaneT
NO" said Jane, "but I'd like tn col
onel to be If he wants o so bad" An
other tear dropped into Maria's patch
work.
1t was only the next day when the
anxious nurse thought she detected IL
marked change for the worse in her pa
TENTS condition. When the poor doc
tor" paid his hurried morning visit she
followed him out into the hall. inquiring
with white lips: us she goin' TO liveE'
Not long" the man flung back as he
lodged on 10 the next waiting door
Haste was now the keynote Of
Marias anxiety. She ran up to the
bed crying: Jane, Jane, won't We let
me fetch" A bony finger was held up
warningly. as ii them old maids"
Maria caught the emaciated claw in her
plump clasp. but jest see here. S'pose
-s'pose you was goin' to land where
there wasn't no chairs nor settin' in
chairs"
EFF they git into it I'll knock EN- out
wherever be-" persisted Jane
mot long. Not long" was changing
in Maria's ears. Its 10 use" she sob
bed, desperately; "ye're goin' to die
in little while now
Jane stared ut her with eyes fixed
in terror Finally she put up her hand
to steady her lips. who said SOP
Maria jerked her thumb toward the
spot where the physician had stood.
"WC"ldn't we feel easier t make UP
with 'em befur We go?'
A long and painful pause followed.
Jane was gazing rigidly at the wall
with her back turned. Maria's nervous
movements alone betrayed conscious
ness of the lapse of time. After
full hour of this oppressive silence Il
faint voice from the bed said: Il sup
pose l halter. Bring 'em in."
MaIia's face was luminous with what
we know to be inward solar light,
though she would have called it merely
thanking God when she hurried off,
to return followed by her little awe
stricken procession.
When they reached the door sill Jane
called out: There, don't come no fur
ther. l don't want my floor all tracked
up" The gray heads bowed in solemn
acqulescence.
There were few heavy moments Of
waiting and labored breathing Then
Jane, with her face still turned toward
the wall, said "Well, / forgive We all
your mean, nasty, hateful, sassy ways"
The grave, blue-jcancd conclaTe turned
and marched away.
At the next administration Of medi-
cine there was whispered, "See here.
S'pose was { git well alter all. jes
bet they'd git into it,.
ooh, no." Maria pleaded; don't feel
like that. You're film up dretful
fast"
Tho sicl, woman GROW uneasy oftor