The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-12-18
MISS YkRWOOD'S
SPECIAL PROVIDENCE.
BY MAUDE RITTENHoUSE.

BY MAUDE RITTENHoUSE.
There were odors of turpentine and
hot paint upon the air when Nora
thrust her curly head into Miss Var
woods studio.
"Wh-ew ~ she cried, ''aren't you
burnt up? What is it now ?''
ats pin trays.-six of them And
| am too warm, but | wanted to dry
the color well there so little time"
81 wonder you don't die, Miss Alice,
You are cooped up here from daylight
until dark, and even after dark, now
that Christmas orders are coming in.
How late did you work last night?"
Twelve" said Miss Yarwood, half
apoiogctically. ''But you don't know
how thankful | am that / can do those
Dresden designs at night See here;
aren't these dainty? I'm going to fire
them tonight ~ and Miss Yarwood
straightened her stifTened figure and
led the way TO tall cabinet filled with
odd bits of china, from among which
she indicated one particular row of
tiny cups and saucers.
"Oh, the dainty darlings ~ cried the
young girl, with positive rapture.
"How you do them I can't even i'm
agine. And will those black dots and
scrolls be gold after the firing?"
Il "GOld as can be ~ laughed the 9TH
er They're an order for Kitty Birch;
not a Christmas present, fyou please,
but for the wedding of her dearest
friend"
"What will you get for them?" Nora
asked, suddenly, with the liberty of one
| familiar with the Cuisines" of the
studio.
| Miss Yarwood hesitated moment,
and little flame of color shot into the
pallor of her cheek as she replied, "Six
dollars"
"Apiece ~
"No no,-for all of them"
Nora stared blankly and then fairly
shrielled:
"Only six dollars for the whole half
dozen? Why, you have worked for
days on them, and-what did the plain
china cost ?"
FIFTY apiece"
That's three dollars for the set And
how much gold have you used on
| them?"
"Not more than dollars worth, il
that much," came the faint response.
"Then you'll get two dollars for
working two days and nights, putting
out your eyes, breaking your devoted
back, running your health, and-and
the firing still to do. forgot to count
that and the gas. Miss Alice, my dear,
you're an idiot You make me absolute
ly furious ~ and Nora stalked to the
other side of the room and ilounced an
grily into seat by the low window.
''Listen, dearie." Miss Alice spoke
with a little deprecatory gesture. '1ts
Kitty's very, very dearest friend, and
she did want 90 give her something
charmingly pretty, and yet six dollars
was every cent she could afford"
"Then why didn't she use up her own
strength and nerves and eyesight in
stead of yours, in her investment? She
can manage to wear beautiful clothes
and warm furs and several hats sea-
son, while you are going about in a
cloak you've worn for five years-and
even your best dress frayed at the
edges"
"Now, Nora I'm sure my cloak is
still stylish and pretty, and / bound the
frayed edges only last week, so the
dress looks as good as new. I'm sure
always look nice"
Mice. You look like an angel ~
and impulsive Nora flung both arms
about the little spinster and kissed her
hot cheek. "When get TO heaven
shall expect to see all the angels wear
| ing darned-over cashmeres and big
| gingham aprons that smell of lavender
and tinting oil. Can't you come out,
just for n minute, for walk and
breath of fresh air?"
Miss Yarwood shook her head with
a mcck-woful grimace- II must get
the cream jug ready for the firing, and
all the COLDS TO put on that vase yet.
To-morrow's Sunday, dear; we'll have
a long walk then, in the afternoon"
Nora sighed and left the room but
| Miss Yarwood smiled a. her fine brush
trailed delicate lines of gold over the
pale blossoms on the ivory-tinted cream
jug.
"Fora doesn't realize how fortunate
/ am" she said. ~ never had so
many orders before at Christmas-time."
Meanwhile Nora was freeing her
mind to Caesar, the huge mastiff, who
stretched his great legs as he rose from
the door-mat-
"She's killing herself, Cesar, for
dollar a day. If Christmas came n
week later she'd be dead woman
Come, sir, you need a run. Well take
the back way to the grocery and get a
bag of cool oranges for that hot little
goose. There, now. one, two,-run ~
1t was twilight and the street wass still.
''Nobody'll know We are school
marms, Cesar. This is glorious Go