Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-06
SAINT ELIZABETH,
OF SPOONER'S RANCH.
A STORY IN THREE PARTS
BY GRACE MCGOWAN COOKE.
Copyrighted, 1896, by Grace MCGOWAN
Cooke.
(Continued.)

(Continued)
"Lizzie, Lizzie, come and get this
child! My neuralgias very bad this
morning, and his noise drives me nearly
crazy"
The wind, the ceaseless, dust-carry-
ing, nerve-rasping plains wind, was rak-
ing over the low, board buildings of
Spooner's ranch as it had been for a
down, the house was intolerably hot,
and when they were opened the gale
tore papers and loose objects from the
tables. scattered them about the rooms,
and set the curtains swinging on a ca
reer of destruction. 1t was at such
times as these that Mrs. Spooner's neu-
ra.gia was worst.
Cousin Hannah had gone home for
week. because one of her daughters was
i'll. Elizabeth dared not hint TO her
mother of Mary what train of specula-
ton had been started in her mind; and
as things went quietly on in their usual
course at the Spconer ranch, she began
to believe that there was no such mean
ing in Cousin Hannahs inadyertent
words as she had at first imagined.
She had almost come to think she
didn't care if it were mistake. She
could stay right where she found her
self and do some great and noble deeds,
which would bring her into prominence
She belonged to a Chau;auqua circle,
and this morning while looking up a ref
erence during her fifteen minutes Of
reading. she came upon the biography
of ST. Elizabeth, of Hungary, in the
"Irnjyensal knowledge as ;he:r small,
old-fasslioned encyclopedia was called.
Il added to her knowledge the reading Of
the Saints Tragedy" had given, and
set her quick imagination again at work
upon the idea of posing as a saint
She was particularly ruck by that
portion OF the story which tells how
St. Ellzabeth's piety, at Tho early age Of
-. astonished the gay Thuringlan court,
and reSd with thrill of kinship the
revenues of the state to almsgiving She
laid down her book and went iangu,dly
into the sick room in response % her
mothers call She looked Ike visit
or. amid the pain surroundings, in her
rather fanciful morning gown and elaJ-
orately curled hair.
1t was evident when she spoke that
the wind had been putting an edge On
her temper, as well as making her
mothers neuralgia worse and stirring
up Agapita to restless tumult.
'T don't see how he bothers YOU" she
said ungraciously you're not read
ing. and if l take him in where am
can't get a word of my circle reading
DONE"
HE bothers me by just being there"
walled Mrs. Spooner fretfully. "Why
can't you leave him down at the 'dobe
with his mother, where he has the other
children to play with? He's much hap
pier and better off there than he is
here"
Elizabeth looked at the invalid with
the look of one who might speak much:
but deems 1t not worth while to argue
with a foolish person. Taking the child
not over gently by the hand, she hur-
ried him from the room, set him with
emphasis in a chair beside her, telling
him not to stir, and resumed her reading
with frowning brow. The astonished
Agapita cried stormily and resentfully
and kicked his little feet upon the chair,
so that Elizabeth had finally to put
down her book and quiet him. This,
she reflected. was sweet unse,fish ac-
ton on her part, and she did it in a
more kindly and cheerful manner than
that she had worn in complying with
what she considered her mothers I'M
reasonable request.
When he was smiling again he look
ed so pretty that she was delighted. She
picked him up and went off for a game
of romps (which. rather unfortunately,
came off under the invalid's window
leaving the all-important reading with
no distress of mind whatever.
Then she stroiled down to the 'dobe
with little Agapita.
When Elizabeth first began teaching
the Sandoval children she had distrib-
uted her favors pretty equally. provid-
ing from her rather scanty home sup
pies not very welcome clothing, and
giving about equal attention 10 their
obstruction and amusement Her moth
or and Mary were both well pleased,
since the work seemed to interest and
suit her. Home duties TO be neglected
she had not. for nobody at home ever
Thought Of expecting anything from
Elizabeth. no matter how literally as