The evening times., 1897-11-24

Il
self-appointcd task with a thoroughnass an.
re gularity deserving of more gratitude than
it Commonly inspired. Mrs.. Wicks, however
| by reason Of her rcspectability and eNem
| pIary behavior. was a prime favorite.
| That's "a fine Bible Ut yours. Mrs W:cks.'
she observed in the course Of her mex:
| l;arochiai visitation. Il don't remember Il
| have seen IL before"
| Welt, no." was the answer-there being
TO very pressing reason for claiming the
| fact tAat IL was only borrowed But
| thudcht ma ybe you'd find the print easier
| To read"
Yes, / must admit my eyes are not what
| they were. What would you like me tC
read this tiIne?'
..S'pose we as a bit o. the old Test ymint:
There : S Samula in the den lions. l woul'n
mind caring bout i'm. I've always 'ad
| !, real Ugh opinion u Samue ever since
| tie CIRCUS come to Whittlebridee, IA matter
% five an thirty year ago, an | see the
way them beasts ramped rJunc an took
eli when they was stirred up with pole. -
Daniel, YOU mean,'' was the correction
..Daniei, to be sure. What could | bin
iIinkin. 'hpur2 Course. San.ule WAS the lit
tI- boy as always got up no matter ow
early he was called.
'.Ther. We Will take Chapter Six OF the
Book ot Daniel"
80 sha read on until. going to turn the
paee ,he found it stuck fast; took off her
glove, blew it, and finally was obliged 10
follow Mr. wicks' advice and moisten her
finger and thumb
Strange that these two leave should h''
Stuch together so tightly, almost as though
they were gunmed. Why, what's ths"'
Only Z square OF flinsy discolored rap.r
that cracked at the touch.
Why, Mrs. Wicks, you We been making d
savings DaI!S of the Bible | had no idea
you Tr.re 81 rich. YoI had better take care
# this while | finish my reading.
And she handed her the note.
Mrs. Wici-s stretched ont her hand me
chanicaIly, and her fingers closed over it
tightly. The reading went on. At lea st
there was a tpzZing sound, hut whether IT
lras inside her head or out she cuuldn tina We
told. Finally. M wing delivered Daniel
fru,:. the iioGs and made few appropriate
and improving remarks, the district visitor
took her lea ave-a little huffed. to tell the
truth at the iGea that one who had always
profess 80 to find life n hard strugyl.
should all the while have been the posses
Sor of boarded wealth.
4 short time afterwards Emily. returning
fIum tn king home some mangling. found
her inu'her sitting down doing absolutely
nothin. while the kettle protested ami
boiled over UNDECIDED.
"I.,r. mnih-r- whatever's the natter
Not knowing what To make OF such un-
usual sv'upturns.
Nrs. WrcSS regarded her Tor n moment
without speaking. Then well. I an's
Jest feeling myself. an that's the truth"
she admitted.
Ther, was a sort OF dazed hook aho1t ller
that gave confirmation to the words
IN r,aSc YOU a cup O. tea said her
daughter. 'that'n irisk you up. Got any
thin. the r.atter with yer 'ausi?''
This casual inquiry appeared TO excite
almost a panic. .a-.
WHY. no; there ain I nothink the matter
with it Whatever made you arsk sich "A
thing?"
Il thought. by the way you've got it
doubled up. as you might ave 'urt it,
No no: it amt that. It's soIrethink
ii,nar.ic like"
MA vie the pickles you 'ad at dinner"
After this seeing that instead of briski.ic
up. her 'uother continued to feel like so,.s
Is,!y else. Emily promptly ordered her eff
t. bed.
Its the weather that's what it is-that
and the pickles"
So Mrs Wicks meekly obeyeG the man
date. and retired to a state OF unrest with
her right hard still clenched. 'If only
Early knowei,'' she murmured t. herself.
..sha-,I frnl like disow ming of me- But then
s,hr don't know what urful tempt alton
the thought o that cottage with the good
will an .ixters is. 'Tisn't as though Mrs
MiGgetts miss the money, seeing as she
amt a,y are omit. an must like never would
ave found it at all but for me. Seern:'
like l was meant to ave it, an might
make it up tc 'er some day.
So she TUNED and tossed and suffered
the tOrtures of a guilty conscience throuc.,
the long, oppressive hours OF an endless
night. until disqnieting dreams took the
place or disquietihg thoughts, aid the
greatest temptation she had ever Known
pursued her even in sleep.
''Haw You was carrying on last Dight,
mother renla rked Miss wicks as they sat
at breakfast, .'grunting an groanirg an
calling out bout somebody o. the name o
Eauiei, though who you could a-meant
can't think. And this morning yon look
duano 'ow, and no more appetite than
nothing
Then, with the Iaudable intention o4
cheering her parent up ny the adrnini stra-
ton If a flip In the shape of a piece of
news:.. what dye think card jest now