The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-09
The Enshnnement Of an Idol.
From Temple Bar. In Three Parts)
PART IL

| The lean hand of Poverty grasped the
| little household at the farm ever more
| tightly It was a hard imperative grip
| a greedy hand which seemed unable TO dis
| tinguish between Injuries and necessities,
which relaxed not when Miss Letftia patch
| ed and nended nor even showed pity when
Miss Elizabeth stole out over the dewy
grass, with a hasty glance ar the sur
rounding elds, the milking-stool and pail
| in her hands.
Did the milk taste salt that morning.
/ wonder?
But now, Poverty. pinch, grind away!
Miss Elizabeth cares not; for II her lady
ship will pay five pounds for one handker-
chief, what will she not give for collar
| and pair of cuffs, worked as only Mss
Elizabeth can work?
And then-the thought will scarce frame
itself for joy-she will take down her Idol
from its place on the wall. and the dingy,
! black leather shrine shall give place TO a
shining silver one, with thornless flowers
pressing round it, like the one in the vi
cars study which he dusts with his own
hands every morning.
AS she stands before her Shrine tonight,
| holding the candle above her head. that
its light may fall to the best advantage,
she laughs-the strange, cracking laugh of
a sorrowful age-for joy, and presses her
withered lips to The irresponsible glass
There are no tears in the milk next morn
ing. nay, instead 1t laughs against the
side Of the pail, and spills itself on tho
messy cCbble stones Of the yard in its prod
igal enjoyment, as Miss Elizabeth carries
1t to The dairy, piping song in her thin.
youthiess treble.
she even fiEgs two extra handfuls OF
corn 10 the strutting Plymouth ROCKS, in
the same spirit as the courner OF old VINO
dropped a jewel where he won MS lady
love, that one coming after might be hap
py in the place where he had been
Joy is al excellent lubricant to the
wheels of duty. Miss Elizabeth's work
is done betimes that day, and in the after
noon she walks to the Hall in her biach
silk mantilla with the bugle trimming, and
the ribbon on her bonnet that was cut from
the same roll in Mr.. Denyer's shop as my
lords mothers that she wore at the cattle
show, twenty years gone by.
Her ladyship is very kind. Can Miss
Peach show her any work she has done:
Yes; deep from the confines of beaded
ret:cule Miss Elizabeth brings forth ner
treasures new and old; pin-cushion cover,
two pairs OF lace sleeves and a collar.
All. very nice, indeed, beautifully fine,
but perhaps-er-a Ettle-they We're made
some time ago. weren't they? Could Miss
Peach copy collar and a pair of cuffs a
little newer in shape? Miss Peach has
never copied yet { a little stlffiy) but If
her ladyship would show her what she
would ike, Miss Elizabeth will endeavor
to please her.
Well. does Miss Peach know the shape
had known it six minutes exactly) Then
any pattern she thinks will be nice. and
of course she must charge what she likes.
And can Mss Peach finish them before the
end of June? Her ladyship goes abroad
then.
Away speeds Miss Elizabeth, her rib
hons flying ike fass of victory and her
bugles ringing joyous carlton of thanks
giving. She VIII send Mrs. Twigg Pot
of her red-currant jelly, and jamie Shall
have a raisen fritter for tea. And when the
lace is made-could unseifshness go fur
Their? Letitia shall take 1t TO the Hall, that
She too, may see the glor.es OF my lady S
chatelaire, and the portrait Of my lord In
a p;nafore tied with blue ribbons
Miss Elizabeth begins that very night.
working swiftly, deity. impatiently, with
the fever of genius in her veins.
Such a mystery of filmy squares and dia-
| mon.s held together by gossamer threads,
such labyrinth of arabesques and scrolls,
is growing under the lean old fingers!
Day by day the slender heece length
ems.
1t is wonderful what spare moments
Miss Elizabeth seems to have to give to
her work.
She used to be so busy always.
But there are many ways OF manufac-
turing time.
The blacksmith, riding in haste for the
doctor, declares he heard a boggaTt in the
Peach's farm-yard at three o'clock IN the
morning; and more than one neighbor
comes to inquire of there is sickness at the
farm, else. why should light burn in the
kitchen til the small hours?
Miss Elizabeth is serene in her replies
At this time of the year every one knows
there is much to be done.
At last, fortnight before the time prom
ised, the lace lies finished. wrapped in a
clean handkerchief, in Miss Letitis's mar
ket-basket She is standing in the happy
sunlight, tapping the gravel walk impa-
tientiy with her foot as Miss Elizabeth
lays her work in Its place.
you'll go to the Hall first, sister," she
queries aHhlOusE-
NO, I'll get my shopping done first, and
then walk to the Hall over the level-cross-
ing and Simpsons meadow, and back by
the road"
How long will It take you, think your"
"Oh, II town isn't very full. maybe I'll
be home by half-past four"
You'll be as quick as you cam
"Of course''-impa tiently; but you don't
want me TO brush past folks when they
speak TO me, / suppose with glance
al her Bingham fr:ls.
mo. no. says Miss Elizabeth. toler-
emily; "but don't daily. you understand.
I'll be worrying TIL see you back"
She stands in the porch, her hands shad-
ing her eyes. TIL Miss Letitia's ginghsm is
a pink speck in the sunht meadows; then
she puts up her hand and gathers a white
rose, putting It II her bosom.
How she wishes she could go too, II only
Jonathan had chosen another narket-day
To take the black cow TO be sold.
Never mind. she will sit in the kitchen
and do q bit of knitting. and try 10 pass
the time that way.