The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-01
Miss Faith's Adv ce.

a whole seemed vastly out of proper
ton to the cause. Miss Faith was still
pretty, with the pathetic beauty held as
fiotsam from the wreck of years Her
hair was prettier as silver than II mao
ever been as brown, and her eyes, though
they had lost their vivid glow and eager
ness, had gained a kindly sympathy. Her
tenderness had even extended to the
crocheting in her hand and impaired
something to that usually very impersonaI
object that her fancy had fretted into
thinking a response.
A change in the crochet pattern was
the chief diversion of Faiths life, that
ran on as monotonously to the observer
as the tune of the famous harper who
played upon only one string. To an ant
the coming of a stick or a stone may be
a great event. 1t is not hard TO under
stand how a life that consists in taking
infinite pains with many little things
may get its sips of excitement, interest
and novelty from a change in pattern
of crochet. The examination of the Work
appeared to be satisfactory, and Faith
laid it on the table at her side. This Ia
BILE was devoted TO the uses of her art,
nor was ever profaned by the presence
of any irrevelant substance. There were
rows of spools upon it, drawn up in lines
like soldiers ready to receive an attack,
hooks of various sizes lying like weapons
by their side, and various rolls of lace,
the finished product of their warfare
Faith regarded them with approval, but
her hand that had lain upon the table
fell away from the accustomed task, and
she sat idle, watching the red coal, the
shadows the lamplight threw upon the
carpet, and listening to the clatter that
Mary. her maid of all work was making
as a part of the DISTINGUISHING.
ITS d kind of jugglery she goes
through with those dishes thought
Faith regretfully, "a sleight-of-hand per-
Torrance, TO see how many tricks she
can do before one Of them will break.
She wondered, as she sat staring DULY
at the blaze, how the crocheting had come
to mean so much to her and could not
think for the instant, then half remem-
bered, saddened little, lost the thread
of memory again, recovered it, and fell
to musing. her elbow resting on the ia
bic, her cheek in her palm. She could
hardly believe now that a certain few
years of her life had ever really happen
ed. They must have belonged to some
other and wandered wiIlfully into her
own, for there was no home for them
in hers or likeness unto anything they
brought. Was it so? They had gone so
utterly, so completely, and she was happy
now in her own harmless way, far in
land, out of all reach of storm and reef.
She was still looking vaguely, half visit
fully, at the fire when her door-bell rang
and some one had entered the room and
was hurrying to her side.
Aunt Faith" said a girlish, tremulous
voice, 1--WE come TO ask you to help me.
Mother said you had suffered like this
once and you had learned to forget. and
thought perhaps you could show me the
way"
Faith looked down upon the slight fig
ure crouched there, sobbing, and laid her
hand gently upon the brown head, but
she did not understand about the suffer-
ing.
''What is it, Grace?" she asked.
40, it's PHILIP she cried. He doesn't
care for me any more. He's taking Jen-
ME Thompson now, and l can't bear it.
Mother said other women had to bear
such things but she'd always been hap
by, and I could come to you. You could
help me-" she said, looking up appealing
ly. You could teach me to forget"
Yes" said Faith, slowly.
Then it came back to her, all her own
little story; and dim, broken memory
of the first heartache and her own longing
to forget.
Poor little girl" whispered Faith,
stroking the beautiful mass of golden
hair. How was it 1 learned TO forget?
Let me think. Yes, I remember now.
Wait a minute dear. will show you"
Faith slipped out of the room and soon
returned, bringing three rolls of very
broad crocheted lace.
Can you crochet, Grace?"
Not very much" said Grace, wonder
ingIy.
''Well I will teach you. This is the
very way I learned to forget. The needle
slips in and out, and the sunlight and
freight shine on it, and the lace grows
and is so pretty, and it brings comfort.
When 1 began. 1 couldn't see the needle
%. how long ago that is!-for the tears.
That was when 1 knew he would never
come again. and I had my wedding dress
all ready-it's grown yellow in a chest in
the garnet. But after awhile the lace
took UP my trouble drop by drop till it
was gone, and 1 couldn't tell you today
where it is. So I'll teach you, dear.
These are the three rolls did in the three
years, one for each. They are yellow
now, you see"
Faith opened one and spread it out. It
was an intricate pattern, very broad.
It's hard TO do she said, but that's
all the better for the forgetting. If I'd
been a man, I should have gone away to
Africa I've often thought it would do
a good deal toward making a body forget
TO see the sun falling down like a hall
and the dark come as If somebody had
blown out the light. But I couldn't very
we'll so I learned to crochet. l never
gave the lace away, you see, because L
had worked my trouble into it, and
was afraid. I thought a long time about
it when Alice was married, but 1 was
afraid il would some way make her sad
when she wore it. So it's all here. This
is the first year's-you see I've numbered
it one-and this is the seconds. and this
is the thirds. There's the thre'
Faith handled the rolls over and over,
lost for minute in the associations which
they revived. Her niece seemed to have
forgotten her own grief for the time and
was observing her aunt curiously as she
bent over the lace.
That's a fern pattern" said Faith.
IT'S very pretty.
Faith sat silent for time. smoothing
out the creases of the lace and drawing
it out to it's length. II seemed TO have
the effect of an enchanter's wand. for il
summoned old faces and scenes at will,
and Faith grew blind to the little room
and the needs of her guest. At last Grace
moved impatiently.
Yes. yes" said Faith. Ike one awak-
ening. "to forget This IS the way. Here
is the old pattern. 1 win teach YOU
She hustled about finding thread and
needle. seated herself at Gracs's side.
drew the thread through her fingers, and
began her work.
There" she said, after minute. DO
you see how its done? II isn't hard Try
it
Grace took the needle helplessly. do
You think I could forget SO. auut?" she
asked. hesitatingly-
.liH - sid Eafrh