The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-31

turned slowly to the signature 1T is
from William" she said, quietly.
Prom Wiiiiam," echoed tiis= Caro-
line, and we thought him deadr' She
wondered how Miss Jane could speak
so calmly with letter from her old
lover in her hand.
He is dead" said Miss Jane, but
reeently-there is a postscript.
And left you a fortunei' Quavered
Miss Caroline. joyfully.
Jane
But when she had read it aloud the
sisters stared at each other with
stricken faces from which the life had
died.
His lame child-to love and pro-
tect." said Miss Jane very firmly. and
looked at Miss Caroline with defiant
eyes. "a lame child-tO support" fall
tered Miss Caroline. She did not
realize quite all that this meant. Her
mind CROPPED blindly about the thought.
I'VE have barely enough for two-and
lame childi" she repeated.
1T is she who writes the postscript"
said Miss Jane; she comes tomorrow
at g."
And if Joseph were not good
mouser he would often go without
meat" Miss Caroline continued her
reflections, land with barely enough,
Jane, Jane, we expected fortune, and
it is burdenr' Miss Jane remained
silent.
THE Lord gave and the Lord hath
taken away" sobbed Miss Caroline.
It's not the money, but the poor crea-
lures in the workhouse. And this year
we shall not have even scent bags to
give"
1T is a comfort that Williams child
OF Il !
her face worked.
ble,''
Before Miss Caroline's eye came the
picture Of lame Susan. who sat all day
in the hard workhouse chair and her
tears rushed forth"
That viii never, never bel" she
cried. Where there's enough for two
there's enough for three
there's certainly enough for three re-
peated Miss Jane firmly. And silence
fell
After while Miss Jane rose. Il will
go into the village to get muslin for
the bags" she said composedly.
Miss Caroline lifted her white face;
We must wait, Jane; the lavender is
blighted. There will be very little to
gather"
Her voice failed then courage re-
turned. But that is no reason why I
should not gather what there is she
added, with tremulous cheerfulness.
When Miss Jane, shawled and bon
neted, hurried down the path, Miss
Caroline was too busy over the Law
ender bushes to bid her hasten back.
The poor lady was still stunned by
the disappointment. Her thoughts
trembled like her limbs: they tottered
about the subject. Life had been diff
ficult enough before. How could she
hope to meet the additional expense of
the crippled child? And William had
not treated Jane well in the old days
She looked despairingly at the stunted
lavender springs. They made the flu
ture more hopeless.
AS the summer day drew to its close
Miss James sternness did not relax,
but Miss Caroline's head shook with
palsy of uncertainty. The hours aged
her. She crept about the parlor touch
ing the furniture lingeringly, and when
she carried the loaf TO the larder Miss
Jane could hear her muttering:
Enough for two. three-enough for
three, enough for two
Her manner was odd and broken. She
even omitted to give. Joseph the usual
last caress. With the unspoken thing
between them the sisters went sadly
to bed.
Now, sister, it is daybreak: we must
be rising" Miss Jane turned on her
pillow when she said the words. Then
she raised herself and started blankly
at Miss Caroline's empty place. She
could not believe that her sister had
risen without waiting for the signal to
rise.