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


you Will meet her, Jane"
Miss Jane reflected a moment. well
l can manage it, she said, as if to
; herself
Soon after o'clock she made herself
ready for going out. BY this time there
was an impossible barrier between the
two sisters They could not face each
others glance.
Miss Jane took up her umbrella and
stepped sharply to the door. There she
stopped l have made enough bags for
all the lavender we are likely to
have. she said, and there seemed to
be whalebone ribs about her voice.
Miss Caroline. hidden behind the cur
tain, gazed after her. sobbing. She
wiped away her tears, and love and adj
miration mingled with the despair in
her eyes. She was proud of the
strength of that unbending figure. She
admired it again while she wondered
what Miss Jane had forgotten that she
turned at the corner and gazed so
earnestly at the cottage.
When Miss Caroline could no longer
persuade herself that Miss Jane was in
sight she turned slowly back into the
room. Jane is only 60,'' she murmur-
ed; her life is before her, and Will
Jams child might have been hers" A
pathetic resoluteness conquered her
fears. She moved quickly. though her
limbs tottered. She hurried upstairs
and put on her outdoor garments, ty-
ing her bonnet strings with uncertain
fingers But l must learn to do it
she said to herself" Il must learn to
do without Jane" Sternly checking
her emotion, she went downstairs.
Il have never before acted without
her" she whispered. But 1 cannot
She is so generous.
She would refuse"
She found sheet of notepaper and
wrote upon it: I'VE have only enough
for two, and the child is lame and
helpless. l have acted for the best
As she pinned the paper on the table
cloth, where it could not be missed
Joseph rubbed himself against her
gown. A moan escaped her. Not trust
ing herself to speak to him, she stag
sered from the house and down the
garden path.
From long use her eyes wandered to-
ward the lavender bushes Yes, it was
true; the blight was spreading
Il am doing right. 1 am quite sure
l am doing right" said Miss Caroline.
as the cate clicked behind her
Fer lips pressed together in a firm
ness equal to Miss James, and she trod
me weary road with her feet that did
not fail.
The master of the worlzhouse was en-
Z gaSed. If she had come for admission
she must sit in the waiting room till he
could see her.
Miss Caroline stumbled s.fter the por-
ter. seeing nothing of the long. darl,
corridor they went through. Dazed and
overcome. she had barely strength
enough To drop onto chair Just inside
, the dim room. To her excited magma
ton tnc space seemed TO be crowded
with witnesses of her humiliation. In
effect only one other person was there,
and she sat with downcast face and
took no notice of the newcomer. Miss
I Caroline was bowed with misery. and
docbt, and longing. and regret Sud
denly the silence was broken. Three
D strokes rang out from the workhouse
bell.
Miss Caroline started up. "Threel
three! she cried, shrilly. ooh, there
/ might have been enough for three.
] VIVA: Il ii is God speaking?"
She stood in the middle of the floor.
her head bent a little forward, listen
iElS for a voice again.
SISTER Sister,
The thin, strained cry came from the
other end Of the room, and shook Miss
Caroline. She fell into her chair
Jane? your" she faltered.
Yes. sister," said Miss Jane. her
mouth trembling, her voice strangely
/ broken. This is no place for you. You
ought not to be here. 1t is 1 who must
3 make room for Williams child"
Neither of us ought to be here, -
SOb6ed Miss Caroline. Jane you ought
not to have come. How could 1 live
without your
u couldn't live without YOU" said
Miss Jane. and they wept together.
By and by Miss Jane rose. Come
sister, the poor child will find the
house empty
But Miss Caroline hesitated.
the clock says enough for three -
Miss Jane answered firmly; I'VE must
go"
Yes, let us CO. said Miss Caroline.
all eaSeTress- Think of that poor child
/ in the empty house. If, indeed, she has
found her way-and no one at the sta
ton. either.
! save the busman minute directions
TO take her to you" said Miss Jane.
meehly accepting the reproach
At the gate the porter stopped them
The master will see you soon"
Thank you. We will not trouble
him. said Miss Jane with sweet Dig
nifty.
she supported Miss Caroline along
the read. and the silence was not bro
keG at once
When the cottage came in sight:
Sister You viii not do anything so
foolish again" said Miss Jane, sternly
Not unless you Go it first, Jane"
Miss Caroline answered.
y have always thought this a very
! beautiful road said Miss Jane. And
she spoke of the weather and the
scenery and the crippled child
She will have a poor weicome-not
even cup of tea" sighed Miss Jane
Joseph will welcome her." said Miss
1 Caroline cheerily. Dear me. how very
/ pleasant it is to think that there is
some one at home waiting for u.s."
1t is very pleasant. sister. 1t feels
4 quite like a home coming. All, the fire
is not out; can see the smoke ris-
ing"
They hurried on toward the gate. Be
fore Miss Carolne's eyes could turn
toward the bushes some one ran down
I the path to meet them. The girl came
so quickly they did not notice that she
1 limped as she ran. They had not time
even TO see her bright face. and the
merry light in her eyes before her arms
, were around them and her kisses on
| thir cheeks.
Dear aunties, you have come at last,
Come right in and have tea. 1t is all
ready was so hungry"
Miss Caroline turned TO Miss Jane,
/ who could only gasp out: Williams
/ lame childi"
Not so very lame." the girl cried.
! gayly. Anyway, I can run your err
frauds Cor you"
She laughed into their astonished
eyes.
and not a child!" exclaimed Miss
Caroline fumbling for her glasses.
Twenty past" said the girl, laugh
| ing again.