The Van Buren press., 1898-12-10

Nu' oii lhe common, and then |
dld plain sewing at the window all dav
long for months, just as | am doing
now, Some day in Gods own time /
will be nun kept measure with the
rolling wheel. There was no hurry
and on Sundays afrer mass | used to
go TO the convent. 1t seemed like a
great castle rising high above the side
walk, and within the nuns, like nobEa
ladies', came so kindly down to me-"
Sister Euphemia turned toward tn.
window once more. How tired sk j.
was then, and she had never grown
rested; but what matter? IT was in
Gods service, and what recreation
those few minutes of sweet atmosphere
had been in her blank existence. She
heard a droning of voices in the room
beyond, and a memory came back of
rare embroideries that rayished her
eyes and moved to such passionate de-
sire as was never before known in her
arid life. Oh! to evolve beneath her own
fingers such miracles of the needle. She
enee working in her, flushing her veins
and injecting a great vigor into her
being, but suddenly control walled
back the forbidden flow as canal gates
close against the rush of hurrying wa
ter, and she went on in her usual cool,
quiet voice:
There | saw such exquisite finger
work." she said, slowly and with a
timid kind of hesitation; at seemed
a wonderful gift and privilege to paint
such pictures with the needle, to be
able to buy materials and work out
ones own beautiful designs. The great
value of those magnificent vestments.
representing months and months of pa
tient labor, held me awe-strcken. All
ut once | realized could do this-that
my artistic and theoretical equipment
were simply seconded by my skill in
fine stitching | was happy thinking to
what great purpose should live. The
nuns would not find me wholly use
less" Sister Euphemia seemed hurried
on in spite of herself. "My machine
ran on through many long seasons"
she continued, "and all the while ]
dreamed of bright silks and jewels and
cloth of gold for the church, fair out
line took form in Imagination, to be
laid aside in my mental storehouse for
future use The simple joy of handling
those rainbow tints for God seemed to
me the crowning glory of religeuse
life, and a little pride suggested that
some day might take my place among
the nuns as the first embroiderer."
"Did you ever crafty your bent?"
asked Hester, a quick understanding
and suspense disturbing her heart and
mind.
"Well, after we received the white
veil the novices were assigned certain
duties; and had no time for fancy work.
Then a great pile Of habits needed
mending and making over They were
piyen to me. ! did them all rapidly,
thinking a little fancy sewing might
be apportioned me, but the cloaks
seemed 10 multiply" she said, with an
amused lighting of the face. some
way | got on faster than anyone else
Reverend Mother was pleased, but
little fright seized me lest this should
90 on indefinitely. Then hope urged,
IT is only a test for the noyice; think
of the years to come when you Will be
mistress of all those dazzling skelns;
but have been here ten years now and
no colored thread has ever strung my
needle" She finished with smile that
seemed angelic in its utter disclaimer
of any complaint Would Hester suIl
think them limp and soulless COM
munity? Was her illustration small
and weak to the gay-lived birding OF
the world?
But Hester was speechless with her
different emotions. Under such con-
ditions how could the nun thin her
voice to utter colorlessness? and when
her listener was thrilling with resent
ment. Yes. they were terribly human
and what vast proportions little de-
sire might assume within a contract
ed circle,
"Why didn't they allow you con-
genial employment, at least occasion
ally?" asked the girl, Indignantly
She could not stand such constraint tor
herself. Her impetuous nature woula
tear down and toss right and left all
the obstructions in her way
"They did not know" was the sim
nIa answer. eve are here to do our part,
and this is mine. The other was only
my plan" -
The folding doors swung back be-
tween the sewing and adjacent rooms
and one of the order appeared In the
opening
"Come see our finished embroideries'
sister" invited the cold-faced nun
"You. too, Miss Hester" J." noting the Wis
itor.
Hester glanced quickly at Sister Eu-
nbemia. So she had known all the 'lile
her enchanted palace lay just oey Onu
.ho folding doors. Already Sister Eu-
nbemia's ewes were glowing over the
lolor sneetrum of tropical tints ana
combinations that magnetized her ar
tistic sense; recollection OF the VS.
i+or was blotted out in the rarer 1east
before her. All the WEAKNESS had iei'
~ ero sweet face. Beautiful trem-
Mod blissfully on her lips. She dld not
think; "If might do this! aucn
emotion had long ago passed OUT as as
zoo exolted for her hopes; now II was
lost in the fair result of other hanus,
Her eyes picked out unerringly the the
oLoicost specimens. "You are goou
tJ tnSne Of effect" said the embroidery
| Juuee u ,-...,-;r,, her selection, but