The San Francisco call., 1899-05-28


something from her and quietly in
CURED what it was, but the girls only
smiled In response. Jessie, rising from
her seat, said, please, girls, tell me
what 1t is" and going to the writing
desk where Ethel had put the stories,
She opened the lid and took up
the manuscript written by Ethel,
of Roses" and with AN ex-
clamation of delight said, "Oh L
know what you girls have been doing;
writing stories for the paper" and she
began to read it aloud, but Ethel quick
~ snatched it, saying, II shouldn't
thlhk you would do that, Jessie. We
were going to surprise you. Look! you
are tearing it. Please be careful" but
Jessie had fast hold of one end. Il
don't think you should hide things
from me when L come,' she said.
Anger sparkled in Roses dark eyes as
she beheld the once neat paper
Wrinkled and torn, and starting up she
stammered out, you mean thing
Ethel had released her hold and was
looking hopelessly upon her story, and
in a moment of anger Jessie tore the
manuscript into little pieces. Rose
sprang toward her to save it, but it
was too late, for there it lay upon the
carpet, all wrinkled and torn. Before
either girl could realize what had hap
pened Jessie was walking from the
room, her curls bobbing more than
ever, saying as she went, IF I'm not
wanted here, good-by then" and with
stiff bow she left the two girls to
look wistfully after her as she went
down the stairs and up the hill without
looking behind once, while Ethel said:
Now she l. mad. What shall we do?''
Then she got up, went to the piano
and ran her fingers lightly over the
keys to smooth down ses ruff1ed
feelings, but when she realized that the
story she had worked so hard over was
torn and that her other copy had been
destroyed she burst into sobs. IF 1
were you l wouldn't care about her,
but when you see her again tell her
she needn't come down here any more
if she is going to act that way" said
Rose, with an angry toss of her head.
Ethel did not answer, but putting on
her hat said: II am going to tell Jessie
to come back again and not be angry"
Going to tell her to come back
again. repeated Rose. We'll, never
saw such girl as you are; always for
giving somebody But Ethel was
down at the gate by that time. 1t had
started showing and Jessie was far out
of sight. She ran back into the house,
wrote a note to Jessie, saying she hoped
she was not angry and she was sorry
if she had treated her impolitely. Then
putting on her cloak she went out again
into the snow. Rose had gone home to
wait for Ethel to return.
Jessies home was about two miles
from Ethels home. Ethel kept walk
ing on and on, though the snow was
falling faster anu faster and it
kept growing colder and colder.
She reached Jessie's home at last,
put the note under the door, rang the
bell and started on her course home
ward. A great wind had come up and
snow was blowing in all directions, the
storm was still increasing and Ethel
was getting stiff and cold, but she still
ran on till fairly exhausted she sat to
rest upon the snow.
A long time did Rose wait for Ethel
to return. but no Ethel did return, un-
til at last Ethel'S mother grew anxious
and sent Ethels elder brother for her.
They found her lying stiff and cold in
the snow. She was brought home and
put to bed and she tossed all night upon
the bed, but while she lay awake she
felt her reward of forgiveness was the
peace at heart. Two other girls lay
awake that night, one repenting for
her unkind act and wondering how the
other could he so kind. the other wish
ing she had been as kind as her friend.
The next day after school Rose went
over to see Ethel, but they did not sit
in the library as usual, for Ethel lay
propped up in pillows and Rose was
reading to her, when Mary, the hired
girl said that a friend wished to see
her Bring her in here, Mary, said
Ethel, then turning to Rose said, L
wonder who it is?" Just then the visi-
tor was ushered into the room, and who
could it be but the owner of the bob
bing curls. bobbing as usual, but very
meekly now, and she held a bunch Of
flowers for Ethel. Ethel held out her
hands toward her and Jessie went
quickly to the bedside, saying, You're
the dearest girl ! ever knew. How
could YOU be so kind and I so unldnd?"
Then turning to Rose she said, I hope
YOU are not angry?" Mot at all. said
Rose II know 1 should not have spoken
so cross and I'm glad we are all friends
again" Jessie again turned to Ethel
and said, How could you be so kind?"
Ethel smiled from the depths of the
pillows "It was mamma. She told
Yesterday morning always to return
good for evil, and it just fitted in at
the right time" Jessie turned to the
window to hide a tear that was glisten-
ing in her eye as she murmured, Il
wish I had a mother
That afternoon as Jessie went away
the girls watched her from the window
both feeling as they had never felt be-
fore what a warm heart beat beneath
the blue cloak, and three iris learned
that day that "a soft answer turneth
away wrath.
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