The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-06-06


house out on the common, and then /
did plain sewing at the window all day
long for months, just as ] am doing
now. Some day in Gods own time
will be a nun kept measure with the
rolling wheel. There was no hurry,
and on Sundays AFTER mass / used to
go to the convent. IT seemed like a
great castle rising high above the side
walk, and within the nuns, like noble |
ladies, came so kindly down to me-"
Sister Euphemia turned toward the |
window once more. How tired she |
was then, and she had never grown |
rested; but what matter? 1t was in
Gods service, and what a recreation |
those few minutes of sweet atmosphere |
had been in her blank existence. She |
heard a droning of voices in the room
beyond, and memory came back of
rare embroideries that ravished her
eyes and moved to such passionate de-
sire as was never before known in her
arid life. Obi to evolve beneath her own
fingers such miracles of the needle. She
seemed to feel anew the great infiu-
ence working in her, flushing her veins
and injecting 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; sit seemed
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-stricken. All
at once l realized l 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 or 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 browning glory of religeuse
life, and little pride suggested that
some day might take my place among
the nuns as the first embroiderer."
Ibid you ever crafty your bent ?"
asked Hester, 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
given to me. did them all rapidly,
thinking little fancy sewing might
be apportioned me, but the cloaks
seemed to multiply" she said, with an
amused lighting of the face. Some
way l got on faster than anyone else.
Reverend Mother was pleased, but
little fright seized me lest this should
go on indefinitely. Then hope urged,
lit is only test for the novice: think
of the years to come when you will be
mistress of all those dazzling skeins;'
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 still
think them limp and soulless COM
munity? Was her illustration small
and weak to the gay-hved 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 a little de-
sire might assume within 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 for
i, herself Her impetuous nature would
: tear down and toss right and left all
the distractions in her way.
"They did not know" was the sim
pie answer; 1--WE are here to do GUS 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 noting the Wis
itor.
Hester glanced quickly at Sister Eu
phemia. So she had known all the time
her enchanted palace lay just beyond
the folding doors. Already Sister Eu
; phemia's eyes were glowing over thu
solar spectrum of tropical lnts ant
combinations that magnetized her ar
: tistic sense; recollection of the Wis
itor was blotted out in the rarer feas
before her. All the WEAKNESS had lief
; her fine sweet face. beautiful" trem
bled blissfully on her lips. She did mo-
: think: "If | might do this!" Suci