Arizona republican., 1899-04-08

| rolling wheel. There was no hurry
and on Sundays after mass l used to
90 to the convent. 1t seemed like q
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 recrea ton
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 ravished 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
seemed to feel anew the great infu-
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 I saw such exquisite finger
work" she said, slowly and with a
timid kind of hesitation; ''it 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
tent labor, held me awe-stricken. All
at once / 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 I 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, land all the while L
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 a religeuse
life, and little pride suggested that
some day 1 might take my place among
tue AAAA as lAO AEoG
Did you ever crafty your bent ?"
asked Hester, quick understanding
and suspense disturbing her hear and
mind.
swell, 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
piven to me. I did them all rapidly,
thinking a 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,
it. is only a test for the novice: 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 it's utter disclaimer
of any complaint. Would Hester still
think them a limp and souEess COM
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-
within
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
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 our part, |
md this is mine. The other was only |
ny plan"
The folding doors swung back be-
ween the sewing and adjacent rooms, !
md one of the order appeared in the ,
opening.
Come see our finished embroideries,
ister,'' invited the cold-faced nun. I
You, too, Miss Hester" noting the Wis .
tor.
Hester glanced quickly at Sister Eu-
,hemia. So she had known all the time /
Ter enchanted palace lay just beyond
he folding doors. Already Sister Eu-
,hemia's eyes were glowing over the
olar spectrum of tropical Ints and
that magnetized her ar
iStio sense. raco11eptiOn of the Wis
tor was blotted out in the rarer feast
before her. All the WEAKNESS bad left
Ter fine sweet face. Beautiful" trem-
lied blissfully on her lips. She did not
hink: IF I might do this!" Such
motion had long ago passed out as
90 exalted for her hopes; now it as
ost in the fair result of other hands.
Her eyes picked out unerringly the
hoicest specimens. You are a good
11f1oa of affaot - cai6 +ba