The Winslow mail., 1899-01-21

b
had been in her blank existence. She
hearo dTonlnG 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 infiu-
ence working in her, flushing her veins
| ard 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:
'.ThSre l 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-strichen. All
at once l realized | could do this-that
my artistic and theoretical equipment
were simply seconded by my skill in
fine stitching. l 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 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 crowning glory of q religeuse
life, and little pride suggested that
some day might take my place among
the nuns as the first embroiderer."
"Did you ever crafty your bent 2"
asked Hester, a quick understanding
and suspense disturbing her hear and
mind.
"Well, after we received the white
veil the noyices 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 | 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 test for the novice: think
of the years to come when you will be
mistress Of all those dazzling skeirs;'
but have been here ten years now and
10 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 a limp and soulless COM
munity? Was her illustration small
and weak to the gay-liyed birding of
the world?
But Hester was speeches. 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 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 oonstraint for
herself. Her impetuous nature would
tear down and toss right and left all
the obstructions in her way.
They did not know" was the SIM
pie answer; ''we are here to do our part,
1nd this is mine. The other was only
ny 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-faoed 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 the
solar spectrum of tropical 1nts and
combinations that magnetized her ar
tistic sense; recollection of the. Wis
itor was blotted out in the rarer feast
before her. All tie WEAKNESS bad left
her fine sweet face. "Beautiful," trem-
bled blissfully on her lips. She did not
think: eff | might do this!" Such
emotion had long ago passed out as
too exalted for her hopes; now it as
lost in the fair result of other hanGs.
Her eyes picked out unerringly the
choicest specimens. you are a good
Judge of effect" said the embroidery
mistress, observing her selection, but
the cloakmaker, with hands folded in
her habit sleeves, stood raptly, dumbly,
happily.
"Good-by, sister; I must CO." and
Hester, who had not ceased to watch
her, thus broke her reverie.
God is very good to let me see such
beauty" murmured the nun, abstract
edly. Good by'-recovering herself
"Ah! you see, we have our compensa-
tions." she said, softly, as she opened
the door for the unusually silent girl
\, 0. Times-Democrat.
Climate of the Philippines.
The first serious obstacle that viii be
encountered is that presented by the
climate The islands lie VII oily Wit hin
the tropics, and extend on the south to
within 41n degrees of the equator, The