The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-01-10

house out on the common. and then
did plain sewing at the window al! day.
long for months. just as am doing
now. Some day in Gods cwE tine
will be nun kept measure witE 'h@
rolling wheel. There was Nc hurry.
and on Sundays af,er mass / used 10
90 to the convent. It seemed Ike
great castle rising high above The Sice-
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? II was IL
Gods service, and what a recreation
those few minutes of SWEEP atmosphere
had been in her blank existence. SIZE
heard a droning OF voices IN the room
beyond, and a memory came oacK OF
rare embroideries that rarisheo her
ewes and moved to such passionate oe-
sire as was never before known IN her
arid life. Oh! to evolve beneath her OWL
fingers such miracles of the needle. She
seemed to feel anew the great inf1u-
ence working in her flushing her VEINS
and injecting a great vigor into her
being, but suddenly conro! walled
back the forbidden flow as canal gates
close against the rush Of hurrying wa
ter, and she went OF in her usual cool.
quiet voice:
There saw such exquisite finger
work" she said. slowly and with
timid kind Of hesitation; lit seemed
a wonderful gift and privilege to paint
such pictures with the needle, TO De
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 could do this-that
nv 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, 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 Tor
future use. The simple Joy OF handing
those rainbow tints for God seemed 10
me the crowning 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, a quick understanding
and suspense disturbing her hear; and
mind.
"Well, after we received the white
veil the novices were assigned certain
duties; and had no time for fancy work.
| Then great pile OF habits needed
mending and making over. They were
given to me. I 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 q
| little fright seized me lest this should
90 on indefinitely. Then hope urged,
it is only test for the novice: think
of the wears to come when you vii! 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 anv 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
| herself. Her impetuous nature would
! tear down and toss right and left all
| the Instructions in her way.
They did not know was the SIM
| pie answer; 1--WE are here to do our part,
and this is mire. 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 the
solar spectrum Of tropical Ints and
combinations that magnetized her ar
tlstic 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: IL I might do this!" Such
emotion had long ago passed out as
too exalted for her hopes; nowi; as
lost in the fair result of other hanue.
Her eyes picked out unerringly the
choicest specimens. You are 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; must co. and
| Hester, who had not ceased to watch
her, thus broke her reverie.
% 1n& c1,nf