The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-05
ThePhilanthropist

anxiously.
"or ought TO be-" she added with q
sigh.
frightened.
That's quite different" ! said.
I'm a miserable sinner. and Dora Fen
tons worse than | am"
'Incrediblel" I exclaimed. Emily look
ed at me sharply. SO. to prevent re-
grettable misunderstanding, l added:
"The whole thing, / mean, OF course"
My sister sighed again and poked tho
| fire.
| Girls will he glrs. che said.
| agreed with her.
II went 20 church yesterday evening
with Dora. and Mr.. Fraser preached, and
made us feel awfully wicked. lie said We
were a disgrace to civilization"
what! You and Miss Fenton?'
"oh. all those people who don't do any
work. but just Idle their time away. We
were very solemn as we walked home.
But, Johnny, what 90 girls do2'
Great heavens. Strange things"
I'm talking seriously"
"They don't often DO that" z
81 mean good girls"
II never knew any said I, sorrow
fully shaking my head.
II din't thiQt you could help US" re-
piled Emily, sSrnfully Were going TO
call upon Mr. Fraser this afternoon"
! became a little alarmed.
People-horrid people--may talk" said
81 don't care. Besides. Dora and have
put our heads together and made up a
tale"
Two heads should certainly be equal
10 tale" | remarked
1--WE don't want II 10 be too sudden. so
we're going TO say that we-we-did a
little good in London"
'When?' I cried IN amazement.
II used TO visit old Mrs. Well1in in
techapel-sometimes." replied Emily
And we're only going TO give general
impression, you know; we sha'nt state
any facts"
1 have always considered Lady Emily
TO be a great loss 10 the political world
It's for a good purpose" she contin-
ued.
Il disapprove of the whole business" 1
said.
You don't want me TO be good?"
j shook my head mournfully. "The
thing is impossible" i said
II m going to try. however" replied
Emily Dora and l have made UP our
minds 10 visit all the poor people in the
village. Dora says she will wear last
years jacket-but ! don't think that's
quite necessary. l shall dress very quietly
In black. and carry a basket"
You'll catch fever. l expect"
Rubbish said Emily.
1 leaned forward and looked steadily at
my sister.
Mind you don't catch the curate," 1
said.
Emily made no reply. Surely the fire.
light was playing tricks. She could not
have smiled
You chase mans heart like a boy
does butterfly. only 10 run pin
through IL when II Is I'm your net" re-
marked.
sun no sound came from the other side
OF the fireplace.
Sometimes too. you prick your own
fingers" ] added. and then paused to let
my little sermon sink in. Fer a few-see--
onds the silence was unbroken except by
the pattering OF the rain on the window.
Then Emily said in triumphant tone:
shall take them eggs. They're so
nourishing"
Then she looked up innocently into my
face and asked.
What were you saying about butter
flies. johnny"
Angry at my want OF success. I rose 10
klssed me.
"of course, it's all right. johnny" she
said. I'm going To be a good girl now"
with which assurance 1 was forced 10
be content.
Nearly every morning after that fatal
sermon Emily and Miss Fenton i'm black
dresses. with baskets attached. minister
ed to the deserving poor in the village.
These accepted the situation, and the eggs.
with that cold indifference and want OF
gratitude so typical OF the deserving poor.
SUI. the philanthropists persevered. and.
or course, were much in the society OF
the Rev. Wilfred Fraser. That the crash
would come / had no doubt. So / waited
and watched
About three weeks after the philan-
throplsts had begun their noble work
the curate was called away To a neigh
boring parish. He left on the Monday
morning, and would not return for a fort
night. ON the Following Saturday morn
ing Emily informed me that she was to
conduct the Sunday school In HIS absence.
ana that she was preparing "A lesson
which would transform the village chill
dren into angels with the utmost dis
patch tshe rejected my offers of assist
ance with ScornD
In the afternoon Emily Miss Fcnton
and | We're sitting round the fire discuss
Ing the best way OF teaching the young
idea TO shoot. and to shoot straight
when to our surprise. the Rev Wilfred
was announced
rms surprise was not diminished by
his behavior when he appeared Totally
ignoring Miss Fsnt0n and myself. he
walked straight to Emily and held her
hand much longer than was necessary.
Then he said to her, in a low. fervent
tone
Thank you. ihsnk YOU. From my
heart thank you"
After which extraordinary speech he
shC"k hands Win US and seated himself
as c'ose TO Emily as possible
There wns silence for moment. Emily
looked q the hre; The Rev Wnfred look
cd az Emily; Miss Fonton and looked ~
each Other
"Oh. Mr. Frazer. I'm 20 glad you've
come back burst IN Miss Fonton. fust
when the silence grew Oppressive we
wanted your advice sadly about the
mothe~s' working meeting next Monday
Thel 3il want 20 make antl-macassars.
Put anti-macessars faied TO rouse en-
thusissn in The breast OF the curate. lie
drswled ont.
us hat sol But ] am very glad TO
LfrUf fff.HF I a