The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-08-27


be able to look myself in the face
again. And oh, I'll have to write and
tell mamma-my little lady mother!"
Cant you smooth It over somehow
with-with the enemy?"
IL shouldn't dare try again. I'll go
TO my room and think"
And while Kathie sat contritely
thinking, Miss Hutton was thinking
too, her heart stirred as 1t had not
been in years.
And | can't imagine what people
like you were born fort"
Something in that last hot speech
Of Kathies had caused her to take
from her worn trunk the old-fashioned
album that held small picture
marked Susie at flve."
She looked at It long, the little sun
ny, smiling face, the round. bright
eyes, the dimpled chin. Nobody won
dered what she was born for In those
days, she fancied, when Susie" was
five-or even 10 or Is. She remem-
bered the dear, grizzly old gentleman
who called her "Morning-glory," and
how the home name Sunshine" had
clung to her for years and years.
When had she lost Il? When had she
changed from the Sunshine" Of
younger days to the Selfish, snappish,
disagreeable woman" OF now?
Susie at FIVE" seemed to look Miss
Susan Hutton through and through
until every corner of her hardened
heart was a-quiver with remorse and
shame.
Il would never have expected to be
like this" she said. with a sudden
choke, shutting her eyes tightly upon
the slow tears that were filing them.
II used to imagine myself growing
into sweet patient old lady, given to
dainty gowns and caps and the plan
ming of surprises for the youngsters.
A soured, dyspeptic schoolmarm would
have been my last idea OF myself.
can see 1t now, though ii has all been
so gradual-how in my efforts to care
for my own health have lost all con-
sideration for the world outside. and
simply grown more and more self
absorbed, nervous and ugly tenn
pered."
Outside, the March gale ratified the
shutters and creaked the gate, but still
Miss Hutton sat thinking, thinking
That night at dinner she passed
Kathie the rolls and smiled as she said:
There's corner one, Miss Kathie.
brown and crusty. | know your pref
erence, you see," and Katherine was so
amazed that she almost dropped the
bread slate.
She has always taken the corner
rolls herself" said Anita, in comment
Ing upon the matter next day.
Anita Baxter, don't say world" said
Katherine, solemnly. TT makes me
want to talk in whispers. After all the
dreadful things l said to her! And do
you know she's at home taking care Of
johnnie Barnes this minute, while his
mother goes to church. And she was
cooling over him as II she'd taken care
OF babies all her life He must be a
forgiving little chap or he'd howl in her
face, remembering all the unflattering
remarks she's made about him."
The week long Miss Hutton. gentle
quiet. was. an object of mystified Won
der to her fellow boarders; and when
on Saturday night. she invited them all
TO her room, incredulity could stretch
no farther.
I'm scared Of my life," said Anita.
though there ought to be safety in
numbers"
Don't be funny" said Katherine
For my part, whenever l think of her
feel like going down on all fours."
But for all that she looked with
pleased eyes about Miss Hutton's COW
rooms that bore such a holiday air. II
was cool spring night, and the DANCING
fire In the little CRATE threw a ROSY light
upon the fresh white curtains. the littIe
open piano and the bowls of early cro-
cuses and jonquils that were scattered
ABOUT. Through the doorway one caught
glmpses OF dainty tea table appetiz-
ingly suggestive to hungry schoolgirls,
When everybody had arrived. even IN
bustling Mr.. Shepard and the dimn,ed
Barnes baby, Miss Hutton, her face
gone suddenly white. walked to the
fireplace, and turned to them with
something In her manner that husbed
all other voices in the room.
Miss Pasini is coming to sing for
us presently" she said, "and hope Won
Will enjoy it, but before she comes there
Is something | must say If you will
kindly hear me. A week ago sometime
happened which set me thinking
which made me realize what a miser.
able sort OF person-what a failure
l nave been. want to apologize all
round. | really want to be different.
want friends"
And there the voice. first so nervously
hurried. thenso faltering, broke off with
a choke, and 1t was impulsive Katbif
who took quick step to the older WON.
an and placed her warm arm around
her. I'VE understand you, Miss Hut.
ton, indeed we do. You're a real hero.
Inc, and we are glad IN no vour fr;o,a +,