The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-21

THE N
heard We speak her name, ma am; it's
not the gay little felly with the light
curls that's dead?'
ing to her eyes. s.S
The man took off his hat and stood
bareheaued in the snow. his lips moving,
though Helen heard no sound.
'He was one Of the Lords own, he
said after a minute in husky voice.
Sure He knows best. Not day that
little felly passed us a-workin' on the
road but he had word. for each man!
Sure he was known all over this town.
Twas no more than a couple Of weeks
ago that he brought home Mike O'Brien's
little gell that was sitting in a puddle in
Dean street Ma'am, my hearts sore for
the boys mother, and she a WILDLY. Would
ye just tell her that me and me mates
would turn our hands to any work for her
for the boys sake?"
IF you will come up to Lawndale this
afternoon Mr.. Armstrong will see about
some employment for you.' said Helen
hurriedly. do you know the place? The
big stone house with the pillars? And
will tell Mrs. Rhodes. Drive on, Ben
SON."
The richly appointed, quiet mansion
that she entered was a change, indeed,
from the meager little house, sickness
crowded, where she had been watching
for two days and nights, or from the
homely- room she had just left In the
seemed almost an alien thing. Not in
years had she felt SO alive, so warm at
the heart with other peoples loves and
sorrows brought close to 1t.
She was glad when her maid asked
her timidly some question about little
Silvy, and answered her with a cordiality
that surprised herself, although she was
always kind. taking note Of a cold the
girl had, and giving her some simple rem
edy for it. What Is 1t, Margaret?" she
asked, seeing that the girl fingered as if
she wished to speak.
Margaret hesitated.. % MRS, Armstrong.
we do all be feelin' for the sweet child
that's gone. May the saints comfort
his mother! And was thinking, ma'am,
tomorrow is my day out, and If it's not
making too bold I could take my clean
cap and apron with me and stay at the
house to open the door for the people
If you think I might maybe. know she's
lady born, and 'twould be no more than
she was used to have things dacent."
you are a good girl, Margaret" said
Helen. more moved than she cared to say.
''Yes, indeed, you shall go.''
Kathleen came in later. Her cheeks
were scarlet from the cold wind, her dark
hair was tangled and blown, there was
a rushing vigor in her movements as OF
exuberant young health and bounding i'm
pulse. She kissed her quiet sister, in
law impetuously and threw her cap and
furs from her before she seated herself
by the blazing wood fire. Helen looked
at her from a.. new standpoint-she was
trying to fancy that glowing, tumultuous
young beauty by the side Of James San.
dersheld's rugged strength; trying tc
| fancy his steady eyes gazing into those
flashing ones. The feeling Of repugnance
might be lessened, but it was still there
Why, Kathleen had patrician written II
every line Of her face in every curve o.
her body, in her least gesture.
| "I've just come from the Country club,
said the girl. r..s
"What on earth could you do this morn
ing? Play golf in the snow?'
"Oh, we tried to, but it didn't amour
to anything. A lot of us got around th'
fire In the hall and talked But, sister
night? Have you been home long?''
II did sit up all night" said Helen
but am not tired, and I have bee,
home for some tinne.'' -s..@a a
And she-poor Mrs. Rhodes?"
/ Il left her very quiet, dear" .~
"There!" said Kathleen, stormily, Nv,
could talk Of nothing else this morning
her. OF course they don't all know Mrs
Rhodes, but every one had seen him, a
| any rate. It seems so dreadful for he
to lose all she had in the world! Sh
isn't very young, is she?"
i "About my age, dear"
''Well, that's not old, Of course. bu
still!-What, can't make -out, sister, i
why she should be afflicted this way
Mrs. Harper has known her, lik
you, ever since she was a little girl, an,
! she has had so many troubles; all he
: people died soon after she was married
} and her husband was not-nice, and h
: lost all her money before he died, and sh
patient and uncomplaining. Why shoul
) she have this terrible, terrible blow fal
} upon her? It seems wrong-wrong!
don't understand it."
I'm afraid I don't either,'' said Helen
very low. She put her hand on her hear
for minute and looked up, smiling a lit
tie wistfully. Her own trouble was so oil,
that people had forgotten it.
1--WE nearly all got crying" pursue
Kathleen. ELL the girls, I mean. Harve
Spencer tried to make us laugh; he toll
jokes-horrid ones. 0, how silly he was
I hate society men. But it seemed as
we couldn't get off the subject. Every
BODY wants to Go something Tor Mrs
Rhodes. What I was going to tell 70
was that Mary Barbour said she believe
that sweet little Silvy was taken becaus
his mother made an idol of him; that yo
shouldn't love anybody so much-that
) was wrong. .I.edon't believe it, sister;
: don't believe 1t; you can't love anybod
too much! 0, you may look at me!
I think of a great, great many things
never tell. You and my brother Orri
think me silly and romantic; but I al
' wiser than you. It's because you've for
) gotten. Why, there's nothing but Low
T that makes life worth living!" said youn
t Kathleen, her voice thrilling through tn
room. II shall never try to love onl
= a little, no matter what happens, but 6
: much, as much, as much, always, as Go
will let me, If die for it myself!'
= She went over to Helen and flung he1
T self down on the floor beside her and lai
her head in Helen's lap.
"He will let you," said Helen with a
unsteady voice. Something in her tor
made the girl raise her head suddenly
= their eyes met in a long look, and a dee
rose overspread Kathleen's face befol
: she hid 1t again. To the elder woman ha
I come quite unbidden picture of ma
carrying tenderly in his strong arms tt
t white, still body Of little dead chill
4 After all, he did not seem quite unworthy
i If Orrtn thought
. He made a grimace when she told hi
: in the brief half hour they had togeth
: before she left the house. -ss