The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-05

We still call her a girl. though her
years are forty-odd and she has been
sewing for US for twenty In this way
she has become associated with every
important event in our family history,
as well in our everyday life She never
made cur very best dresses. Those were
given out, SO had 10 he treated with spe-
cial reverence, and We never really enjoy
ed the use of them until they had been
made over by Miss Wragg's simple I'm
gers. She loved to use up old mater ais
or 20 make down my sisters discarded
garments for me, mine for the next in
order. Everything might be at skies and
sevens, peace descended when Miss
Nragg arrived We had just to sit down
and quietly sew with her during the pre-
clous week or two she had saved for Us
and let outside worries so their way. II
the cook had been on the verge OF leat-
ing, We knew it was Miss Wragg who
had talked her around when she had &C.
casion to go into the kitchen 10 co d bit
or ironing, telling her how hard good
places were TO obtain ard how there
was something to object to in every one
of them. II our father lost his absent
minded look at meals ana actually seem
ed to have forgotten. his business rrou-
bles for half an hour, We knew it was
because he was interested IN Miss
Wrsagg's local gossip, though he would
not have owned it for the world Indeed.
We all looked forward to her coming
for that very reason. Living out of the
way as we did she gave US news OF the
whole countryside that could not other
wise have reached US. She knew every
body's affai-s-how could she help it?
Sitting together day after day in the close
intimacy endangered by a common desire
to make the clothing betting II a two
thousand-a-year income look took a ten
thousand one. We ourselves told her far
more CT our private affairs than we did
to either doctor or minister, and what
we did tell her she saw for herself Yet
We knew that We were entirely safe in
her hands. judging by what she told US
OF rather by what she did not tell US Of
what went on in other houses. We never
heard her say an m-aatured word of
anybody. which was the more surprising
as We learned for fact that many of her
customers would pay her the very last on
their list of creditors The fashionable
dressnaker could not be put off as Miss
OF some scanqaIous rumor she would ex-
plain il away with the essence .of Chris
tian charity. and when once We were sure
that a damaging tale must Be true and
she could not disprove it, she quoted
Burns at US:
''who made the heart. It's He alone
Decidedly can try Us.
He knows each chord-its various tone,
Each spriEg-its various hias;
Then at the balance let 5 be mute,
We never can adjust it:
Whats done we partly may compute
but know not what resisted"
II was when she was sitting at my
elder sisters trousseau that the subject
turfled naturally upon weddings, and I
gently insinuated that supposed every
woman had a chance to marry some time
or other.
f''Yes,' replied Miss Wragg, ard as her
rhouth was full Of pins 1 excused her
from further speech at the time. but plr-
sued the subject when We were alone in
n willy way that / knew would fetch her.
I'm awfuIly afraid m going 10 be an
old maid. Miss Wragg
You might 10 worse"
You are not sorry you have never
married p"
Not bit The mar was engaged to
turned out far too good for me
"Oh, do tell me. Miss Wragg. I am just
dying of culi9sity.
You viii never breathe a word OF t?''
Never where it viii be known who
you are"
Then I feel ike telling you. 1t IS many
q long year since spoke Of il to a soul
but my experience may help you to bear
your own let better. whatever it may
turn out TO be was engaged to George
when 1 was seventeen ana he was TWEEN
ty-one He was q blacksmith by ira e
and / was a dressmaker's apprentice. 80
that. if anything. my position was better
than his and he was always proud CT my
dainty ladylike hands
They are very pretty yet"
My work has not becn the kind to
roughen them. [ had much admiration
for his brawnv muscles. Yes: George
was ne young man. ne-looking. too,
with a big. sonorous voice that He'd the
chapel when he spoke in meeting
He was a lay preacher.
Not at rst. butu lie had n natural
gift for speaking. and a rich man who
heard him by chance at camrTaeetiag
offered to send him 20 college.
. I feanrot go, Katy. he said TO me. I
have no money
:. EBut your schooling is TO be paid
" THAT IS only part of it, There's
mother and Bessie Who Il work Ter
them when I'm gomez
4 I Will I meant il and kent my
WORD. though at rsS George was loath
to- receive anything from me.
.whsteyer is wours IS mine ! told
him. and whatever Is mine j. yours.
9TH be proud to be your vie OF
! scholar and all the proUder II ] have help
ed ever 50 little t. make him one
He yielded at last. saving he would
pay all back TO me once he was through
college
And did he?~
THAT Is neither here nor There ne
certainly offered TO do So but l worl3
not take the money"
That was when he had graduated %
'.Sonstine Afterwards; re was too poor
Just at FIRST"
''Ycu would meet in the long vacauone"
No: mot after the first one. He came
home that summer and worked OF 4
farm near by. Those were happy days
Miss Wragg's eyes dimmed beAiad her
glasses. and for a wonder rshe was sag
Ing ouk Of the window instead Of at T
work
The next year he got chance to 80