Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-01
AN ANGEL
UNAWARES
By KATE N. CkEARY
Copyright, 1905, by Kate NJ. Cleary

N+@A@ANA
that Nan stood with knife suspended
over the pan of apples she was pairing.
thinking her imagination might have
played her a trick. 1t came again-low,
sntreatlng.
The girl crossed TO the door and
opened It,
Good land"' she cried. Come In.
You poor little soul. whoever you are
come i'm And out Of the binding rain
she caught the little black, shrinking
figure and whirled it into the warmth
and spicy scent of the big kitchen.
She stood and looked at her unexpect-
Ell visitor, her gaze a curious blending
of amazement and compassion. Such Il
rrall, old figure Of a woman. The plain
black cashmere gown, the thin shawl.
the close little bonnet, all were dripping
rain, from the stiff jet spirals orna-
menting the bonnet to the hem of the
poor skirt And the face that looked
up at Nan, dumb and beseeching, was
childishly pathetic in It's wistfulness.
The woman held a worn bag clutched
IN one hand.
l." faltered the stranger deprecat-
ngly-"I got caught in the rain"'
Nan threw back her head and
laughed-a girlish laugh, crisp and in
fectious, and the shriveled countenance
OF the intruder relaxed into a smile.
Pardon me-" cried Nan, controlling
herself; only it was so evident you
had not been under shelter the last
hour that l couldn't help laughing.
Here, sit down In this rocker near the
stove" She deftly unplnned the soak
Ing shawl and removed the pulpy bon
net Dear, dear" she exclaimed,
you've no rubbers on. And your feet
are dripping. You're just q bundle Of
wetness Whatever will | do with
your
She spoke with the air Of solicitude
she might have used toward a child.
Nan was only seventeen, but she had
many burdens on her shoulders, and
she bore them with courage. A year
ago, when she had graduated from the
high school, the hope that she might
80 10 college was strong within her.
But her aunt and cousin had condemn
ed her desire and derided her ambi-
ton. There was no money to spare
for such foolishness. There was work
20 be done at home.
The latter fact the girl was given
no opportunity to doubt. The maid Of
all work had been dismissed the week
OF her graduation, and Nan had been
Installed In her place And silently,
but with fierce inward rebellion, she
accepted her duties But her father
had been man OF letters and pro
fessor in university, and she had in
herited his love OF learning. So It was
with a heavy heart she saw the days
slipping by and with them the time she
would faIn have given to the acquire
ment OF further knowledge Today
many hidden tasks still remained to
be accomplished, and here was this for
Iorn creature on her hands.
I'm sure I'm sorry to be making
you trouble. my dear" piped up the
plaintive old voice. IF when after
I'm rested bit you'll be telling me my
direction I'll be moving on"
But suddenly she went ghastly white.
She caught her hand sharply to her
side, and her lips turned blue.
Here" cried Nan, take this!' She
had gone for q stimulant and was
back, holding 1t pressed to the twitch-
ing mouth. The old woman swallowed
the LIQUID and tried to rise.
"Sit stiIl"' commanded Nan. You're
I'll. You mustn't STIR
Nan stood before her, tall and slen-
der in her blue cotton gown, with a
big white apron belted in at her waist
The pure paIlor Of her skin was ac-
cented by the blackness Of her brows
and lashes Her gray eyes were wide
-th perplexity.
Walt a minute" she ordered and
went flashing up the back stairs. She
reappeared with a load Of garments
over her arm. You're such u mite of
thing the clothes that I've outgrown
will tit you, she said Your bag?
Here It is-safe behind you Theregp
She worked rapidly as she talked.
Now you're dry and comfortable any
how, II you do look funny"
The old woman smiled up at her
gratefully. She did look funny In the
schoolgirl gown of red, but the color
had come into her cheeks, and her
chilled feet were growing warm in the
dry stockings and slippers.
Now I'll make you some tea and
toast" declared Nan, hanging the wet
clothes to dry And then l must get
back to- Good gracious, my cake is
burning
She was on her knees In a minute
and Lad snatched the oven door wide
open. smoking, blackened mound
confronted her And, rs III luck would
have II, at that very moment Helena
Burnet, her cousin and mistress Of the
house owing to the inyaldlsm Of Mrs
Burnet, came sailing into the kitchen.
What's thls?" she cried sharply She
was in street attire, but had been well
protected from the storm. Your cake
ruined, And that-who is that persOn?"
Her cheeks scarlet from embarrass-
ment and the heat Of the oven. Nan
was hastily removing the cake.
shes an old lady who got caught in
the shower the girl explained nerv-
ously Did Aunt Ellen come. Hell
enaT'
NO. she didn't" snapped Helena
I've waited in that drafty depot un-
I'll am nearly sick | suppose you
made that chicken broth the way moth
er says she uiel u like itf'
Yes, and the little honey hearts too"
You've gDi the spare room all ready.
dare say
Yes. It's clean, and lit the fire half
an hour ago"
such a lot of trouble and expense to
20 TO for a foolish old woman grum-
bled Miss Bu.net Mother says she