The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-09-27
''INASMUCH"


well, I never! What a wonderful
thing! How truly kind and consider
ate l take it as direct answer to
prayer
Miss Joan Lawrence dropped a let
ter on the table, and covered two slight
ly wrinkled cheeks with her thin
hands.
What are you talking about? Is
anything the matter?' inquired Miss
Caroline, looking up, her small, eager
face expressing irritability and Curl
osity. She was bending over an old
fashioned embroidery frame, and was
In the act of counting, three greens,
one white, purple, then pearl" when
her sisters voice sent all the colors out
Of her head.
"A most unaccountable thing has
happened" answered Miss Joan. "Such
kind letter from Mr.. Sloane. Just
listen: - If, therefore, you will
kindly call at my place of business 1
shall be pleased to see your work, and
we can talk matters over. If I can
be of any service to you, pray come,
an"
1T Is all our minister's doing" said
Margaret, softly. ut was Mr.. Forbes
who wrote to Mr.. Sloane on our be-
half"
Both sisters turned to her in SUR
prise.
I'VE don't understand you, Mar
garrett" said Miss Joan.
NO" she answered. plaintively. "If
you did you would not shut me out of
your troubles, nor deny yourselves that
l might escape the pinch of poverty.
You treat me as child, 1, who am in
my 35th year. But l am not child,
and-and, upon my own responsibility
called upon Mr.. Forbes, told him
our difficulties and asked If he could
help us in any way. Apparently 1t was
a good thing 1 did So"
YES" admitted Miss Joan. LOOKING
tenderly into the soft, shy eyes of her
youngest sister, ut was happy
thought, Margaret. Dear me. Thirty.
four-our little Margaret! And Caro-.
line Is 30 and l am IS. Mothers baby
Margaret "a, yet never very strong
Oh, my darling, it is only natural that
we long to shelter you from the buffet
ings of the worlds storms"
Miss Joan broke down quite unex
pectedly, and sobbed. II can't help it,
she said; Il am crying for thankful
ness."
The sisters drew round the fire and
sat there for an hour discussing theil
good fortune.
Il shouldn't be one bit surprised
said Caroline, "if after Mr.. Sloane has
seen our work he gives us more orders
than we can possibly undertake"
only think Of that, Joan," smiling
though that won't be just at present
child. But, In any case, we shall new
er forget Mr.. Sloane's kindness, shall
we? l shouldn't wonder If he remem
bers what good customers we have beer
In the past-the hundreds Of pounds W,
have paid over his counters"
1t was Tuesday morning when Mis-.
Joan received Mr.. Sloane's letter, ant
during the next two days the sister.
talked of nothing but how they should
meet him, and what they should say
The memory Of the past, when the!
ranked with his best customers, CAV,
them courage, while the fact that the!
were about to meet him on differen
terms was not without its sting.
When Thursday morning came, how
ever, Miss Joan and her sister Mar
garet put on their best bonnets ant
bravely went to town, taking witt
them tell-tale, large brown-paper par
eel. The pavements were wet and slip
perry, and a drizzling rain was falling
Now, although they kept assuring eacl
other that their business was entirel.
honorable, and not unpleasant, still
they went on their way little timor
ously, feeling anxious and III at ease
As they approached their destination
their spirits sank still lower. and the.