The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-10-04
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WELL 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
iy wrinkled cheeks with her thin
hands. N1
What are you talking about? Is
anything the matter?" inquired Miss
Caroline, looking up, her small, eager
face expressing irritabllity 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
a kind letter from Mr.. Sloane. Just
listen: y IT, therefore, you will
kindly call at my place of business /
shall be pleased to see your work, and
we can talk matters over. If / can
be OF any service to you, pray come,
an"
1T is all our minister's doing" said
Margaret, softly. 1T 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
garet," said Miss JOAN
NO." she answered, plaintively. "If
you did you would not shut me out Of
your troubles, nor deny yourselves that
I might escape the pinch Of poverty
You treat me as child, I, who am in
my 35th year. But l am not a 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 it was
good thing l 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 80 and am So Mothers baby
Margaret "a, yet never very strong |!
Oh, my darling, 1t ls 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; II am crying for thankful
ness"
The sisters drew round the fire and
sat there for an hour discussing their
good fortune.
II 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
wei | shouldn't wonder IL he remem-
bers what good customers we have been
in the past-the hundreds Of pounds we
have paid over his counters"
1t was Tuesday morning when Miss
Joan received Mr.. Sloane's letter, and
during the next two days the sisters
talked of nothing but how they should
meet him, and what they should say.
The memory of the past, when they
ranked with his best customers, gave
them courage, while the fact that they
were about to meet him on different
terms was not without its sting.
When Thursday morning came, how,
ever, Miss Joan and her sister Mar
garet put on their best bonnets and
bravely went to town, taking with
them telLtale, large brown-paper par
eel. The pavements were wet and slip
perry, and a drizzling rain was falling.
Now, although they kept assuring each
other that their business vas entirely
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 they