The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-07-12

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self inside the door, followed by an
ample figure. Eleanor Chase rose
from her rocking-chalr the worried
almost fretful look which OF late
had become her habltual expression
and married an otherwise pretty face,
dispelled for the moment by a smile
Of welcCLe.
Come right In, Mrs. Lincoln" she
said cordially 81 am glad you came
over"
The elderly woman seated herself
Excuse my fancy-work." she
smiled, drawing a well.worn stocking
from a bag Of ample dimensions. u
could not have come unless had
brought IT,"
Her hostess sighed.
Mrs. Lincoln was holding her head
on one side contemplating hole, with
Il look OF comical despair.
Eleanor Chase glanced al her.
You take everything so cheerful"
she said Somewhat wistfully. Little
things don't seem to wear upon YOU
and make you nervous, as they do me.
think you must have been intended
for motherhood I sometimes dOub.
whether | am"
My dear" Mrs. Lincoln laid down
her stocking and looked flXedly at her
comphnion-"eycry woman was in.
tetnded for motherhood: make no mis-.
take about that People may ad.
vance all the ncwfangled theories
they Ike about higher vocations,
There is no higher vocation than shat
for which the Lord himself formed
us"
The two women sCwed for some
time in silence They had been near
ncighbors for ten years. ever since
Mrs. Chase as pretty bride had
come to live in PIneyillc, and had
reached that stage of pleasant init.
macv where speech is not always nee.
essary.
u had lottcr from my sister, Mrs.
Van Dusen. this morning" Mrs. Chase
remarked after awhile-she was fond
of quoting her sister Mrs. Van Du.
sen, vino had married wealthy bank.
er, many years her senior, and was
now a widow. moving in the most
exclusive circles of conservative
New England city-"she wants me to
20 and spend a week with her, but
OF course that Is out of the ques.
ton"
''Why!" Mrs. Lincoln asked.
"Oh, couldn't take the children,
and what would they do without their
Mummy Dee as ENeline calls me?"
EyelIne was four, and the baby OF
the family.
Now. look here, Mrs. Chase" the /
nelghbCr laid down her work and |
spoke emphatically-"a vacation is |
Just exactly what you need. You are
tired, and matters seem all awry to
you. A week with your sister will be
an entire change and you will look
at things with widely different eyes
when you return. Mr.. Chase can get
his meals down town, and | will take
Evellne right over to my house. see
that Elsie and Alan have enough to
eat and keep an eye on them oR OF
school hours. | can run over here
at bedtime, too, and see that they are
all right"
"Oh, couldn't think OF allowing
you TO do all that Mrs Chase had
dropped her sewing also. A faint
pink flush came into her cheeks and
her eyes shone.
Don't you worry" the nelghbor
said comfortably, "a child or two
more or less never yet faxed me"
Twenty.four hours later Eyellne's
Mummy Dee" stood arrayed In n
mart travelling suit, hastily pur.
'hased for the occasion, her prcttiest
'lothes packed and already on their
way to the railway station
Once on the train her mind reach.
ID out toward the alluring prospect
Ihead. a week, a whole week of
recdom from petty household cares.
With no concern about meals except
o Sit down to an exquisltely appoint.
ID table and the privilege of mingling
With her sisters cultured friends.
Mrs. Van Dusen met her at the
Iepot. She was a tall. distinguished
ooklng woman, whose whole appear.
nee spoke of good taste and the DOW.
r to indulge it. Eleanor leaned back
gainst the luxurious cushions of
he carriage, a sense Of pleasurable
excitement growing upon her, as they
we're driving home.
The round table was exquisite with
IS rare china, cut glass and damask.
here was no small. irresponsible
and here to reach out with aimless
rasp and upset the cream. Mrs.
IAN Dusen had no children. A soft.
Dotted maid waited upon them, antici. +.
ating every want.
Afterwards they retired to the own
articular sanctum OF the hostess.
ut once ensconced there Eleanor did
ot find that the ball OF conversation
oiled as easily as she had expected. s
he sisters paths In life had run I'm
UGH different directions, they had de- d
eloped along such widely different [
mes In the last few years, that the 1
My common ground upon which IL y
n A.