The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-09-10

alhpAc uSuIe. GleduOT OHdSe rose
from her rockingham, the worried,
almost fretful look, which of late
had become her habitual expression
and marred an otherwise pretty face,
dispelled for the moment by smile
of welcome.
Come right in. Mrs. Lincoln" she
said cordially. Il am glad you came
over"
The elderly woman seated herself.
Excuse my fancy-work," she
smiled, drawing a well-worn stocking
from bag of ample dimensions. 81
could not have come unless had
brought it."
Her hostess sighed.
Mrs. Lincoln was holding her head
on one side contemplating hole. with
a look of comical despair.
Eleanor Chase glanced at 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. / sometimes doubt
whether l am"
My dear" Mrs Lincoln laid down
her stocking and looked fixedly at her
COMPLIMENTARY woman was in
tetnded for motherhood; make no mis-
take about. that. People may ad-
vance all the new-fangled theories
they like about higher vocations.'
There is no higher vocation than that
for which the Lord himself formed
u.s."
The two women sewed for some
time in silence They had been near
neighbors for ten years, ever since
Mrs. Chase as a pretty bride had
come to live in Pineville, and had
reached that stage of pleasant init
macy where speech is not always nee
essary.
Il had letter from my sister, Mrs
Van Dusen, this morning" Mrs. Chase
remarked after awhile-she was fond
of quoting her sister Mrs. Van Du-
sen, who had married wealthy bank.
er. many years her senior, and was
now a widow, moving in the most
exclusive circles of a conservative
! New England city-"she wants me to
go 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 Eveline calls me-?
Eveline was four, and the baby OF
the family.
Now, look here, Mrs. Chase" the
neighbor laid down her work and
spoke emphatically-"a vacation is
just exactly what you need. You are
tired, and matters seem all awry tc
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 gel
his meals down town, and l will take
Eveline right over to my house. see
that Elsie and Alan have enough tc
eat and keep an eye on them out Of
at bedtime, too, and see that they are
all right"
"Oh, 1 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 anC
her eyes shone.
Don't you worry" the neighbol
said comfortably, "a child or two
more or less never yet faxed me"
Twenty-four hours later Eveline's
Mummy Dee" stood arrayed in {
smart travelling suit, hastily pur
chased for the occasion. her pretties
clothes packed and already on thei
way to the railway station.
Once on the train her mind reach
ed out toward the alluring prospec
ahead. A week, a whole week o
freedom from petty household cares
with no concern about meals excep
to sit down to an exquisitely appoint
ed table and the privilege of minglini
with her sisters cultured friends
Mrs Van Dusen met her at tn,
depot She was tall. distinguished
looking woman, whose whole appear
ance spoke of good taste and the pow
er to indulge It. Eleanor leaned bacl
against the luxurious cushions o
the carriage, a sense of pleasurabl
excitement growing upon her, as the,
were driving home.
The round table was exquisite wit
its rare china, cut glass and damasl
There was no small. irresponsible
hand here to reach out with aimles
grasp and upset the cream. Mrs
Van Dusen had no children. A soft
booted maid waited upon them, antic
pating every want
Afterwards they retired to the ow
, particular sanctum of the hostes.
: but once ensconced there Eleanor di
not find that the ball of conversatio
! rolled as easily as she had expecte,
The sisters paths in life had run i
such different directions, they had d,
, veloped along such widely differer
lines In the last few years, that til
: only common ground upon which
seemed possible for them to meet wa
, the time when they were girls t
gether. This subject they dwelt upol