The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-11-02
there were so many pretty things to

OOtH, Sdlu JOY. i guessed al the
size-and I'm a very good guesser.
And hero is a piece of black lace for
scarf for mother, and this necklace
Of beads came from Ballarat-which
means they are virgin gold. Patience"
And she put the necklace about her
sisters fair throat and stood off to
admire the effect
There was something about her pose
and her merry laugh that brought
frown to the mothers face.
1t was play acting. 1t must be. 1t
was like a pretty picture and just as
unreal.
She vaguely wondered what the
congregation would think OF JOY when
she stood before them the next morn
ing.
She could find no fault with her
daughters attire when they started
to walk to the church. 1t was neat
and trim and very becoming. She
found she enjoyed having passers-by
look around at Joy-and she resolute-
ly put this feeling aside as eminently
sinful
Joy left her mother and sister at
lery, which was at the back of the
church. Her mother did not look
around after they were seated, and
when Patience cast a quick glance
backward she clutched her frock and
gave her reproving look.
1t is quite possible that joys mother
did not pay the usual close atten-
ton to the good pastors words. Her
thoughts were on that trim figure In
the gallery-and do what she would
she could not keep down the wicked
feeling of pride.
Joy sang with the choir-there were
close to twenty voices-and so the
quality of her singing was not fully
apparent until she sang alone, and
this was when the collection was
made. Her voice was a limpid so
prano, sweet and full. She sang a
selection that was familiar to them
and yet, somehow, it seemed to many
of the listeners that they had never
really heard it before.
Joys mother felt the tears rush to
her eyes and her head drooped-and
Patience reached to her and took her
hand and held Il fast
After the service Patience and her
mother waited for Joy, the latter find.
ing some difficulty in getting away
from her new found friends.
The mother glanced at her daugh-
ter. Her face was slightly flushed and
her eyes were shining.
Did you like my singing, mother?"
she asked. Il sang my very best-for
you"
1t was beautiful" Joys mother ad-
mitted. Too beautiful for our plain
little church"
Joy laughed, but before she couk
reply rapid step was heard and .
big and hearty voice hailed them.
My dear madam" said the new
conner, Il must ask you for an intro
duction to your daughter, the one with
the voice OF a seraph. l ask it more
particularly because understand
from our pastor that she is from sgd
ney. Perhaps I've told you that 1 am
a Sydney man myself-though it's
many years ago. But Sydney is still
dear to me-so dear that 1 get my Sgd
ney paper every day-barring the de-
lays of stormy weather" He stopped
short, his deep set eyes intenuy re-
garding Joy. He was tall man with
a serious face and close cropped
gray hair.
This is Mr. George Torrens, our
senior deacon" said Joys mother,
with ring Of pride in her voice, for
this tall and serious Scotch-American
was the main pillar of the little
church
Joy smiled and bowed and put out
her hand, and the tall deacon sudden
~ pulled off his soft hat.
Il remember now" he said. 1T
was your picture in the Sydney paper.
knew l had seen you somewhere,
Lady Porthman. And how is Sir Rob
ert?"
Joy suddenly flushed.
He is very well, thank you, Mr..
Torrens," she answered. But LID
rather not be called Lady Porthman
here"
The tall man looked rouno and
nodded TO joys mother and Patience.
Then 1t shall be our little secret"
he said, and I'm proud to share it
with you. And you have good cause
to be proud, too, madam" and he
nodded briskly at joys mother Your
soninlaw. Sir Robert Porthman, is
a splendid, clean fellow, a leader OF
men, and coming Australian. It
was queer how 1 remembered that
picture-and In this faraway hiding
place, too. Perhaps your daughter
has told you. madam, that 1t was she
the admiral of the Yankee battle feet
took down to the big banquet, and
so they put her picture i'm the Sydney
/ paper May / come and see you. Lady
Porthman, and will you tell me some.
thing about the modern sydney2
| Thank YOU"
And with a low bow he went his
way
Joy laughed softly.
Isn't that funny7' she said. What
a little world II Isl" Then her tone
suddenly changed Now, see here.
you two dsars. Tm going to say
| something In deadly earnest. I've
made up my mind to take you both
home with me. What do you think OF
that? And I know Robert will be
pleased-he's me kindest and best OF
men. Is It settled?"
Patience gave an ecstatfc pasp