The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-04-19
CHAPTER XIV.
Susan Stoddard's Prayer.

CHAPTER XIV.
Susan Stoddard's Prayer.
There was wide porch. spo-lessly
scrubbed. along the front or the
house and two hydrangeas blooming
gorgeously in tubs, one on either size
of the walk THE house looked new
and modern, shiny with paint and tur-
nished with all the conveniences OF
fered by the relentless progress OF
our day.
Little Simon had informed Agatha,
during their short drive, that Deacon
Stoddard had achieved this resi-
dence" shortly before his death; and
his tone implied that it was the pride
of the town. its real treasure. Even
TO Agatha's absorbed and preoccupied
mind il presented a striking contrast
10 the old red house. which had recelv'
ed her so graciously into It's spacious
comfort. She marveled that anything
so fresh and modish as the house be-
fore her could have come into being
in the old town. II was next 10 GER
tainty that there was model laundry
with set tubs beyond the kitchen, ana
equally sure that no old horsehair
lounge subtly invited the wearied
traveller 10 rest.
A cool draft came through the
screen door. Within, 1t was cleaner
than anything Agatha had ever seen.
The stair,rail glistened, the pollsneu
floors shone. A neat bouquet OF sweet
peas stood exactly in the center or
snow-white dolly, which was exactiy
in the middle OF shiny. round table.
The very door-mat was brand new;
Agatha would never have thought OF
wiping her shoes on ii.
Agatha's ring was answered py
half-grown girl. who looked scared
when she saw a stranger at the door.
Agatha walked into the parlor, IN
spite of the girls hesitation in invit-
ing her, and directed her TO say 70
Mira Stoddard that Miss Redmond.
from the old red house. wished par
tlcularly TO see her. The girls face
assumed an expression or intelligent
and ecstatic curiosity.
OH" she breathed. Then. Shes
putttng up plums, but she can come
our in a few minutes" She could not
60 without lingering TO look at Aga
tina, her wide-eyed saze taking
no.e of her hair, her dress, her hands,
her face. AS Agatha became con-
'scious of the ingenious inspection 10
which she was subjected, she smiled
at the girl--one of her old, radiant,
friendly smiles.
Run now, and tell Mrs Stoddard,
there's a good child! And sometime
YOU must come to see me at the red
house; will you?"
The girls face lighted up as II the
sun had come through cloud. She
smiled at Agatha in return. with
yes" under her breath. Thus are
slaves made.
Left alone in the cool, dim parlor,
so orderly and spotless. Agatha lad
presentiment Of the prejudice or
class and of religion against which
she was about to throw herself. Susan
.Stoddardis fanaticism was not mercy
that of an Individual; ii represented
the stored-up strength of hardy, con-
science-driven generations. The Stod-
dards might build themselves houses
with model laundries, but they ala
not thereby transfer their real treas
ure from the incorruptible kingdom.
If they were not ruled by aesthetic
ideals, neither were they governed
by thoughts OF worldly display. This
fragrant. clean room bespoke CHAR
acter and family history. Agatha
found herself absently looking down
NJ a white wax cross, entwined with
wax flowers. standing under a glass
on the comfortable. Ii was strange
niece of handicraft. It's Wilderness was
suggestive of death, not life, and the
curying leaves and petals, through
which the vital sap once flowed, were
beautiful no longer, now that their
day of tender freshness was so map
propriately prolonged. AS Agatha,
with mind aloof, wondered vaguely at
the laborious patience exhibited in
the work. her eye caught sight OF an
Inscription nodded in the wax pedes-
tai. "Brother" Her mind was
sharply. brought back from the inn
personal region of speculation. What
abe saw was not merely sentimental,
misguided attempt at art; IL was
Susan Stoddard's memorial Of her
brother. Hercules Thayer-the man
who had so Unexpectedly influenced
Apatha's own life. To Susan Stod-
dard this wax cross was the symbol
OF the companionship of childhood,
i and OF all the sweet and bitter in
yolyed in the inexplicable bond OF
blood relationship. Agatha felt more
kindly toward her because OF this
mute. fantastic memorial. She looked
nm almost with her characteristic
friendly smile as she heard slow
steady steps coming down the hall.
The eyes that returned Agatha's
look were not smiling, though they
did not look unkind. They gazed
without embarrassment, as without
pride. into Agatha's face. as II they
would probe at once to the covered
springs Of action. Mrs. Stoddard was
thick.set woman. rather short look