The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-06-21
expression of intelligent and ecstatic

expression Of intelligent ana ecstauc
curiosity.
OH" she breathed. Then. shes
putting up plums, but she can come
out in few minutes" She could not
go without lingering to look at Agatha,
her wide-eyed gaze taking note Oh
her hair. her dress. her hands. her
face. AS Agatha became conscious OIL
the ingenious inspection to 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 req
house; will you?"
The girls face lighted up as If the
sun had come through a cloud. she
smiled at Agatha in return. with
Yes" under her breath. Thus are
slaves made.
Left alone in the cool, dim parlor'
sc orderly and spotless, Agatha had
presentiment of the prejudice OF class
and of religion against which she was
about to throw herself. Susan Stod-
dard's fanaticism was not merely that
of an Individual; 1t represented the
stored-up strength OF hardy. con-
science-driven generations. The Stod-
dards might build themselves houses
with model laundries. but they did not
| thereby transfer their real treasure
from the incorruptible kingdom. IL
they we're not ruled by aesthetic
ideals, neither were they governed by
thoughts of worldly display. This
fragrant. clean room bespoke charac-
| ter and family history. Agatha found
herself absently looking down at
white wax cross, entwined with wax
flowers, standing under a glass on
the comfortable. II was a strange
piece of handicraft. Its Wilderness
was suggestive Of death. not life, and
the curving 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
Iaborious patience exhibited in the
work, her eye caught sight Of an in
scription nodded in the wax PEDESTAL:
Brother" Her mind was sharply
brought back from the impersonal re-
gion Of speculation. What she saw
was not merely a sentimental. mis-
guided attempt at art; 1t was susan
Stoddard's memorial of her brother
Hercules Thayer-the man who had
: so Unexpectedly influenced Agatha
own life. To Susan Stoddard this wal
cross was the symbol Of the compan
ionship OF childhood. and OF all the
sweet and bitter involved In the mex
plicable bond Of blood relationship
Agatha felt more kindly toward hel
because of this mute. fantastic me
mortal. She looked up almost with he
8 characteristic friendly smile as sh'
heard slow, steady steps coming dow
the hall.
The eyes that returned Agatha
look we're not smiling, though they di'
not look unkind. They gazed, with
out embarrassment, as without pride
e into Agatha's face, as II they woul
O probe at once to the covered spring
o of action. Mrs. Stoddard was thicl
set woman. rather short, looking tt
ward sixty, with iron gray hair parte
I'm the middle and drawn back in
n old-fashioned. pretty way.
V II was to the credit of Mrs. Sto'
. dard's breeding that she took no nj
suited as it was to any place but tn
bedroom. even in the morning. Mr.
Stoddard herself was neat as pin
a cotton gown made for utility, M
beauty. She stood for an instant wit
:. her clear. untroubled gaze full upo
Agatha, then drew forward a cha
=, from its mathematical position again
~ the wall. When she spoke. her vol
w. was a surprise, 1t was SO low and dee
:. with a resonance like that OF q
cello. It was not the voice OF you
woman; it was, rather, rare gift
=. age, telling how beautiful an old wo
- ans speech could be. Moreover,
81. carried refinement of birth and c
"a ture. a beauty of phrase and enunc
A. ton, which would have marked b
ON with distinction anywhere.
ed How do you 90, miss neunhono'
asst Agatha. standing by the table W
re- the cross, made no movement tows
ma the chair. She was not come face
nat face with Mrs. Stoddard for the p
the nose of social visitation, but becau
nto In the warfare of life, she had b.
ext sent to the enemy with a MESA
del That, at least. was Agatha's point
the view. Officially. she was come to pl'
old with Mrs Stoddard; personally,
the was hot and resentful at her uni
words. Her reply to her hostess or
the ing was brief and her attitude unbe
ner ing.
cen. p have come to ask you. MIS-. .
he'd dard," Agatha began, though to
rect chagrin, she found her voice was
,f a steady-'I have come personally
city ask YOU, Mrs. Stoddard, II you
bile. help US in caring for our friend,
ew; is i'll. Your brother. Doctor Tha
( of wishes It. 1t Is a case OF life
death, maybe; and skilful nursin
" a difficult to find"
AIRED Agatha's hand. that rested on
loor. table. was trembling by the time
in finished her speech; she was viz
ting conscious Of the panic that had c
Mrs upon her nerves at fresh realiza
! the Of the wall Of defense and resist