The Springfield herald., 1913-05-02
expression Of intelligent and ec.t.tic


curiosity.
Obi" she breathed.' Then. Shes
putting up plums. but she can come
out In few minutes" She could not
90 without lingering to look at Agatha.
ner wide-eyed gaze taking note OF
her. hair. her dress, her hands. her
race. Az Agatha became conscious OF
the ingenious inspection to which she
was subjected, she smiled at the gtrl
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 your"
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.
30 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: it 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. II
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 a
flowers. standing under glass on
the center-table. 1t was strange
piece of handicraft. Its whiteness
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 30 inap-
propriately prolonged. AS Agatha. with
mind aloof. wondered vaguely at the
laborious patience exhibited in the
work, her eye caught sight Of an In
acription 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 . 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.s
own life. To Susan Stoddard this wax
cross was the symbol of the compan-
ionship of childhood, and of all the
sweet and bitter involved in the inex-
plicable bond OF blood relationship.
Agatha felt more kindly toward her
because ofisthis mute fantastic me-
mortal. She looked up 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. with
out embarrassment, as without pride,
into Agatha's face, as If they would
probe at once to the covered springs
Of action. Mrs. Stoddard was thick
set woman, rather short. looking to-
ward sixty, with irongray hair parted
In the middle and drawn back in an
oid-fashioned. pretty way.
1t was to the credit of Mrs. stod-
dard's breeding that she took no no.
tice of Agatha's peculiar dress. un-
ruited as It was to any place but the
bedroom, even In the morning. Mrs.
Stoddard herself was neat as pin in
a cotton gown made for utility. not
beauty. She stood for an instant with
her clear. untroubled gaze full upon
Agatha, then drew forward a chair
from its mathematical position against
the wall. When she spoke, her voice
was surprise, 1t was 80 low and deep.
with resonance like that of the
cello. 1t was not the voice of a young
woman; 1t was. rather, rare gift of
age. telling how beautiful an old wom-
ans speech could be. Moreover, 1t
carried refinement of birth and cul-
ture. beauty of phrase and enuncia-
tlon, which would have marked her
with distinction anywhere.
How do you do, Miss Redmond"
Agatha. standing by the table with
the Cross, made no movement toward
the chair. She was not come face to
face with Mrs. Stoddard for the pur-
pose Of social visitation. but because.
in the warfare of life. she had been
sent to the enemy with message.
That. at least, was Agatha's point Of
view. Omcially, she was come to plead
with Mrs. stoddard; personally. she
was hot and resentful at her unjust
words. Her reply to her hostess greet
ing was brief and her attitude unbend.
ing. 81 N-
Il have come to ask you. Mrs. stod-
dard." Agatha began. though to her
chagrin. she found her voice was un-
steady-'T have come personally to
ask you, Mrs. Stoddard. II you will
help us in caring for our friend. who
is Ill. Your brother. Doctor Thayer.
wishes It. It is a case OF life and
death, maybe; and skilful nursing II
dificult to find"
Agatha's hand. that rested on the
table. was trembling by the time she
finished her speech: she was vividly
conscious of the panic that had come
upon her nerves at fresh realization
of the wall Of defense and resistance
which she was attempting to assail.
It spoke to her from Mrs. Stoddard's
>ee~~-~-e~~~-~~.~~-~-~- -~-~~>~~~~-~-~~~~~se~~~~