Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-07-11

l
obi" she breathed. Then. She's
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 OF
her hair, her dress, her hands, ner
face. AS Agatha became conscious OF
the ingenious inspection to which sne
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 your"
The girls face lighted up as IL the
sun had come through cloud. She
smiled at Agatha in return, with q
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-
dards fanaticism was not merely that
of an individual; it represented the
stored-up strength Of hardy, con-
sciencedriven 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 were 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. 1t was 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
lsborious 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; it 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 mex
plicable bond OF blood relationship.
: Agatha felt more kindly toward her
because of this 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
2 into Agatha's face, as IL they would
probe at once to the covered springs
of action. Mrs Stoddard was thick
/ SET DhOA AOOhAAo ~
ward sixty, with iron-gray hair parted
in the middle and drawn back in an
old-fashioned. pretty way.
It was to the credit of Mrs. Stod
: dard's breeding that she took no no
ttce Of Agatha's peculiar dress, un
bedroom, even in the morning Mrs
Stoddard herself was neat as a pin in
a cotton gown made for utility, no
- beauty. She stood for an instant will
. her clear, untroubled gaze full upol
. Agatha, then drew forward a chat
. from its mathematical position agains
~ the wall. When she spoke, her voic'
:. was a surprise, 1t was so low and deer
.. with a resonance like that Of tn
r. cello. It was not the voice of youn
woman; 1t was, rather. rare gift o
a age, telling how beautiful an old won
N ans speech could be. Moreover,
a carried refinement of birth and Gu
"A ture, a beauty of phrase and enuncis
10 ton, which would have marked he
m with distinction anywhere.
d How do you do, Miss Redmond?"
az Agatha. standing by the table wit
e. the cross, made no movement towar
a. the chair. She was not come face
at face with Mrs. Stoddard for the pu
,e pose of social visitation, but becaus'
to in the warfare of life, she had bee
1t sent to the enemy with a messag
ell That, at least. was Agatha's point {
he view. OficiaIly, she was come to plea
Id with Mrs. Stoddard; personally. sh
be was hot and resentful at her unjui
words. Her reply to her hostess gree
be ing was brief and her attitude unben
er ing
N. IT have come to ask you, Mrs. sto
ed dard." Agatha began, though to b
'et chagrin, she found her voice was u
a steady-'T have come personally
.ly ask You, Mrs. Stoddard, II you WI
le. help US in caring for our friend, WI
W; is Ill. Your brother, Doctor Thaye
of wishes 1t. 1t Is q case of life ar
death. maybe; and skilful nursing
a difficult to find"
ed Agatha's hand, that rested on Il
or. table, was trembling by the time 81
in finished her speech; she was vivid
ng conscious OF the panic that had con
rs. upon her nerves at fresh realizatit
he of the wall of defense and resistant
to which she was attempting to ASA
1 A. -