Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-02-28

pes, Out lncy Uiu nut
their real treasure
kruptible kingdom. If
vwere Ect ruled by aesthetic
deals, neither were they governed by
thoughts of worldly display This
fragrant, clean room bespoke charac-
eter and family history. Agatha found
! herself absently looking down at a
white wax cross, entwined with wax
1 flowers. standing under glass on
the center-table 1t was a strange
piece Of handicraft It's Wilderness
was suggestive of death, MT 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
laborious 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,
into Agatha's face. as if they would
probe at once to the covered springs
of action. Mrs. Stoddard was a thick
set woman, rather short. looking to-
ward sixty, with iron gray hair parted
in the middle and drawn back in an
old-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-
suited as it was TO any place but the
bedroom, even in the morning Mrs.
Stoddard herself was neat as a pin in
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 it's mathematical position against
the wall When she spoke, her voice
was surprise, 1t was so low and deep,
with a resonance like that OF the
cello. 1t was not the voice of a young
| woman; it was, rather rare gilt of
age, telling how beautiful an old WON
ans speech could be- Moreover. 1t
ture, beauty Of phrase and enuncia-
ton, 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 tie warfare of life, she had been
| sent to the enemy with a message
That, at least, was Agatha's point of
view. Officially, 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.
Il have come to ask you, Mrs. Stod-
dard,'' Agatha began, though to her
| chagrin, she found her voice was un-
steady-'I have come personally to
| ask you, Mrs Stoddard. if you will
| help us in caring for our friend who
is ILL., Your brother, Doctor Thayer,
wishes it. 1t is case of life and
death, maybe; and skiIful nursing is
! difficult to find
| Agatha's hand. that rested on the
table. was trembling by the time she
| finished her speech; she was wildly
| conscious of the panic that had come
upon her nerves at a fresh realization
| of the wall of defense and resistance
| which she was attempting to assail.
| 1t spoke to her from Mrs. Stoddard's
calm, other-worldly eyes. from her
serene, deep voice
No. Miss Redmond. that work Is
not for me-"
But please. Mrs Stoddard, will you
not reconsider your decision? It is
not for myself ask, but for another
One who is suffering"
Mrs. Stoddard's gaze went past
Agatha and rested on the white cross
With the inscription, Brother" She
slowly shook her head, saying again,
No. that work is not for me- The
Lord does not call me there"
AS the two women stood there, with