Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-09-30
N 4 BLIZZARD

s N A BLIZZARD #
8 ~ OLIVE RcsERTs sARToN. !;
Katrins whartsn was being talked
about. Tongues and fingers were fiy-
Ing &C the Ladies' Missionary band.
TIE afg stove IN the parior at the
church was sending out great waves
Of welcome heat. Cor outside n hiix-
sard was raging. Mrs. Milton, on the
noor with an immense pair OF scis-
sors In her hand. was cutting around
. shirt pattern laid on red flannel.
What I want 90 know is," Mrs.
Milton paused and waved her scis-
sors with Q Patrick Henry gesture.
why shs won't come. Il looks
mighty queer 90 me. I sometimes
think it must be n guilty conscience"
Rev. Mr.. washburn raised his head
from the sermon he was preparing
In his study. He frownsd and pushed
back his chair impatientiy. He had
IN idea that he knew Of whom they
were talking. and It hurt. Mrs. Milton
went on:
"of course. when q woman 10 iiv.
ing al alone she can't be too care
full Naturally when her uncle died
and left her the hoess and q little
money 20 live on. she left her work
In the city and came here. All well
and goodl But how do folks know
what kind Of porson she is. coming
here Q perfect stranger. unless she
tries TO prove she's respectable?
She's been asked 10 Join every 30
ciety In this church and has refused.
And I've seen her with my own eyes.
through the parlor window, playin'
cards BY herself"
The young minister knew without
hearing that the ladies' OF the church
were hostile 90 the independent young
woman. A few weks before when he
was In bed with q serious illness Kat
rine Wharton had pitched I'm. She
went over every day 70 the preachers
house and washed dishes. cooked,
baked, scrubbed porches and ironed.
Once she had washed the clothes.
The lowered voice I'm the ladies'
parior caused him % shudder. He
knew perfectly well that all this was
being discussed. The propriety Of her
attention TO the sick man had been
questioned BY ali the ladies OF the
congregation.
He could stand it no longer. He
put on his hat and went out. The wind
and snow that met him nc the door
suddenly cooled his Indignation. What
had he done 20 be blessed with plenty
and comfort when fellow men, tust
as worthy. we're suffering? For in-
stance. Mr.. Cassidy with his wife and
four children and likely another one,
had besn sick for four months. He
wondered now II they had food and
coal. He would 90 Immediately and
end out.
The wind fairly blew him into the
earpetisss hallway Of the Cassidys.
He had 10 brace himself against the
wall % get the door shut. The sud-
dsn luil from the beating elements
outside seemed Queer-the house
usually noisy was hushed. The door.
way into the front room was open.
-Four children were quietly playing a
game on the noor. . big fire was
burning In the crate. and In q low,
broken chair near 70 sat Katrins whar.
ten dosing. On her lap lay q newly
born baby.
Rev. Washburn went In a. softly
a. he could. but Katrins heard him
and Get up with O start, nearly
dropping the baby. She laughed an
she grabbed %.
Then she turned Q lovely red. It
was the frst time he had even seen
her confused. Suddenly she remem.
bered 20 hold out her hand. How
do you do. Mr.. washburnf am
doing the honors today. Won't you
eft downf"
You seem 90 be doing more than
honors. Miss Katrine. It makes me
ashamed Of my tardiness. How is
Mrs. Cassidy, and how is Mixes
rheumatism? II the baby . boy or
Q giri?"
TITS q girl" piped Lizzie, aged ten.
AN psp's rheumatism's something
awful. it was fierce when Miss whar.
ten came day fore yesterday. We
wux all hungry too. an II was mighty
cold. Ma was sick too. Miss Whar-
ten, she"
Hush. Lizzie, hushi"
Il was just goin' 20 tell the preach
or. She sent us coal. and stun TO
eat. and stayed here an did all the
work, an took care Of the baby, an
brought Jerry an me shoes. an an
oh-everything."
An hour later. when q relative or.
rived % look after the family, Rev.
Samuel started home with Katrine
through the snow. His heart was sing
fng. There was no doubt I'm his mind
now about this sweet, charitable girl.
Why didn't you want Lizzie TO tell
me. Miss katrtnef"
Because I hate to do things and
have everybody knew.
But you won't do anything in the
missionary societies and I thought
We all thought"
Yes, know what everybody
thinks. bat it doesn't matter 20 me.
I am my own missionary society.
] have nay own way Of doing things."
ITS Q pretty good way, Katrine."
IL was the i1rst time he had for
gotten the 'Misa." He was afraid
she would drop his arm. A dreadful
minute passed-thsn she snuggisd o
little closer a. f away from the
storm.
! am glad you IKE tt-samuel.
But have BEEN thinking it oyer and
have decided 20 Join one Of the church
societies, too"
tCopyrfghx, 13l6. By the Mcclure News
paper 8yn6icaDt
The poorest of al men is one who
has no use Tor men who are poor.
Why He pess Net "Rlne True"
A small piece Of foreign substance
falling into tina ball natal viii ruin