The Pageland journal. [volume] (Pageland, S.C.) 1911-1978, 1916-02-02
IN A BLIZZARD
BY OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON.

oooul. louSueS anu uuSeTS were n.y.
ing at the Ladies' Missionary band.
The big stove in the parlor at the
church was sending out great waves
of welcome heat, for outside a bliz-
zard was raging. Mrs. Milton, on the
hoor with an immense pair of scis-
sors In her hand, was cutting around
shirt pattern laid on red flannel.
What l want to know is" Mrs.
Milton paused and waved her scis-
sors with Patrick Henry gesture,
why she won't come. 1t looks
mighty queer to me. 1 sometimes
think 1t must be a guilty conscience"
Rev. Mr.. Washburn raised his head
from the sermon he was preparing
in his study. He frowned and pushed
back his chair impatiently. He had
an idea that he knew Of whom they
were talking, and it hurt. Mrs. Milton
went on:
OF course, when q woman Is liv-
Ing all alone she can't be too care
full. Naturally when her uncle died
and left her the house and a little
money to live on, she left her work
In the city and came here. All we'll
and good! But how do folks know
what kind of a person she is, coming
here perfect stranger, unless she
tries to prove she's respectable?
She's been asked to join every so
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 to the Independent young
woman. A few weeks before when he
was in bed with serious illness Kat
rtne Wharton had pitched in. She
went over every day to the preachers
house and washed dishes, cooked,
baked, scrubbed porches and ironed.
Once she had washed the clothes.
The lowered voice in the ladies'
parlor caused him to shudder. He
knew perfectly we'll that all this was
being discussed. The propriety of her
attention to the sick man had been
questioned by all the ladies of the
congregation.
He could stand 1t no longer. He
put on his hat and went out. The wind
and snow that met him at the door
suddenly cooled his indignation. What
had he done to be blessed with plenty
and comfort when fellow men, Just
as worthy, were suffering? For in
stance, Mr.. Cassidy with his wife and
four children and likely another one,
had been sick for four months. He
wondered now II they had food and
coal. He would go Immediately and
find out.
The wind fairly blew him into the
carpetless hallway of the Cassidys.
lHe had to BE- himself against the
wall to get the door shut. The sud-
den lull 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 floor, a big fire was
burning in the CRATE, and in q low,
broken chair near 1t sat Katrine Whar-
ten doing. On her lap lay a newly.
born baby.
Rev. Washburn went in as softly
as he could, but Katrine heard him
and sat up with a start, nearly
dropping the baby. She laughed as
she grabbed 1t.
Then she turned lovely red. It
was the first time he had even seen
her confused. Suddenly she remem-
bered to hold out her hand. How
do you do. Mr.. Washburn? am
doing the honors today. Won't you
sit DOWN."
You seem to be doing more than
honors, Miss Katrine. It makes me
ashamed of my hardness. How is
Mrs. Cassidy, and how is Mikes
rheumatism? Is the baby a boy or
a girl?"
It's girl" piped Lizzie, aged ten.
An pap's rheumatism's something
awful. 1t was fierce when Miss Whar.
ten came day fore yesterday. We
Wuz all hungry too. an it was mighty
cold. Ma was sick too. Miss Whar-
ten, She"
Hush, Lizzie, hush!"
i was just goin' to tell the preach
er. She sent us coal, and stuff 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 a relative ar
rived to look after the family Rev.
Samuel started homo with Katrine
through the snow. His heart was sing.
ing. There was no doubt in his mind
now about this sweet, charitable girl.
why didn't you want Lizzie to tell
me, Miss Katrine?"
Because l hate to do things and
have everybody know"
But you won't do anything I'M the
missionary societies and I thought
we all thought"