Warren sheaf., 1917-07-04
A Mistake
The Story Of How. Two
Sisters We're Reunited.
By PAULINE D. EDWARDS

Although the Horner sisters had lived
in the same house for forty years, dur
ing twenty of those long years they
had not exchanged a word.
No one in Rosedale knew why Abb
gail had suddenly taken up her resi-
dence in the north wing Of the old
house and Sophia had settled her be-
longings in the sunny south half. At
the time conjecture had been rife, but
the nine days wonder had settled into
strong conviction that they had dis
agreed over the ''propty,' for it was
shortly after old Judge Horner's death
that the, estrangement began.
Every Sunday morning the sisters
stepped primly down the graveled path
to the gate and in wordless silence
wended their way to church and up
the aisle to the Horner pew. In vain
had the pastor demonstrated with them
singly and together. While open to
reason and conviction on every other
point, they were dumb regarding the
cause of their wordless strife
1t was June now, and Sophia was
digging among her pansies. She was
slight and pale, with pleasant, mild
face that now and then startled one
by settling into firm lines around the
mouth. Abigail's features were cast
in sterner mold. and the lines about
her mouth were deeper. and this char
acteristic feature in both sisters was
known as "Horner spunk,'' and it was
generally agreed that "Horner spunk"
was at the root Of the trouble.
Abigail stood under the cedars with
a copy of the county paper in her hand
She was slowly reading an article for
the fifth time:
The Rev. Paul Weemers, pastor of the
Park Methodist church, New York, will
preach in the First church at Rosedale
on Sunday evening next. It will be re-
membered that the First church of Rose
dale was Mr.. Weemers' first charge, and
his return will be the occasion of much
pleasure to his old friends and parishion-
efs Mr.. Weemers will be accompanied
by his wife.
She looked across the lockwood hedge.
into Sophia's garden. The news would
interest Sophia as well as herself
Abigail thought of this as she stood
there looking at Sophia's STOPPING
form. There was certain stern in
tegrity about Abigail that urged her
to break the long silence and to i'm.
part the news she had read to her sis.
ter. There was an underlying tender.
ness, too, toward her younger sister
that the bitter resentment of years
could not destroy. She resolved that
Sophia should not be taken unawares.
She leaned over the hedge and drop
ped the newspaper under Sophia s
nose.
Sophia squeaked with surprise as the
paper ratified among the pansies, and
there was blank astonishment in her
nearsighted eyes as she lifted them to
gaze upon the grim, uncompro romising
face of her sister.
The latter pointed to the paper with
an old time gesture Of command, and
Sophia, adjusting her spectacles,
sought the wrong page with agitated
eagerness. Then she turned the sheet,
and presently a nervous cluck and the
dull redden1ng Of her cheek announced
that she had found the item. In her
excitement the younger woman spoke
"He will CALL" she said softly, as if to
herself.
The next day was Saturday, and all
day long Sophia lavender muslin hung
on the clothesline, bending and swaying
n the soft west wind like misty
wrath Of Sophia herself. Abigail look