Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-05-24
A Mistake
The Story Of How Two
Sisters We're Reunited.
BY PAULINE D. EDWARDS

~~N @~A~ S''iAuC houSS 4oN lOIIy years, uuT-
Ing twenty of those long years they
had not exchanged word.
No one in Rosedale knew why Abb
EaN had suddenly taken up her resi-
-aaez2ce in the north wing of the old
5esszsc and Sophia had settled her be-
4A0pgings in the sunny south half. At
Fl ssse time conjecture had been rife, but
1se nine days wonder had settled into
n ss&rong conviction that they had dis
saEneed over the ''prop'ty," for it was
saSrtiy after old Judge Horner's death
THAT the estrangement began.
livery Sunday morning the sisters
HfEpDed primly down the graveled path
II The gate and in wordless silence
wesa1ed their way to church and uI
1iAe aisle to the Horner pew. In vain
2basz the pastor demonstrated with them
sxansay and together. While open to
reason and conviction on every other
asxHf, they were dumb regarding the
Ss.zsase sof their wordless strife.
ut was June now, and Sophia was
riaiSsssing among her pansies. She was
6Ssnt and pale. with q pleasant, mild
E2ce that now and then startled one
my settling into firm lines around the
nss8rh. Abigail's features were cast
IN 81 sterner mold, and the lines about
2aa- xnouth were deeper, and this char
zsrzEristic feature in both sisters was
Imewn as "Horner spunk," and it was
ysneraLly agreed that "Horner spunk'
'1EzE at the root Of the trouble.
<xs< H.
u ncpy of the county paper in her hand
asAe was slowly reading an article for
tiae ;f1fth time:
The Rev. Paul Weemers, pastor of the
Park Methodist church, New York. will
usnach in the First church at Rosedale
asR Sunday evening next. 1t will be re-
xzzsznhered that the First church of Rose
. atsz1ee was Mr. Weemers' first charge, and
hos return will be the occasion of much
Efexasure to his old friends and parishion-
derx Mr.. Weemers will be accompanied
by his wife.
She looked across the lockwood hedge
2ufs Sophia's garden. The news would
Interest Sophia as we'll as herself.
Abigail thought of this as she stood
there looking at Sophia's STOPPING
4arm- There was certain stern in
1egrity about Abigail that urged her
10 break the long silence and to i'm
Fart the news she had read to her sis
EEK. There was an underlying tender
ness, too, toward her younger sister
That the bitter resentment of years
azzuid not destroy. She resolved that
Sophia should not be taken unawares.
She leaned over the hedge and drop.
XHed the newspaper under Sophia's
.sose.
Sophia squeaked with surprise as the
paper ratified among the pansies, and
xhere was blank astonishment in her
aeArsighted eyes as she lifted them to
xaxe upon the grim, uncompromising
11ce of her sister.
The latter pointed to the paper with
asa old time gesture of command and
Sophia, adjusting her spectacles,
sought the wrong page with agitated
rS2gernesS. Then she turned the sheet.
and presently a nervous cluck and the
'aEa reddening of her cheek announced
Ghat she had found the item. In her
excitement the younger woman spoke
lie will call,' she said softly, as if to
hergelf.
The next day was Saturday, and all
"d1ay long Sophias lavender muslin hung
a7n the clothesline, bending and swaying
IN the soft west wind like misty
Ssss-sith of Sophia herself Abigail look
~a@2 s4ernly upon the dress. She had
sssen On her way to the front chamber
M look over well preserved summer
azk, but the sight Of the dress seemed
IN proclaim the boldness of Sophia-a
laGAdness that was unexpected and that
sssszned to rouse a stern maidenlinesS
aG the older woman. She reddened
dAarkly and went hastily downstairs
again.
In the solitude of her own front
1lTeon she sat and thought The stern
a&er1ngins of the Horner girls had
e discouraged the coming of suitors, and
E was not until after their fathers
1sseath that Paul Weemers came to
preach at the First church. He had
seen equally attentive to both sisters.
sSaUo 1t was perhaps natural that each
1aAedio believe herself to be the pre-
1zsrred one and the other an interloper.
usAeA Paul received call to larger
HHrasR de came to say goodby, and
SWaaea he asked old Hannah If Miss
@Aorner was in the sisters appeared
2sEanltaneensly. Suddenly Abigail was
HdcaAed away, and when she returned to
dssse parior the young minister had gone
<And Sophia was standing at the win.
4NxsU with q bewildered look on her
Irs11y face
Hssen a white rage had taken Dos
SESSION of Abigail, and her tongue had
-1esad upon the frightened Sophia, who
t7szrzaed fiercely with upbraiding contra
e1zsrtions. After that scene, which no
eyzae witnessed, began the long silence.
61Aa Fer thoughts wandered back to the
ap2Eehe knew she had been unjust to
EeT sisasr. for really neither of the sis
aErs had any real reason for thinking
MT Weemers was in love with her.
XRzch made Abigail's outbreak toward
1nF sister all tho mona ,,ri,rct;6ob1o ra