Warren sheaf., 1917-07-04

ed sternly upon the dress. She had
been on her way to the front chamber
to look over we'll preserved summer
silk, but the sight of the dress seemed
to proclaim the boldness of Sophia-a
boldness that was unexpected and that
seemed to rouse stern maidenliness
in the older woman. She reddened
darkly, and went hastily downstairs
| again.
In the solitude Of her own front
room she sat and thought. The stern
upbringing Of the Horner girls had
discouraged the coming of suitors, and
| it was not until after their fathers
death that Paul Weemers came to
preach at the First church. He had
been equally attentive to both sisters.
and it was perhaps natural that each
should believe herself to be the pre-
ferred one and the other an interloper.
| When Paul received call to larger
parish he came to say goodby, and
when he asked old Hannah if Miss
Horner was in the sisters appeared
simultaneously. Suddenly Abigail was
called away. and when she returned to
the parlor the young minister had gone
and Sophia was standing at the win
dow with a bewildered look on her
| pretty face.
Then a white rage had taken pos
session of Abigail. and her tongue had
loosed upon the frightened Sophia, who
turned fercely with upbraiding contra
dictions. After that scene, which no
one witnessed, began the long silence.
AS her thoughts wandered back to the
past she knew she had been unjust to
her sister, for really neither of the SIS
ters had any real reason for thinking
! Mr.. Weemers was in love with her,
which made Abigail's outbreak toward
her sister all the more unjustifable. at
was of these things that Abigail was
thinking.
The next day was Sunday. and So
phia stepped down the path alone, her
tened hands. She cast many anxious.
backward glances at the north wing,
where Abigails stern profile was out
ined against the windowpane. She
was bent over the pages of a religious
journal, and it was evident she did
not intend to go to church that morn
in. Sophia went on alone, swinging
her fresh muslin skirts and holding
her head rather high. quite unaware
that Abigail was watching her with
accusing eyes of mingled pity and re-
sentiment.
Sophia did not know why she was
hurrying to church that morning with
a pink spot in either faded cheek, but
her heart beat quickly, and she was
conscious of pleasant excitement at
the idea of seeing Paul Weemers again.
That was all. She futtered the leaves
of her Bible as she waited for the serv.
ice to begin. She wondered vaguely
where Mrs. Weemers would sit and
concluded that she was the fashionably
attired woman who sat in the minis
ter's pew. She was a plump, pretty
woman, with dark hair waving back
from a fresh, youthful complexion.
Then Paul Weemers came in, and So
phia gasped with surprise. He was
= rather stout and much older, and his
hair and beard were quite gray.
The next morning while the sisters
were attending to their separate house.
hold duties the doorbell toned dismally.
Abigail went into the front hall and,
peering through the side window light,
saw man in clerical garments accom-
panied by a woman. She paused for a
moment with hand on the knob; then
| she Onened the door
"Now, Miss Abigail, don't believe
you recognize me,'' exclaimed the man
heartily. II didn't see you in church
yesterday, although am sure that I
recognized your sister,"
"Mr. Weemers, isn't it?" asked Abb
gail coldly. won't you come inT'
Eyes, and this is my wife; my dear,
this is Miss Horner, one of my old
friends and parishioners."
II have heard my husband speak of
| you and your lovely old house, Miss
Horner," said the lady pleasantly.
u, They went into Abigairs cool parlor.
where is Miss Sophia?' inquired
Mr.. Weemers with evident interest.