Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-07-20

journal. and 1t 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
that Abigail was watching her with
accusing eyes of mingled pity and re
sentiment.
Sophia did not know why she was
h%urrying to church that morning with
a pink spot in either faded cheek, but
her heart beat quickly, and she was
conscious of a 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 IA the f~ashionably
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
We're 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 a man in clerical garments accom-
panied by a N She paused for a
moment with a hand on the knob; then
she opened the door.
"Now, Miss Abigail, l don't believe
you recognize me-" exclaimed the man
heartily. 81 didn't see you in church
yesterday. although l am sure that I
recognized your sister"
"Mr. Weemers, isn't it?" asked Abb
gail coldly. won't you come INF"
Yes, and this is my wife; my dear,
this is Miss Horner, n of my old
friends and parishioners."
Il have heard my husband speak Of
you and your lovely old house, Miss
Horner." said the lady pleasantly.
They went into AbigaiPs cool parlor.
Where is Miss SophiaT' inquired
Mr.. Weemers with evident interest.
81 will call her." said Abigail reluc-
family.
She stepped across the hall and open
ed Sophia's door. That was the signal
when there was company for both.
Don't you care. Sophia" she whis-
pered with fierce intensity as her sister
followed her into the room.
Sophia was vfsibly agitated. She
stammered greetings to the minister
and his wife, which Abigail tried to
cover by commonplace remarks, but
there was an atmosphere of c%onstraint
oyer the four people.
"Win you have some refreshments
asked Abigail presently. 1T is a very
warm day." she observed. She left the
room and presently returned with
foaming glasses of root beer and q
plate of freshly cut sponge cake. She
ate nothing herself. but looked i~ntently
from her sister to Mr.. Weemers and
then q the minister's wife.
The 0kter set down her glass. DO
you know, Miss Horner, that when my
husband told me he was coming tG
Rosedale on Sunday 1 was delighted.
The first thing 1 said was, Now shall
see the Horner teapotT"
Abigairs face softened. $50 he re
membered our teapot" she asked.
Eyes, indeed. 1 have a mania for old
china, and Paul shares the mania. BE
has spoken of the teapot as such a
lovely example of willow pattern, and
l told him 1 positively must see it."
AHtrotI xvApf 70 a o~nInr1t 90 hfnnf ond
brought forth a large blue and white
teapot. 1t had been In the Horner
family for many generations and was
a treasured heirloom.
How perfectly loyeiy!' exclaimed
Mrs. Weemers, while her husband
hung over it In silent admiration. Sud.
denly he Strengthened back in his chair
and laughed heartily.
you do not know, Miss Abigail, how
hard 1 strove u day, many years ago
to ask you to sell me that famous tea
pot. j had seen it and succumbed to
its beauty. l remember, just a day OF
so before / left Rosedale, 1 called to
say goodby and at the same time to
ask If you would sell 1t, but l realized
my presumption and hardly hoped you
would do so. I tried to breach the sub.
ject, but somehow l couldn't seem to
make any Roadway. l recollect that
you were called from the room, and l
tried to approach your sister on the
subject, but she seemed to want to
talk of everything except the teapot, 50
I gave it up and went away. l wrote
to you once and asked about 1t, but as
1 never heard from you I presume the
letter went astray."
Abigail and Sophia We're looking at
each other over the blue teapot. There
was a startled expression In Sophia's
eyes, while Abigail looked pityingly at
her sister.
Abigail found her voice first. "My
sister and I would like to give you the
teapot, Mrs. Weemers," she said, with
decision In her tones. ''There is no one
to care for 1t after we are gone, and