Katherine's Sheaves

which she made some change in her dress, then sought Mrs.

ous pillows. She looked pale and worn from recent sufferin

m an entertaining book, to pass the time during hi

ver she met her principal. His manner to her was always marked by the most punctilious politeness; but it was such frigid courtesy

eager hands to her, and, after saluting Prof. Seabrook, Katherine

and I've been watching the door ever since dinner. Can y

resting," Katherine observed, as she glan

"But he has an engagement pretty soon, and is only staying with me till mamma comes back

rine, "and I can stay an hour, or more, with you if you like. I will go on with the r

ed. "Mamma can finish the story by and by. Now,

eabrook

l anxious to get away to an important appointment. Well, Dorrie, what shall I bring you from the c

day, you know," she s

hocolates for Sunday will have to be forthcoming,

cle Phil, if you see him, to b

issing her fondly,

d quietly le

e closely confined woman was glad to avail herself of, and Dorothy was soon absorbed in the description of a moo

ly towards the highway, but with a very

ek with Dorrie, while, with Miss Reynolds alarmingly ill and several of the students threatened with as many different ailments, her time had been more than full, and her mind heavily burdened with care and anxiety. So it was with a sense of freedom and

of the seminary, when she saw her brother, Dr. S

forward to

he slipped her hand, girl fashion, into his, as it hung b

was returning to town from a visit to a patient, and he told me she

e within the last few hours. Miss Minturn offered to sit with

perhaps I ought to go on and take a look a

of tears in her voice. "Miss Minturn is very nice with Dorothy," she continued, struggling for self-control; "the child alwa

t us get as far as possible from that pile of brick and stone and its too familiar surroundings." And sti

ddenly, after they had traversed quite a distance and talked of v

ink so, Em

eadows, and rich pastures dotted with their feeding kine were suggestive of prosperous homes and husbandmen; stretches of woodlands, with their sturdy trunks and vigorous branches, unfurled their banners of living green in varying shades and lent an air of dignity and strength to the attractive landscape. Here and there an apple orchard, with trees in full b

eciation of the exquisite picture before her. "It is only poor humanity that seems all out of tune," she went on, the tense lines coming back to her face. "

s arm, drawing her closer to him with a tenderness which told her that he b

ined. And I suppose everybody has been asking it over and over for ages gone by. We have been taught that sin is the root of it all," he went on, musingly; "that sin brought sickness and death. Then, as you say, if God is supreme, why d

llip, that is not fair nor just-it is not logical reasoning. I believe I am beginning to be very skeptical, for that argument hasn't a true ring to it. What human father or mother would torture their offspring simply because an ancestor, many generations ago, had committed a crime, however heinous? Oh, sometime

ing morbid," said Phillip Stanley, looking with

that child of pain?" Mrs. Seabrook cried, a sob escaping her quivering lips. "I don't expect she is ever going to be straight, like other girls. I only ask that she may be freed from suf

when the season is more advanced and you go to the mountains she will improve more rapidly. But how would

ome one

another sp

eight years," said Mrs. Seabrook, wearily. "I have more confidence in you than in a

r to speak your mind freely," s

ists? Would it be too ridiculous to try their metho

anley

about the miracles of nineteen hundr

at do y

ce on the subject, and told of his promise to r

came so interested that I read the account of eve

"but that has had nothing to do with my thought. Something very queer has occurred during the l

er condition rather

s had these attacks, she has been very willing to have a physician, but this time she flatly refused to

Dr. Stanley, in

inturn is a Christian Scientist

es

his morning, however, Miss Minturn told me, in her quiet way, that she was 'more comfortable.' But you can imagine my astonishment when I went to see the woman,

t fever?" exclaimed

llow-eyed, she seemed nearly as well as ever. She would not talk of herself, though; she just evaded our questions-Miss Williams was with me-but ran on about Dorothy and school matters in general, as lively as a

rprised if she had," Dr.

p, you do believe in Christian Science healing, af

one in its name," Phillip Stanley replied. "Has Will never told you that I suggested we

er mentioned th

incident that had occurred on the Ivernia during his return pa

e, with a supercilious wave of the hand, any method of healing that could do what I know was done for that suffering child last fall. And, my dear sister, I am sure I do not need to tell you that I would be willing to y

an Science could cure her; at the same time I would not object to giving i

yourself, Phil?" his s

arted, the

to my imper

; you need it f

n mend a dislocated optic nerve," return

ther, both intent upon the subje

going to ask Will to

ok at length asserted

nly mental treatment,

n if it does

r returned. "He was rather short with me about it, and I could see

somewhat sharp reply. Then she added, as she turned her face towards home: "I think I will have to go back now, Phil. I have been out ne

cs, and Dr. Stanley was glad to see a healthful glow upon his companion's c

, who was lying restfully among her pillows, with a look of pe

herine he settled his chin with a resolute air

will you manage so that I can have a few

ard to Dorothy's side, while Dr. Stanley turned to g