The S. W. F. Club

ng and, leaning back in her chair, stare

rape" in her particular corner of the big garr

e coming-any number of them-only they were not coming her w

,'" Patience insisted shrill

n! If they would none of them stop on their own account,

ittle table before the window. Then her eyes went back to the dreary, rain-soaked garden. How d

e false start, the letter got i

self, a little dissatisfied

ul Alm

City, N

ps you do not remember which of us Hilary is. She comes next to me, and is just thirteen. She hasn't been well for a long time, not since she had to leave school last winter, and the doctor says that what she needs is a thorough change. Mother and I have talked it over and over, but we simply can't manage it. I would try to ea

ema

espect

E ALMY

T., May S

etter into an envelope and addressed it. It wasn't a

o the sitting-room, where her mother and Hilary were. "I'm go

, in thi

ncing listlessly up from the book she was trying to read

suppose there will be any mail for us-to-day; but I want a

all rolling; and, at the moment, it seemed that Uncle Paul must send it bounding back in the promptest and most delightful of letters. He had neve

West in Mr. Paul Shaw's private car-of course, he must have a private car, wasn't he a big railroad man?-and Pauline had come bac

ng his tall, scholarly figure. "Wh

what it was that had brought her out. With an impulse towards at least a half-confession, she said hu

her courage weakening; unless she got her letter poste

row slit labeled "LETTERS," she stood a moment, al

wer came? It should be here inside of a week, surely; and if it were favorable-and, oh,

ed-haired, freckled slip of a girl. She danced about Pauline now. "Why didn't you tell me you were going out

half open, and when she had taken off her things, Pauline stood a moment a little uncertainly outs

corner of the fireplace. "Well," he asked, looking

ce. "It was that I wanted to feel that it was really mailed. Did you ever feel that way a

her rather numerous confessions. Then it occurred to him, that, whether by accident or design, she was sitting on the very s

ve written such letters o

"Father," she said abruptly; "I have been writing

g to your Uncle Paul!

ished, Mr. Shaw sat for some moments w

the time," Pauline ventured. "I

r mother, or myself, before

used to have such good times together-Hilary and I-but we never have fun anymore-she doesn't care about anything; and to-day it seemed as if I couldn't bear it an

be equally so, I am displeased; displeased and exceedingly annoyed. However, we will let the matter rest where it is until you have hear

ing Hilary anything about it unless I h

a moment choking back a sudden lump in her throat. Would Uncle Paul treat

e an impatient summons. "

ine asked, coming to sit a

"Impatience says you've been writing all sorts of mysterious lette

like

te sure how the grown-ups were going to take it,

ave been writing-any

ence turned to Hilary,

uble to deny or confirm

what makes you think I'

ittle chin in her hands, stared up at her sisters from under her mop of short red c

. "Terribly convincing, isn't it?" Her tone s

e been up to something! And I'm pretty sure father doesn't app

cloth for supper. "Anything up, Paul?" Hilary ur

e; I shouldn't wonder if we

! But I needn't have asked; nothing

curtained archway between the rooms. "You know perfectly well, that the ev'd

Mrs. Dane this morning; she wants us to get up a social-'

adies' at the parsonage; or, at any rate, only one.

!" Patience repeated in

own the cups and saucers for the table. As soon as Hilary had go

ly; she was seldom call

Well?" she

d when Patience was sa

oor gently-"Now se

hat you calle

o-to help Hilary to get well; can't you see that I wouldn't want her to

itement. "How jolly! But who have

n't sai

you do; but if you go trying to act

promise not to ask questions, or say anything about it, before Hilary. We don't want her to get

be nice-v

ope

ll I be

't know what it'll b

did. I can't think w

dn't father like

't said

some. Didn't he know yo

her cups and sauce

ience observed. "Does

a good chance," Pauline said impati

pantry, sitting thoughtfully on the old, blue sugar bucket. "I know,"

mes when flight was the better part of discretion, in

n going to bid her father good-night, did she ask anxiously, h

mptness with which the party written to

Patience q

y-if not

nce s

letter to someone in Ne

up, answering his glance. "Paul didn't tell me, father;

ed, almost sharply. "N

run. "I think people are very queer," she said to herself, "they s

r came to take away her light, "father a

t put that in

n't

inly,

they 'dwell toge

tared down at the sharp

ience persisted. If p

to be highl

has said tha

if things had always t

r." Mrs. Shaw bent to

"I know they don't." She gave a little shiver of de

for her. "Come into your room, mother, please, I'v

own in the big armchair and Pauline drew up before

her's knee. "This family is dreadfully keen-sighted. Mother

and had done, her eyes on the fire. "You told him that we could no

ate; something has to be done f

nd I do not realize that quit

t over and over, and fat

giving the matter very careful c

't see-Father is Uncle Paul's only brother! If I were rich, and Hi

's going into the ministry, he wanted him to go into business with him. He is a strong-willed man, and does not easily relinquish any plan of his own making. It went hard with him, when your father refused to yield; later, when your father received the call to this parish, your uncle quite as strongly opposed his accepting it-burying himself alive in a l

ust thought-you see, father speaks of Uncle Paul now and then-that maybe they'd only-grown apart-and that if Uncle Paul knew! But perhaps my l

ould rather you said nothing of what I have been

from Hilary. And I won't write any more such letters w

own; and when the second went by and still no word from her uncle, the waiting and uncertainty became ver

eased proportionately, which probably accounted for the dying out of wha

y, she was in school the greater part of the day, else the str

om, after Hilary had gone to bed, "I don't believe Uncle Paul me

o give up hope. It's hard waiting, I know, dear, but that

ightened. "Oh, Mother Shaw! Suppose the letter is on the way now,

aples for a week or two. Mrs. Boyd would be delighted to have her; and it would

care to go; it's quie

. I believe I'll suggest

ine's opinion. "I shouldn't like it a bit, mother! It would be worse than ho

like going th

u can't wan

ou good, Hilary. I sho

ee the use of bothering wi

they are the only

mmock cushions; then she lay looking out o

old and gray and insignificant looking; her duties as sexton, in which she had succeeded her father, were her great delight. The will with which she sang and worked now seemed to have in it somethi

d figure moving about in the church beyond; but, somehow, she couldn't t

ck and forth. "I wish Jane had chosen any other morning to c

m her mending. "Why, dea

Anyhow, if she had, I shouldn't have to go to The

t has Jane to do

erything, I recko

are not to go at all, unles

press me too hard, Mother Shaw

've decided to go, Hilary. I-that i