Katherine's Sheaves Part 52

"That won't be such a difficult task," he replied, gently touching a curling lock on her forehead that was so like his sister's.

"As for the name," Jennie resumed, more seriously, "you say my middle one was given me for you; why not transpose it and call me Mildred Jennison Arnold? Then I can keep them all, and it will not seem out of place to still address me as 'Jennie.'"

This was regarded as a happy thought, and, as soon as the necessary papers could be made out, she became Alfred Arnold's legally adopted daughter.

His chief thought now appeared to be to make her life as happy as possible, and, after consulting her wishes, he purchased a lovely home very near Hilton Seminary, secured a competent and motherly woman for a housekeeper, and thus the girl was enabled to continue her course at school, as a day scholar, and enjoy her delightful home at the same time.

Dr. Stanley also bought a fine residence in the same locality, and early in January Katherine was back once more to take up her life work 'mid old familiar scenes, greatly to the delight of the Seabrooks and her many other friends.

Her husband still retained his office in the city, but with a new sign now hanging in his window--"Phillip Harris Stanley, M.D., Christian Scientist," and already he was becoming widely known as a successful pract.i.tioner.

Soon after their return, in the fall, Prof. Seabrook and his family identified themselves with the Scientists of the city, and also with "the Mother Church" in Boston. Some of the pupils dropped out of Hilton, because of this step, but others came to fill their places, and a year later both wings of the building had been extended and a most flourishing condition of affairs prevailed. Miss Reynolds had resigned her position at Hilton, at the beginning of the year, and remained at home with her mother, and where she also had taken up her work for Truth.

Sadie Minot, having attained her majority and come into possession of her fortune, decided that she would be happier to locate near her old friends, with whom she was in such close religious sympathy, and she accordingly found a pleasant home in the city and resumed the study of French, German and music.

One morning, late in February, she went up on the hill to spend the day with Katherine, who often claimed her for such a visit, for their friendship was one of the dearest things of their lives.

To-day, however, Sadie appeared to have some weighty subject on her mind, for she was unusually thoughtful, and Katherine was beginning to wonder if anything was troubling her, when she drew forth a letter and, pa.s.sing it to her, said:

"Read that, honey, and tell me what you think of it."

With a dim suspicion of what was coming, Katherine drew forth the missive from its envelope and read:

"DEAR SADIE: When the prodigal faced about to go back to his home, his father went forth to meet him. I have faced about; I have returned to my father and--our Father. The one has welcomed and forgiven, and Truth is teaching me what true forgiveness of sin is--the destruction of sin in the human consciousness. Now I turn to you to seek pardon--nay, I suppose I should 'know' that I am already pardoned, since you also are learning to recognize man only as his Father's 'image and likeness.' At the same time, some acknowledgment is due for wrong that I have done you. Truth compels me to confess that my motive in seeking you, two years ago, was not good, and I am now ashamed of my later persecution-- it was unworthy of any man. And now, justice to myself prompts me to say that, underneath, there was a real fondness for you, and I find--now that I am clothed and in my right mind--that it had acquired even a stronger hold upon me than I then realized. I write this because I am soon to go abroad for an indefinite period--have been appointed confidential secretary to----, who goes, in March, as United States Minister to England. All I am, together with the brighter prospects before me, I owe to Phillip Stanley, who, next to her who has given to this sin-burdened world the message of Love that has saved me, commands my deepest grat.i.tude and respect. Send me one word, Sadie--'forgiven'--and I shall leave my country with a lighter heart than I have known for years. NED."

Katherine lifted moist eyes, to her friend after reading and refolding the letter.

"Phillip says the change in him is wonderful--he saw him, you know, when he was at home for Christmas," she observed. "Shall you send him the word he asks for, Sadie?"

Miss Minot did not reply for a moment, and her flushed face drooped lower over the embroidery in her hands. At last she said, slowly:

"Honey, I have sent him a word; but it was 'Come'!"

"Sadie!"

"Yes, and"--a shy smile playing around the corners of the girl's mouth--"a telegram received last night reads: 'Coming Thursday; sail March thirtieth; can you get ready?'"

"You fairly take my breath away!" exclaimed Katherine, amazed.

"And you are going to England with him?"

"I reckon he'd hardly expect anything else, after I had said 'Come,' would he?" queried Sadie, sweeping her friend a shy look from under her lashes.

"It seems to me you are not quite so averse to a European trip as you were a year and a half ago," Mrs. Stanley observed, in a significant tone.

Sadie laughed out merrily.

"Well"--the old Southern drawl manifesting itself--"at that time, honey, the attraction to stay was the same that it now is to go."

"I am glad, Sadie--I really am," said Katherine, after a thoughtful pause. "Phillip and I have often wondered how things would eventually arrange themselves for you two. I must say, though, the way you've managed it is unique in the annals of history," and she burst into a hearty laugh.

"Think so? Well, you see, I didn't have any preserved moss rosebuds to send him," retorted Miss Minot, with a chuckle.

"Sadie, will you never let up on those rosebuds?" cried Katherine, still laughing. "However, as I said before, I am glad; you are practically alone in the world and will be happier to have a home of your own, and I think I would feel very sorry to have Mr.

Willard go to a far country all by himself. Now, I am going to have you come right to me until you go," she went on, with animation. "You shall be married here. I will matronize you, and we will have all the old school friends on hand to give you a rousing send-off."

"How perfectly lovely of you, Katherine! It will surely be a great comfort to me--give me such a homey feeling, you know, and I--"

but Sadie's tremulous lips and an unmanageable lump in her throat would not permit her to go on.

"I shall love to do it, dear. It will give me a fine opportunity to entertain our cla.s.smates and other friends," Katherine hastened to say. "But how perfectly funny!" she cried, gayly, "to be planning for your wedding, and you two lovers haven't yet come to a definite understanding?"

"Oh! yes, we have, honey. Ned knows, as well as I, that everything was settled by that one word, 'Come.' Nothing but details remain to be arranged. But--oh! Katherine, how I shall miss you!" she concluded, yearningly, for, as we know, during their two years'

friendship there had been scarcely a cloud to obscure the harmony between them.

"Yes, we shall miss each other," Katherine a.s.sented, with a soft sigh. "But"--turning luminous eyes upon her--"we both have the same shepherd--Love; we shall both dwell together in the 'secret place' and be ever working for the same blessed Cause. Nothing can really separate us, dear, so long as we faithfully keep step in moving towards the Light."

THE END.