Mrs. Wilson Woodrow

“ A weight as of thousands of tons fell upon Frances's heart. She looked across the bed at Garvin. He was gazing at her with such profound intensity, such concentrated appeal, that she caught his prayer as readily as if it had been expressed in words. It was: "Promise anything, anything that will spare this tortured child. Soothe her. Give her peace. In human pity, let your beliefs and standards go. These are her last conscious moments." But there was no acquiescence, no promise in the Missionary's eyes ”

“ Ethel means well, and she's been a good friend to Lutie; but she's crazy about religion, and she's got some kind of a fixed idea that she's got to save Lutie's soul at any cost. I don't see"—with a short vexed laugh—"why she don't get enough excitement out of beating her tambourine and singing and praying in the streets without tormenting my poor girl.
"Every time Ethel talks to her about religion it brings on a nervous attack. Fortunately, she's taken rather a fancy to the lunger preacher—what's his name? Carrothers—and he hasn't bothered her much about her soul; he knows better, I guess. ”

“ And you just see," rising to go home, "if I don't teach Frank McGuire what flirting is."
Frances looked anxiously after the girl as she started down the hill, then she ran down the road after the younger woman. "Myrtle," she said in a voice which trembled, "don't try to get even with Frank; remember his provocation. Sometimes whims like this spoil a woman's whole life. Make it up, Myrtle."
Myrtle put her hands affectionately on the Missionary's shoulders and laughed. "I'll teach him," she said emphatically. "Don't you worry none, Missioner; I got to teach him." ”

“ It makes her feel that she is really ill, you see. Now, if you could help me persuade her it is necessary? I can't be with her all of the time. You see, there is a great deal of business which must have more or less attention, and then"—with a faint smile—"I've got to sleep a little."
Frances looked at him. This man, worn with vigils and spent with the endeavour to soothe the last days of a poor wreck of a woman, was that same Garvin of whom Ethel and Herries had spoken as the willing companion, the complaisant prey, of light women. ”

“ Evans it was who kindly offered to assist the preacher in planning the arrangement of his cabin, and, as they sat about the kitchen table in the evening studying his drawings, would appeal to the shy and silent Susie for advice: "Mr. Carrothers," explanatorily, "she's such a housekeeper as never was. When the cabin's finished, we'll come over, and Susie shall get up one of her suppers for you. My Lord! They're simply great! Susie, lift the coffee off the stove and hand down Preacher a piece of pie." ”

“ You see, the doctors all agree that she has only a little while to live. Well, if they are right, and these are really her last days, why, I want them happy. If her fancy turns to jewels and clothes and that sort of thing, by God, she shall have them! ”

“ Thomas frankly at the Wednesday afternoon meeting of the Ladies' Aid Society; "I do' know if you're just on the right tack. 'Course," sighing deeply, "we got to recognise that bacon an' greens is more to a brute of a man than the gentle influence of woman; but you got to remember that he's young and ain't made such a god of vittles as they do when they're older. ”