TWO GARMENTS IN HER WARDROBE

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1913, Page 61

TWO GARMENTS IN HER WARDROBE

Aline, convalescent after an illness of several weeks, sat in the pleasant bay window with an exquisite appreciation of being down stairs again, even if as yet strength was not hers to step outdoors into the late autumn sunshine. To appreciation was added gladness when she saw two of her schoolmates come hurrying up the walk, their wind-blown cheeks as red as roses. ' We met the doctor, and when he told us he had left you comfortably ensconsed in the bay window, we couldn't resist coming in to see you, Aline!' exclaimed the older of the two girls, as they entered the room. 'How fine you look! It won't be long before we shall have you back in school.' Aline smiled delightedly as the girls sat down on the lounge near. It is lovely to see you!' she cried. 'Tell me all the school news.' ' Jennie Marshall has failed in the special exam. She took in ancient history/ began the younger girl. ' I just knew she would. The idea of her believing she could make it on such short preparation!. But that's Jennie; she is the most egotistical girl I know.' ' Somehow I have never thought of Jennie as being egotistical,' Aline answered gently. 'Do you know, Martha, she has always appeared to me as being modest, because she accomplishes a great deal against odds and in such a quiet way. Her mother is an invalid; there is quite a big family to look after, and, with only a maid to help, it isn't possible that Jennie can have much time at home for study. Any way, as mother > often says, it isn't failure not to gain one's point, if rona has really tried her best, as I am sure Jennie has. Are you going to take drawing the second semester, Rowena V ' The older girl nodded her head. ' I have a piece ol good news for you, Aline. Miss Morton has returned to fall her post as drawing teacher. She missed you rigfat away and was so sorry to hear of your illness.' _ 1 think she s the dearest teacher ever was!' Aline cried, a faint color coming into her cheeks. ' I shall be so happy to see her again.'

She's wearing that dress : she wore all last fall,' Martha observed. ' I'm sure it is the same, but she has had it dyed. I know it by the darn in the back width. I think for the credit of the school that she ought to dress better than she does, but I suppose she just can't help being stingy.' , _ 'Oh, Martha, dear!' Aline protested.: 'Professor Arden told mother that Miss Morton had denied herself everything possible in order to put her brother through college. I admire her with all my heart. -I'm sure I never could be as -unselfish as she.' V We're going to take singing twice a week, and gym, too,' Rowena announced. ' And no one may be excused from social hour Fridays without just cause and reason.' Thanks to Mr. Albertson's and Miss Judson's desire to display their respective talents for singing and playing!' Martha chimed in. 'Miss Judson may be in love with her own playing, but I'm not; she gives herself such airs and graces.' ' Well, she is a graduate of one of the finest conservatoires in the city, and I suppose she feels she has a right to some distinction,' Rowena laughed. 'And, anyway, she doesn't play for us every .Friday.' 'Thanks be!' Martha replied, as she arose. 'We really must go. We are on our way to the Art Institute. Saturday is a free day, you know.' ' It's good for you to come for a little while,' Aline said gratefully. As soon as lam able to stand the excitement mother says she is going to have my girl friends to luncheon. Isn't that dear of her? I never, never can pay folks back for all their kindness to me.' As she spoke, Aline leaned over and selected two red roses from the bowl standing in the window. ' I want you each to have a rose,' she added. At the gate Rowena. turned to wave her hand and smile at the one watching from the window. Martha followed her example, observing: .. ' I think Aline is ridiculously childish for her age.' ' And I was thinking how she reminds me of something that Uncle Robert once wrote to me about Grandmother Perry. I remember the words perfectly, because I thought them so beautiful and expressive of grandmother.' Rowena paused, then added slowly: ' It is as if she keeps two garments in her critical ward-robe—-a robe of humility for herself and a mantle of charity for her neighbor, and she is careful never to don the wrong one. She has only to shake the folds of her soul's raiment, and out fall the flakes of goodwill to her fellow-creatures. That is Aline. And that is what makes her so loved and lovable.'