MISS PACE'S CHAMPION

New Zealand Tablet, 25 October 1906, Page 5

MISS PACE'S CHAMPION

Martha Pace, who -at all times suffered -from- an insumciency of clothing, and whose stock of coals .was just now exhausted, looked through the window of the one small room she inhabited, at - the dull- . street ' down which a biting east wind was driving dust and leaves, and slightly shuddered. In years nearly, sixty in- garments threadbare and much mended, with features thin and pinched, she looked just what she was 1 a ' woman to whom life was a hard struggle. She had seen better days, but death and reverses of -fortune had brought her to her present condition of -'"private dressmaker ; which ' meant that she repaired gowns and made children's frocks for people who paid her less than they would- have had to pay an inferior four - more fashionable workwoman, and so called their employing her, 'charity.' _ She had never been at quite so low an ebb as she now found herself. Hard times had come to her -'• before but she had pulled through them without anyones knowing of her trials ; and she had never '.beenin debt to the extent of a penny in her life, lately however, she had experienced an unusual difficulty" in getting in money due to her;.. and to-day found her literally penniless, and without a fiagment of food in the house Still, she was not despondent. She glanced cheerfully at a bundle containing a child's dressnewly finished; her eyes and fingers and back had ached over it. But the work was ready at the promised time, and she was preparing to take it home to Mrs. Craven, a new and wealthy customer • she would be paid for it; next week other payments" dark "^ S ° the fUtUre Wa " S by no means ' She donned a rusty black bonnet and an -antique necklet, drew on a pair of carefully inked gloves, and went forth. In the -keen air she felt giddy and weak ■ but as there was no hurry, she walked slowly, study- ' mg the windows- as she passed, and deciding that people bad a great deal to make them happy nowadays There had been, fewer pretty things when she was a gin. timing home, she would, buy some bread and - tea, and perhaps an egg or a bit of bacon. It. wasa long way to the West End, where Mrs. Craven lived ; and not having the car fare, she was obliged . 'to wake the whole - distance. She was almost ex- - •hausted when she reached the mansion,- ascending the wide pearl-grey steps slowly. A smart maid: received- <-" the parcel, and disappeared down a long passage.bounds of music and laughter floated from some dis- • tant room, and" the opening of. the area door- had released odors of innumerable- good, things being cooked. . What a blessing it was that there were some who al- - ways had enough to eat ! . " ' : The -smart maid, -with' her rosy -face and coquettish - cap, tripped back again. * ~ • Missis is engaged, and' she'll send • you- , your •" ?^n yy c c w X V We ?' she said > all in a toith, and" then shut the door. _

The poor old soul stared' hopelessly and helplessly! oo ll j r » 4 Was a dl 'y click ii*S sound in her N throat as she finally turned away, not having the courage to knock again, even had she been inclined to- cf plain--her- wants and necessities to a- stranger. • «*h*r r " L ? rd 'lu Slie J* id r clas P in ~S her thin hands toSt;rV Sh ,r tooußht of the lon S cos^' between her - and her dwelling, .' help me to .get home again!'. - ««r« Cre S do^ n the sfceps ' shri n ] <ing closely to the;, railings, and pausing 'now and again for breath. What" IS *£ £? ne ? «. Sh€ had never *>*GB*L or borrowed--, she could not do either even .at this crisis. 'Vffi and Sl i?' r she halted before a Picture-dealer's^ .window, Tina-ble for the,, .moment, to dfag 'herself far- '^ tner ; and, mechanically lifting .her dim eyes, she saw a "luJSSV iTT? 1 ? 1 -- 0 bright, so fair to see that she almost- forgot her: own forlorn condition.: As the girl .stepped away^ frtinf the window, she collided with the t fiSSJ??,' nn 10 1 0 / ea^ s a - ?^*e as ?. f or she felt as if' a feather " would knock ncr down -"••-'

.' Oh, I'm sorry ! lam afraid I hurt you,' tho girl said gently. No, Martha explained, she was not hurt, but had been walking about for some time and was very tired* "The bright eyes scanned the pale,'. -"sunken face, the drooping, pinched rfiquth; the." silvery hairs under the

old bonnet. '- - ' " • ". r .-: "_ ; >» 'Take my arm,', "said the girl. M must make amends for nearly knocking' you do%i-.' * They walked onward, the girP'siipporting' the" frail old creature, and chatting -pleasantly tlie while." She - was an artist, she- said, and an - orphan. " ~ ' I live in lodgings and - earn" my own bread. But things might have been worse. My mother was -an angel, my childhood all sunshine, and I have that to _ remember - forever. - Besides, I am strong and energetic, and am doing the' work most congenial -to me,' she declared. And somehow the homeward way seemed less long and dreary to the tired' seamstress. But she could not turn the key in her door, so unsteady were her hands ; and the _ girl did it for her, and -helped her into the small, bare room. Martha did not faint, but she trembled from head to foot, r and a tear trickled down' - her cheek as she surveyed the tireless, grate. Hunger, cold, and fatigue were stronger than pride. She told heir bitter disappoint* ment ; but, true to -her instincts, declined all" offers of help from her new friend. ' Perhaps if I. had seen Mrs. Craven herself jt would have' been different,' she said.- 'I couia have explained -to her that I really needed the money.' - ' Now I know wfiatf to do ! ' cried "Agnes. ' You ; won't let me help you in one way 1 , but there is another to which you can't object. I will go and ask to see Mrs. -Craven, and tell her what a convenience to you payment would be.: Sit down -and rest i. until I come back. I am sure it will be - all right/ With that she departed, brushing away a tear. ':The poor old soul ! ' she said. « How ' can rich people -be so inconsiderate ! ' . The imposing exterior of. the Craven mansion did ,not overawe Agnes, who had been born and .bred -a" lady ; -'noi\ was she overcome by the pert maid, who looked "her- from head to foot . superciliously when she asked to see Mrs. Craven herself .. For a person wear- - ing a coat two seasons old to come to ' the front " door ' was the heigh* of audacity. However, she bade the . visitor enter, not very civilly, and marched a\?ay to deliver the message. Presently Mrs. Craven swept into the hall— a portly dame in silk a nd lace and glittering watcbguara. She was annoyed at being called away from the inspection of numerous birthday presents, and cut Agnes' softtoned explanation very short. "Miss Pace was told that she would be paid" next : week,' she said tartly. ' I suppose she does not think . that I.' won't' keep my word? ' " 'She needs the money, now,' urged , Agnes, ' A day or- two -means a g~reat deal to the poor.' Mrs. Crayen eyed the girl with disapproval; beauty - and ' young persons ' had no right to be in partner- . ship with each other. - " , -- 'Supposing 1 give you the money, how am'.f to <. know that Miss Pace will get it ? ' she asked. - '< Agnes stared ; it was a moment before she underi stood the insinuation. " - . . t - l Surely you don't thim'c lam dishonest 1" she } gasped. ' ' /-*__ ~ 'My good young woman, how in the world can I tell what you are ? ' retorted Mrs. Craven. , Then Agnes became aware that some one was looking at her over the lady's shoulder. She saw"~ too • dark eyes, a handsome face, a genial mouth half hid- ; den-by a - black moustache;' and her color rose ; tears t-.of humiliation and . disappointment glittered on her lashes.-- She -did not remain, to. argue .about .her ' own honesty,- «but turned away with a swelling heart ; opening the great door she knew not - how, and leaving the house. She walked on very slowly, half-cry- : ing as she -thought of Miss Pace's cheerless room, of "the wasted, wan old face. How could, she return "empty-handed? She forgot the insult to -herself in - wondering how she could help- the .little seamstress without - wounding her pride. " " : " " -• , - .All at . once she ' heard quick footsteps following f- her, and in a few moments the young man who had .•heard ' Mrs. Craven's, remarks was at her. elbow: He j-« had flung- a light dust-coat : over" his - evening jlress, and -■was- breathless- with haste."- - ' " :'>'--. ~" -.- - -- •• ' I beg^your pardon ! '/said_ he. ' But- 1 thinE you \-are the young lady from Miss Pace. - This isHhe-rthe * account; don't you' call it ? . Mrs. Craven "didn't inv tend to - hurt .your' feelings; Is that 'ail right ? -If it •/isn't", it. can be made so next week.' ~- ? ■ ■ „-- "1--~ clt was kind of -Mrs. Craven to .send you/ said -Agnes; 'and kind "of you to come.. Miss . Pace really heeds the money. A few shillings are a fortune to "her. I never saw her before to-day, but her face and her home told me Her history.'

all my fault. Your kindness to me, of which I shouldn't have taken advantage, has .brought this trouble on you.' - - - - • ' Mrs. Craven drove home in a state of simmering indignation. What a hardened sinner the girl must be! How she'had brazened the matter out ! Hearing Austin come in, she called to him;- - ' ' " ' ' Well, mother mine, what, is it ? ' .-. ils it possible that you went , after, that dressmaker's girl with the money'? 1 ' " ' ~ ''* Yes, I did,' he replied promptly. V How did you ,come to know ?' - . ' I should like to hear, first of all, why you did such a silly thing ?' - . >.-, - • 'Truth to^ teil, mother, 1 felt rather ashamed of the" delay in paying that small amount to a' person who had honestly earned it, and could -not afford to wait for it.'- ' - _ • ""-..- .." 'You had no right to do-what:you did without consulting me, Austin.' -' I am sorry- to have annoyed -you, mother r I acted on impulse, I admit.^ However, retribution was swift; for Morrison „ has been chaffing me unmercifully about this, —a consequence of my haste.' - \ z. ' This ' was the missing scarf, whioh he drew from the pocket" of his dust-coat. ' " - - -: '"I rushed out in a- desperate hurry,' be explained, 'snatching up the white thing-I saw lying .on.;- the hall table, thinking it was my handkerchief and crammed it into my pocket as I tore off. At 'Morrison's, the'children .were exploring me "for,-Jtoffee, and - unearthed what their ■ father professed to think"" was evidence of my " wanily." When he had- accused me of ■• a- secret desire to sport ostrich feathers"^jmtmy hat, rings -on my fingers, and bells "on niy -toes—why, -mother, what's the matter V - " •V-'C'i*''^"'-: Mrs. Graven had grown crimson. She was not a bad-hearted woman, and „ she repented of her harsh judgment, faltering out an admission of it, qualified by -the plea that, under the circumstances; her' sus-picion-had" been natural enough. . 'We owe the young lady an apology,' he said. « I shall lose no time in offering mine.' - . „ - ''I dbn't sec that you - are to .blame, Austin," replied his mother, a vague uneasiness in her mind—a vague- desire that he should not" meet-that-girt'again. 'Well, not directly or deliberately, perhaps,' he answered.: 'Nevertheless, some reparation is due.' „ It is certain that Agnes , did not refuse forgiveness when the young man presented himself at Miss Pace's Jmmble dwelling to ask for it. At a later dale he was pleading for something more,—a dearer, more priceless gift ; and still later the little seamstress was putting her neatest stitches and daintiest work into a certain wedding outfit. For at length maternal opposition to Austin Craven's choice of a wife was overcome by the sunny sweetness of the heart he had won, and Mrs. Craven - - found that" her new daughter would be very dear to her.—' Aye Maria.' ■ . "\

The tenth report on -the liabilities -of the Archdiocese of Adelaide has just been issued by his Grkce • the Archbishop, who says :—As is well understood.by this time, my usual annual report refers to such moneys Only as are raised for-purposes of building and -for - purposes of. charity. My present report furnishes no • exception ,to the ruh^ From March 31, 1895, to March 31, 1906—a comparatively brief term of eleven years— ! -the total received for the two purposes in question amounted to £238,840 Os 2d. Of ~this total, the sum of a little over £7000 was received from the State .Children's Department for the support of uncontrollable o. wards—boys...and girls—committed to our charce by the vbtate. Some few thousands, too, came from" nonCatholic: friends, wbo- wished to help us in the furtherance of our charities and in the 1- erection -of our churches and presbyteries and schools. . . . The #re- . port then deals with the old liabilities. It states that of the original 28-accounts only four now remain .in debt. The figure at which the old liabilities started was not the sole measure of the burden, as • .m various, .ways the old liabilities necessitated a further ;. expenditure of £43,110. During t|ie eleven years "under review- the bills to be met in connection with '.those-old accounts amounted to £100,078./ The receipts -for the term mentioned 'aggregated £88,802. The sum "of £11,276 has still 1 to be paid. Respecting-the'rem--nants of the" old' debts, the Archbishop says :'— r'The , liquidation of the Centralised Liabilities' is a matter affecting all the- congregations of. the •"•••'Archdiocese.. . What progress the process of liquidation has made all ..will be interested 4n knowing. In March,-1895, those - liabilities, stood at-£37,149 19s 1-ld. At- the-end 1 ' of ' March of the present year they had fallen- r to £8109 r 15s" lOd. -Since March last, though only five months have elapsed, there has been a, further -^reduction to the extent of some £1300.' ' '"'