MYRA'S PROMISE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 10, 7 March 1907, Page 37

MYRA'S PROMISE

' I can say one thing for myself anyway.* Myra spoke with decision, and perhaps with a touch- of complacency. ' I am careful about keeping my promises. I never did believe in signing pledges that one isn't goingi to keep. That's what I told the girls when they were trying- to coax me into that' new society. I don't think it is jrery nice to call names, so I won't do it ; but I must say some of the members that I know are breaking the pledge all the time. ' ' Do you make a distinction between written pledges and merely verbal ones ? ' It was plain-spoken Aunt Martha who put the question, and something in the round, clear gaze made Myra vaguely uncomfortable. Aunt Martha's spectacles magnified her eyes, and somehow one had the feeling of being under the microscope when those clear, grayblue orbs looked at one so searchingly. ' ' Why, of course, there's no real difference, I suppcise,' answered Myra slowly. ' But it seems worse, somehoiw, wheni you've delibjerately stuldied a printed pledge and put your name to it.' " I wonder why ? ' said Aunt Martha, and now her eyes were turned on the knitted Afghan she was making for the baby. ' Why, because—' Myra broke off far a moment, then began again. ' But of course any conscientious person would be just as careful about keeping a verbal promise. Why, of course, '—with conviction. 'Do you suppose, if I had .promised verta-Uy tci gijve a dollar to the SStt t Vincent de Paul Society, I would fail to do it— any more than if I'd signed a -pledge that I was going to give it ? ' ■ ' I suppose! not,' said her aunt, provided they came and reminded you of it. It's easy to forget sometimes. Buit I wasn't thinking about money pledges.' The old rocker creaked as Aunt Martha swayed back an(d forth, her eyes on her knitting. Myra's low chiair began to rock, too, but rather nervously, arid perhaps 'there was a touch of resentment dn the 'girl's mind. Still, Aunt Martha's keen eyes were just, and perhaps. c What do you mean, auntie ? ' Myra asked, rather abruptly. " You don't think I'm careless • about keeping my promises, do you ?" Aunt Martha's needle flashed in the sunlight ; she did not speak for, a moment. • Then she loofked over at her niece^ 1 How did old Mrs. Bennett enjoy your visit- last w.eek ? Dear old soul ! It was really touching the way she 'brightened up when you said you were coming over.'

' When I said ' Myra's face flushed, even though she looked a trifle puzzled for a moment. • Why, Aunt Martha, did I—-?I — -? l didn't tell her positively 1 was coming last week, did I?" 4lt sounded positive to me,' replied 'her aunt. ' Don't you remember she was telling you what a time she was having with her eyes, and how her feec were troubling her, and she could not go out, and— ' Oh, dear, yes ! ' Myra interrupted. - I remember. I -did tell her I would be over this week, and 1 suppose it slipped out of my mind. ■ It was such a busy week, you .know, auntie, and I— l forgot all about it. I hope she didn't watch for me. I hate -to disappoint people.' nut no- comforting reassurance from Aunt Martha was forthcoming. - "I suspect she sat at that window a good bit • she said quietly, ' watching and watching for you to come, and real disappointed that you didn't It wasn't as if you'd said you thought you'd be over You spoke positivaely, I remember. " I'm coming this week Mrs. Bennett," said you, and I noticed how .pleased she Hooded, poor, old soul.' And Martha was noted for the accuracy of her memory ; there was no. comibating it, and Myra's own remembrance , confirmed her aunt's. * I'll go this week, anyway ! ' she said hastily. 'It's too bad I forgot. But I don't believe I very often do break such promises.' There was no response but the clicking of the needles. 'Do I, Aunt Martha ? ' she added, rather timidly. ' I don't know that you're much more careless than other people,' said that lady, frankly.^ 'But seems to me your good nature's rather apt to lead yo-i to make promises. There was John going around with , that rip dm his sleeve this morning. - You told him yesterday you'd fix ~it if he'd .wear his old coat 'to school an the afternoon. But I noticed, when he came down to breakfast this morning, it was split worse than ever.' 'Oh,, auntie \ * Myra started up. •'< Where is he.?' ' I _ sewed it up— it didn't take five minutes,' said Aunt Martha quietly. * I just mentioned it as an - illustration.' - ■ • • - 1 Oh,' isaid Myra feebly, for" "really there didn't seem to be much else to say. Aunt Martha looked keenly at the slightly downcast head, and with real kindness, too. But when she did a thing she liked to do it thoroughly even at the risk of 'rubbing it in.' - ' I wonder if. you remembered to take that pattern over to Mrs. Jameson's ? ' she said. ' Myra started. 'No ! If I didn't forget that . too ! ' she said humbly. ' How could I ? I meant to take it to hier so promptly. '_ ' She told you not to bother with it, I'know ' said Aunt Martha. < But you thought you could lay your hand right on it, and I suppose every quarter counts with her. I hope she hasn't bought it for herself ; but, she's so afraid of being troublesome, I suspect she has.' , ',*'.. -- /'Oh, I hope not ! ' Myr a rose hastily with an alacrity born partly of real solicitude for Mrs. Jameson , partly of .a longing to forestall other recollections "of Aunt Martha's. But she turned back -for a moment at the 'door. It was one of her good traits that she was quick to admit herself at fault. ' IMI stop pluming myself on keeping my promises after this, auntie,' she said, « till I've reformed. Really, I had not any idea that I was so careless about promising.' ' Of course you hadn't,' said Aunt Martha,- beaming at her approvingly now.