THE RIGHT TIME TO WRITE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 08, 8 October 1908, Page 37

THE RIGHT TIME TO WRITE

It was ten o clock, and Irene, who had been reading all the evening, looked up from her book in surprise as she heard carnage wheels on the driveway. A moment more and there was a soft, familiar tap ! tap ! tap ! at the door admitted l^slstef "* ""*** *"" *» Havl^aTS?! 0^ 1 * ™™ ? The tall, pale girl, wearily dropping her suit case, did not answer these questions, but asked another : 4 How's mother? ' « _ ' Oh, she's all right.' ' And father, is he any worse? ' hnthZ^ T' \x t !l ink hi u S r , heUmatism is rea »y better. They're both m bed. Why, what's the matter, Nan, dear?' asked Irene, in astonishment, as her sister sank into a chair and began 'Is there anything wrong at the office? You haven't lost your position, have you?' - , •No, oh, no!' sobbed Nancy. 'It's only that I've been so worried and unhappy all day, and it's such a relief to find everything all right. I'll be all right myself in a minute.' *pnH ' St - " ystified « said nothin S. b«t busied herself by gently removing Nancy's hat and pulling off her gloves, -while Nancy slowly grew calm. fe I Was mother very sick yesterday?' she asked,, at last. « w V£ 5 S^ £ JUSt had ° neof her old Was father in a very serious condition?' - noon.^ 11 ' h3rdly ; HC gardenin S a g ood P«rt of the afterf /» The !l' II 11I 1 " 6 " 6 ' Why did yOU write me th at he was " failing fast," and that mother was "awfully ni»? I got the iS his morning, and I've been so nervous about them all day tha could scarcely work, and just before closing time at the office made up my mind that I si mp , y must come h i could stay only a fewWs, for I have to go back on the earhest train to-morrow. Of course, at this time of ntght I had to take a cab from the station and the trip from the station wiU cost meWly five dollars, and you know we can't

well afford to throw that amount away. I don't see how you could send me such an alarming letter.' 10, Nannie, I'm so sorry! I didn't realise how my blueness would affect you. I was discouraged for a little while yesterday, when mother was in bed with the headache and father complained that his rheumatism prevented his digging and hoeing the way he used to. . I felt lonesome, too, because my best girl friend has gone away to study music, so I scribbled a waU to you. Mother got up quite well for tea,' and some of the boys and girls happened in .in the evening, and we had such a jolly time I got entirely over my blue mood.' ' I wish you had waited until then to write. Please select your cherful moments, for writing to me. It's hard enough to have to live away from home without being worried unnecessarily. Tears again welled up in tired Nancy's eyes, and Irene, throwing her arm round her, said : -' O, Nannie, how thoughtless and selfish I've been!'