Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-02-02
she would be a dangerous rival.


"Mss Arbuthnot, pray be seated"
and she passed her chair. She took
1t, hating the sewing girl for the
sweetness of her voice and delicate III
donations.
81 have been informed that you
have very beautiful flower, Miss -,
"Armory,"
"Miss Armory. Oh, there it is !.
Why, it is beautiful, superb | never
saw anything equal tits delicate,
delicious beauty y and Miss Arburth-
not rushed to the little window where
the one plant bloomed in rare lowell
ness.
"a little glimpse of Heaven" Katie
Armory often whispered to herself as
she touched the petals in a caressing
manner, and she was almost ,lealons Of
this proud womans familiarity with,
and admiration Of, her own treasure
the poor mans eve lamb, mentioned in
Scripture.
II wan it." Miss Arburthnot con
tinued. GLOW much do you want for
it 2"
81 have no price," returned the
sewing-girl with quiet dignity. 81
cannot part with it.
"Indeed !" Miss Cornelia opened
her black eyes in amazement. 'How
can you afford to keep such 9 luxury ?
A pot of palmer howers--a geranium
rose, or some such would do you as
well"
"No, Miss Arburthnot. This is
the one link left me that connects my
past and present. | have no friends
save this inanimate one"
Miss Arburthnot sneered.
Every poetical. Ipresume, though,
your occupation engenders poetry.
Kate Armory flushed the insolent
manner OF this petted beauty stung
her to the quick.
If" continued Cornelia, ''you do
not let me have it l cannot engage
you to work for me any longer"
For a moment the girl was silent.
How could she part with this his on
ly gift ?-and not to let it 60 meant
starvation !.
81 want it Cor Easter" Miss Ar
burthnot explained. "It will look
beautiful in the church. | will give
YOU ten dollars for the use Of it, and
return it to you after | get it home
again"
A few minutes later and she bade
Miss Armory carry it down to her car
riage, an order which she reluctantly
obeyed.
"Here it is !" exclaimed Cornelia as
she exhibited it to her sister. sit is
not perfectly lovelye | know Mr..
Aylesbury will be delighted !"
"How did you get it from her ?"
queried Belle.
"Oh, | simply told her she must let
me have it. She put on the airs OF a
queen, and then cried. l compromis-
ed by telling her | would return it,
"Will you?"
mo, indeed. | gave her ten dol
lars. That is sufficient recompense for
one in her station of life"
On the following day the church
was resplendent with flowers. Never
had an Easter been solemnized by
such protuse decorations. Cornelias
offering showed conspicously in the
midst, for it was the only one OF that
specie.
She tried to appear very devout as
the silvery notes of the impressive
Easter sermon fell upon her ear, but,
in truth, she was trying to catch
glimpse of Philip Aylesbury's face.
After the services were over, he
stepped up to the altar and was exam
ming it.
"Can you tell me whose offering
this is ?" Philip questioned Of the sex,
ton.
"Ob, yes Miss Cornelia Arburth-
nots,' was the response.
"Miss Arburthnot !" He turned,
and she stood beside him.
"Where did you obtain this 2" he
asked.
"1s it not beautiful, Mr.. Ayles-
bury q she queried, touching its
soft, shining leaves.
"Lovely, exquisite. A gem among
flowers, that is seldom seen in this
country" was the rapturous response.
"But-whele did you get it ?"
sit would be useless for me to tell