Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-08-17
4 SYMPHONY IN LAVENDER.

by MARY L. WILKINS IN HARPEB's BAZAR.
1t was quite late in the evening, dark and
rainy, when | arrived, and l suppose the first
object in Ware, outside of my immediate
personal surroundings, which arrested my at
tentiou was the Munson house. When 1
looked out of my window the next morning
it loomed up directly opposite, across the
road, dark and moist from the rain of the
night before There were so many elm trees
in front of it and in front of the house l was
in that the little pools of rain-water still
standing in the road here and there did not
glisten and shine at all, although the sun was
bright and quite high. The house itself
stood back far enough to allow of a good
square yard in front, and was raised from the
street-level the height Of i facewall Three
or four steps led up to the front walk. On
each side OF the steps, growing near the edgo
of the wall, was an enormous lilac.tr in
full blossom. l could see them tossing their
purple clusters between the elm branches
there was quite a wind blowing that morn
ing. hedge of llacs, kept low by con
staut cropping began at the blooming lilac
trees, aud reached around the rest of the
yard at the top of the face-wall The yard
was gay with flowers, laid out in fantastic
little beds, all bordered trinity with box. The
house was one of those square, solid, white
the wealth and importance of the dweller
therein half-century or so ago, and still
cast dim halo of respect over his memory,
1t had no beauty in itself being boldly plain
and glarng, like all OF its kind but the
green waving boughs of the elms and lilacs
and the undulating shadows they cast toned
it down, and gave it an air of GOODNESS and
quiet and lovely reserve. l began to feel a
sort of pleasant, idle curiosity concerning it
as l stood there at my chamber window, and
after breakfast when | had gone into the
sitting-room. whose front windows also faced
that way, l took occasion TO ask my hostess,
who had come in with me, who lived there.
"Of course it is nobody l have ever seen
or heard Of" said l "but l was looking at
the house this morning, and have taken
fancy to know
Mrs Leonard gaz-d rthectively across at
the house. and then at mo. 1t was an odd
way she had before speaking always.
There's maiden lady lives there, she an.
swerod at length, turning her gaze from me
TO the house again, 'all alone that is, all
alone except old Margaret. She's always
been in the family--over since Caroline was
a baby. l guess a faithful old creature as
ever lived, but she's pretty feeble now. l
reckon Caroline has to do pretty much all the
work, and l don't suppose she's much COM
pany, or much of anything but care. There
| she comes now"
"Who ?" said 1, feeling a little bewildered.
"Why, Caroline Caroline Munson."
slim, straight little woman, with a white
pitcher in her hand, was descending the
stone steps between the blooming lilac
trees opposite She had on lilac oolored
| calico dress and white apron. She
wore no hat or bonnet and her gray hair
seemed to be arranged in a cluster of soft lit
tie curls at the top of her head Her face,
across the street. looked like that of a woman
of forty, fair and pleasing,
she's going down to Mrs Barnes's after
milk, Mrs. Leonard explained. ''She al
ways goes herself, every morning just about
this time. She never sends old Margaret
reckon she amt fit to go. guess she can dc
some things about the house, but when il
comes to travelling outside Caroline has to dc
it herself"
Then Mrs. Leonard was called into the
kitchen, and thought over the information
at once vague and definite, 1 had received
and watched Miss Caroline Munson go dowr
the shady street. She had a pretty, gentle
gait.
About week later 1 received an invitation
to take tea with her l was probably never
more surprised in my life, as had not thu
slightest acquaintance with her had some
times happened to watch her morning pill
grimages down the street after milk, and hat
occasionally observed her working over he
flower beds in her front yard. That was all
as far as l was concerned, and did not sup
pose she knew there was such person a
myself in existence. But Mrs. Leonard
who was also bidden, explained it,
"It's Caroline's way" said she. she's al
ways had a sort of mania for asking folks
tea Why, l reckon there's hardly fort
night, on au average, the year round, bu
what she invites somebody or other to tea.
suppose she gets kind of dull. and there's
little excitement about it, getting ready fo
company. Anyhow, she must like it, or sh
wouldn't ask people. She probably ha
heard you were going to board here this sun
mer-Wares a little place you know, an
folks hear everything about each other-an
! thought she would invite you over with me
, You had better go; you'll enjoy it. It's
nice place to go to, and she's a beautif
! cook, or Margaret is l don't know whiC
. does do the cooking but l guess they bot
have a hand in it. Anyhow, you'll have
3 pleasant time. Well take our sewing al
Q 90 early-by three o'clock. That's the We
: people go out to take tea in Ware"
I SO the next afternoon, at three o'cloc
= Mrs Leonard and l sailed across the sire
a to Miss Caroline Munson's. She met us
/. the door, in response to a tap of the oil
o fashioned knocker. Her manner of greetiI
i US was charming from its very quaintnef
f She hardly said three words, but showed
Q the same time simple courtesy and pleas
v shyness, like child overcome with the d
= light of q tea party in her honor. She us
10 cred US into beautiful old parlor on 4
" right of the hall, and we seated ourselv
% with our sewing. The conversation was n
4" very brisk nor very general so far as l "
n concerned. There was scarcely any topic
70 common interest TO the three OF u.s. probab
Is Mrs. Leonard was one of those women W
converse only of matters pertaining to the