Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-10-01
A HEART TO LET.

"There!" said Miss Wilhelmina. "a
think I've got it black enough now"
Miss Wilhelmina had been wrestling
with pen and ink. Not that she was
a literary lady-that was far from be-
ing the case.
The effusion upon which she was 50
hard at work was neither more nor
less than big "TO LET" printed on
the back Of a sheet of her deceased
fathers sermon paper, and she viewed
it with solemn satisfaction.
TO LET-APPLY WITHIN.
........... .......... ........ ....'.
a won't pay any agents fees" said
she, "nor / won't pay good, hard mon
ey for a notice that can print myself.
I've economical all my life, and I'm
not going to leave off now. Beryl, l
say?"
In answer to the last word, spoken
in quick, arbitrary accents, a bright,
eyed girl of seventeen came running
in, wiping her dimpled hands on a
frilled apron. Her cheeks were flushed
with household exercise, her shin. .g
brown hair was coiled in a lustrou:
braid at the back of her head, and hel
long-lashed hazel eyes sparkled like d.
almonds.
"Nhat is it, aunty?' said Berry
Brand.
Get the paste-pot and a brush,'
said Miss Wilhelmina, "and put VI
this ITO LETT"
Beryl looked first at her aunt, ant
then at the fat, black-lettered sign, il
dismay.
aunt" said she, "are you going t.
more?"
Eyes" said Mrs Whilelmina, "I'v'
made up my mind to give up house
keeping
"Where are we going, aunt"
"I'm going to Lcicestelshire,' saic
Miss Wilhelmina, ito keep house TO
Cousin Fred, whose wife, Lily, is fee
bic, and can't keep an eye to things
Beryl colored violently.
"But Aunt Wllhelmina," said she
1T was me that Cousin Fred wrote TO
to come and help Lily, and be a com
panion to the girls
"Yes, I know" said Wilhelmina
with the Indifference of utter selfish
ness: "but Fred hadn't any idea how
young and inexperienced you are. ant
I've wrote him that I will come there
if he'll pay me liberal wages and Civ,
me the complete management of every
thing
"But, Aunt Wilhelmina--"
"Nell?'
"yVhat Is to become of me?' PLEADED
poor BeryL
"Some people are always thinking o
themselves" said Miss Wilhelmin;
sharply. "Why, what should become
Of you? You can get place witt
Mrs. Somerset in the millinery bust
ness; or you can 60 out as a compan
ion. And now | think of it, it wa'
only yesterday l saw in the daily pa
per that Lyon and Stubb wanted ;
dozen smart young women to stand be
hind the counter. There are alway!
plenty Of things for woman to do il
she has little ambition and energy
And now don't stand there, looking a!
if your senses were all flying up tht
chimney, but hustle out and put W
that notice as sharp as possible, for it''
a nice day, and all the house-hunter'
will lie out"
Beryl obeyed, with an indescribabl'
feeling as if the whole world wert
turning itself upside down.
And as she leaned over the iron raj
of the steps, fastening the big "T(
LET' against the mildewed brick wall
a certain scent of greening grass anc
opening dandelions saluted her senses
while the warble of prisoned thrust
in cage across the street, reminded
her of visit she had once made, year
and years ago, to this same Cousin
Fred up in Leicestershire.
The tears came, unbidden, int
Beryl's eyes.
"Oh, how delightful it would be t
live in the real countryl' she said t
herself. "And i know l could max
myself useful at Cousin Fred's. Blu
if Aunt Wilhelmina is going herself
there is an end Of the matter"
For Beryl was too we'll used to he
aunts overbearing egotism even to at
tempt a struggle against it.
All her life long she had been tn
victim of Aunt Wilhelmina's selfst
ness. 1t was too late for any rebellio
now.
And then Wilhelmina went up t
her room to pack her trunk for Cousi
Fred's while Beryl returned to her disl
washing and ironing.
All day long the house was besi"gc
with an eager 'hrong of house hun
l.. l.