Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-03-04

her work went and st down at the win
dow where air and sunlight were ex-
cluded.
The princess lay back on her pillow
caressing the flowers. Their fragrance
softly filed the room. It was such very
small room that very few would have
sufficed for that; 3 very thin, much
shrunken little room. and gave the lie d.
rect to that brave old saying, There's
always room &C the top
Ruth, " spoke the princess, ct length,
ssthe flowers are getting tired"
They arc only thirsty" said Ruth,
and she forthwith laid aside her work.
and, bringing cracked bowl from some
mysterious recess, arranged the flowers
within.
ssPut them where ] can touch them,
Ruth, . whispered the princess.
Thereupon her busy handmade drew
to the side OF the low cot . small pine
table, not by any means an article of
virtu, but by reason of being the largest
article the room contained, the small
table seemed to bear itself with quite q
jaunty and important air.
.sThey are like the flowers that grow
in my garden, said the princess, after q
pause.
Ruth raised her head with an under
standing smile.
lis it very fair to-day?n she asked.
cit is beautiful to-day, said the child,
clasping her little hands. There are
yards and yards of green field, and the
brooks are all singing. oh, Ruth don't
you hear the brooks sing9n
Sometimes | hear them, . answered
the older sister, softly, raising her eyes
with far-awav musing in them. st is
very beautiful, dear"
She went back to her work again,
looking out for an instant as she passed
the window, where air and sunlight
such as they were-did come in, and up
ward where the sky showed, blue and
fair. Thank God, the sky is fair to rich
and poor alike; and once again her face
was as the face of an old woman, though
the beautiful, sad eyes, gazing upward,
held something of the passion and pain
of life not wholly withered and dead.
.sThe beautiful ladies will give me
more flowers. Ruth" questioned the
princess, wistfully.
more flowers, dear, on Thurcday, !"
answered Ruth, already busy with her
work.
1t was two miles out of her way, and
the sun was very warm, and car-tickets
were a luxury the princess sister could
not afford; nevertheless, the president
of the flower charity, busily putting the
finishing touches to bouquet and talk
ing as she worked to a grave, handsome
man beside her, saw the slight young
figure enter the rooms that Thursday af-
ternoon, and smiled-a true, womanly
smile-across the intervening space.
THAT is she." she whispered to her
companion. II will beckon her this
way Now you must make her talk. for
she is very proud, or else extremely shy. =
Neither shyness nor pride, however,
could hold their ground against such
smile and cordial greeting as awaited
Ruth Trevor when she stood before the
two. Gradually she told her story, quite
simply, never dreaming, SO adroitlY was
she questioned, that she was telling it at
all. And it was SO easy to tell of the
little one at home-that was what she
called the shrunken little room on the
margin of the fourth prccipice- when
the flowers that were to make her happy
for many day were put into her sisters
willing hands.
What is your occupation9" asked
young DIR. Fargood, suddenly.
i tried to get dressmaking think
could have done that well''-raisIng ear
nest eyes to his butt failed; so''J
with brave little smile--''I do slop-
work" The doctor stared II make
mems jackets" explained Ruth, meeting
the. uncomprehending look Some
times it is something else just now
am working on gingham bIouses."
And how much can you make at
thatI" abruptly, but by no means IN
kindly.
They pay me thirty cents dozen for
the bl0uses, and / make dozen day !;
sometimes when / can afford-when /
have q candIe-I make q dozen and q
half"
81 will come and see your sister, 2
said DR.. Fargood. after an eloquent 81
lence. perhaps / may be able to help
her."
ooh. if you could, sirl" cried Ruth,
wistfully; s'but-n
II shall try, went on the doctor,
calmly, taking no note of the PROPOSE
tiOn. or of the flushed, troubled color
coming and going in the pretty face, ito
do her some good: and it may assist me.
/ Like to study such cases when have
the chance.
He spoke in quite cool, business like
way-almost cruelty, Ruth thought, as
If that wee little thing were q creature
to be studied and analysed And when
he had the chancer' Such cases, alas