The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-09-19
SELECTED STORY.
Mam'selle Malm.

and the air became soft, springlike. Next
day the sun shonc forth.
Spring had come. Spring and joyous,
exuberant life everywhere.
The market place was bathed in sun
light, and the white dome of the Russian
church shone brighter than ever in the
clear glittering spring air, while in the
distance the wooded shore of Dezeraland
stretched away in pale blue gray tints---
Ane, delicate and almost transparent-like
q film of lace against the vivid sky.
The drifts disappeared as if by magic,
water poured from the slopinR roofs of the
houses, rushed over the asphalt footpaths
and plunged with purling noise down
the grated drains,
The dirty gray covering Of the ice which
covered the market place began to show
dark patches, which soon enlarged and
filled with water, until the whole square
booonIo one pool.
The face of nature had changed so rap
idly it was difficult to enter ut once into
the new phase of things, and people still
Eazed about them with half comprehend
Ing, sleepy glances
The church bell rang, and crowd of
people came streaming down the high
flight of steps from Nicolai Kyrka. Union
street swarmed with servants clad in their
universal holiday dress of black, old la
dies who carried their psalmbooks in old
fashioned little reticulcs upon their arms,
and flocks of school children who, deeply
interested in the OVERLOOKING cutters, were
IN continual danger Of collision with the
passersby.
Through this crowd marched Mamscll
ILL n11 Shn bod
with short, sharp steps. Her manner was
ropelling, and she never once glanced
either to the right or to the left. Her
large mouth, with its thin lips and heavy,
massive chin, gave to her face a deter
mined, almost hard, expression.
The spring had never given her any
pleasure. This was quite natural, as to
her it presented itself simply as n period
of unavoidable expense, and today in par
ticular she felt more than usually bothered
by the spring sunshine.
She felt how heartlessly it showed upcv-
cry defect in her old turned and dyed
cloak, and the knowledge that the velvet
trimming on her old hat ought to be re
newed was IN additional trouble for she
couldn't imagine how she was to afford it.
All, yes, it was not so easy to be decently
dressed and look like other people when
one was old and sickly and sometimes so
tired that the needle fell out of ones fin
gers, and yet, after all, she could not re-
proach herself with vanity.
Such thoughts accompanied her home
where before entering her room, she was
obliged to sit down on chair near the
door, she felt so tired after her long walk
In the spring air. Taking off her cloak
she examined it carefully. Yes, it Ger
kns, Il f,,,
this year Her black gloves she regarded
proudly After all, they looked almost
new, and yet she had bought them year
ago last Christmas
She looked at the clock and wondered
why Tina Wessberg was so late today.
For 80 years they had in turn been each
others guests for their Sunday afternoons
cup of coffee. This was Mamsell Mains
one dissipation. What could have kept
Tina?
In the meanwhile she arranged the
cups, brought out some sweet bread and
filed the sugar basin and cream jug, and
having prepared everything she drew her
rocking chair to the window and seated
herself with folded hands, enjoying the
knowledge that she had the right to be idle
this day of the week.
A few minutes later gentle knocking
was heard and then the door was care
fully opened to admit n cheerful looking
little old woman, whose withered face had
an unusually mild expression about it,
Good morning, dear Nina. / hope you
have not been waiting very long for me,
but in such extraordinary slippery wealth
or one must be careful in walking" she
said as she took off her cloak.
Yes you are right. Spring is a trying
al Ci,, Il nod INV
the wind. There Is only one thing to be
said for it, ard that is that one economies
In frewood on such sunny days"
But you are very fortunate, my dear
Nina, you have a window overlooking the
street l never catch a glimpse of the sun
But after ALL it is shame to complain
when one has ones little income" added
Tina Wessburg,
The coffee was ready by this time and
the two women drew their chairs to the
table
1T is wonderfully nice coffee you al
ways have" said Tina as she slipped con
tentedly from the steaming cup.
mime Meldin, the wife of the CONNER.
cial advisor. sent me three pounds a.
Christmas, and only boil it on Sundays"
"Thanks, Nina it is remarkably good I"
Tina replaced her cup and carefully swept
. few crumbs off her dress into her HAND
and put them into her saucer
Have some moreS There is some left, -
asked Mamsell Malm in her abrupt way
"Well, it Is very tempting. 1t Is Ger.
tainly the best coffee to he had. Well,
perhaps half a. At this moment she
happened to glance out of the window,
and her words died away. A young man
of the working class was walking past
with girl on his arm. The girls teeth
CLEANED and her small eyes glittered as
laughingly she tried to push her compan
ion into the overlooking gutter In pass
ing she gave hasty stolen glance into tht
window, and catching sight of the two old
ladies she drew her arm out of his and
tried to put on an unconscious look Will,
she moved nearer the wall, hoping thus &c
escape observation.
But Mamsell Mains sharp eyes hat
caught sight of her and bitter expires
sion came into her face
1.-The gadaboutl If she isn't out agai
flirting with that good for nothing! y,
good will ever come of that, and the OLE
maids voice shook with anger.
Tina had suddenly became lost il
thought, and with coffee cup in hand sh,
nHs I,,1l, h,f