Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-07-17

very insignificant looking, but OF 80
much Importance to the woman who
turned it round and round, and read
the directions curiously. They were
very simple-"Apply evenly with Q
soft cloth"
"I'm glad it amt hard to fix-any
one could do that Guess I can see
we'll enough without opening the
blinds and lettin' the flies in." And
soon she was absorbed in her work of
covering the Objectionable skin with
the preparation which, as it dried,
formed coating of white on the dark
features.
"What a difference it does make, to
he sure!' thought Aunt Sheba, con-
templating the unfamiliar face. 'I
wish it didn't look so strikin', though; !;
makes me appear sorter CHASTITY, but I
guess l amt used to it. that's all--my
skin is so dreadful dark. Patty's used
to fair-complected people; it won't
look that way to her."
With hands that trembled like ex-
citement, she changed the dusty dress
for fresh one, fastened her lace col
lar and stepped back to look at her
self. In the semi-darkness of the
room she saw little woman in black,
with softly-waving gray hair, and q
pair of dark, bright eyes in strange
contrast to the white face. Aunt
Sheba began to feel queer. She hoped
the change in her appearance would
not be so noticeable to the others as it
was to herself, but she frightened as
she thought that the change was GER
tainly in her favor, and, with this
comforting thought in mind, she went
boldly out to find her niece.
"Why, Auntie, when did you get
back? I didn't hear you come in. I
must have been out at the we'll. But
how pale you are!" exclaimed the girl,
looking at her aunt through a veil of
steam rising from the dish of potatoes
in her hand. "Don't you feel we'll?
That long walk must have been too
much for you. Uncle Eph says it is
such hot day." and Patty put down
the potatoes and anxiously approached
| her aunt.
Aunt Sheba's faint protest that she
was we'll, was lost in Uncle Eph's
hearty voice exclaiming:
"What have you been doin' to your
self, Sheba? You're the color of the
fence Jobs been whitewashin', and I
declare, 7 believe that's just what
you've been a-doin'-whitewash
for his keen eyes had caught sight of
the dividing line between the face and
the neck still brown, which Aunt She
ba, in. her ignorance Of cosmetics, had
not thought to cover.
"Well, we'll, Patty, we are gettin'
gay since you've been here. I Thought
was fixin' up considerable, putin on
necktie every day, but your aunt
beats me-" and Uncle Eph went off in
to peal after peal of laughter in which
the girl could not but join, until a
sound from Aunt Sheba checked them
both-a sob which she vainly tried to
repress. Her husbands fun, though
we'll meant, was too much for the over
wrought nerves of the poor woman.
All the love and longing, hope and
fear of the past few months found vent
in tears, while sobs shook her from
head to foot
Uncle Eph was not little surprised
and alarmed at this display of emo
tion.
"What is tho matter, mother? I
didn't mean to hurt your feelin's; twas
only my jokin'; you never minded it
before"
Aunt Sheba struggled to speak, but
her words came brokenly. "No
daughter-wanted Patty to care for
me-so ugly,
Uncle Eph comprehended in min
ute. "Poor little mother!" he thought.
"And me standiu' here maxim fun of
her. l feel as mean rs can be.
guess I won't say anything more now,
but wait spell till things clears up q
little" "There, don't take on SO,
Sheba," he said aloud, "I'm goin' out
to the barn Bit" and he added face
tiously, "There's one good thing about
that there powder, you only have to
use it once in lifetime" but the
words were accompanied by gentle
pat on the shoulder, which went farther
to comfort his wife than anything he
could have said.
"What do you mean, Aunt Sheba?"
exclaimed Patty anxiously as soon as
Uncle Eph's stout figure had dlsap-
peared. 'I'm sure I never thought
you were ugly, bu. the dearest and
best auntie in the world"
Aunt Sheba tried to explain, and in
a moment Patty's arms were round
her neck and Patty's voice, full of re-
morse, was exclaiming: "To think
that should have given You so much
trouble by my foolish talk" and the
girls tears mingled with those of the
woman, at thought of the pain she had
50 unconsciously given.
There is no telling how long they
would have sat thus. had not Aunt
Sheba, Just at this touching moment,
suddenly raised to view a face that
was too much for Patty even in her
contrite mood. Tears had washed
away the powder in little streaks from
the cheeks, Pattys kisses had taken
off another spot from the forehead,
and poor Aunt Sheba's face presented
a mottled and spotted appearance that
was very comical.
ooh, Aunt Sheba, do come and
wash that stuff off; it makes you look
so funny" said Patty, laughing in
spite of herself.
"Well, child, I mays well, and !
don't know but what it's done its work
well after all, since it helped me to
find out what wanted to know all the
time, that your old aunt wasn't SC
ugly, but what you could learn to like
her."
Patty's answer must have pleased
her aunt wonderfully, for she bright.
ened up at once, and was soon at work
with soap and water trying to remove
all trace of the cosmetic that had had
such different effect from what she
had expected.
"There, child, guess it's off now,
o;n,t n oo said Amt Sheba after n few