Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-12-18
LINKS OF CIRCUMSTANCE.
BY EVELYN RAYMOND,

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
cumstances, it might have been sweet.
At that moment it looked what the
grocer called "sot."
She went into the harness shop. 81
want horse blanket. Not the largest
SIZE"
"Yes, miss. For night, Or day
use?"
81 don't-know. For the stable. ;"
'"Then this sort. Here some
others, for the street. Very nice.
Like to look at them?"
"Do I need two kinds?"
''In this weather, horse certainly
requires blanketing after driving. But,
of course, you know that"
"No. I know nothing. I am just
setting up an establishment"
$50? Been buying recently?"
cat the auction, to-day"
(which horse?"
'"The little one. The pet"
The dealer smiled. 'I should think
these cheap blankets were about the
pattern for such an animal"
Barbara's temper flashed. "I will
take one of each. The proper size.
This blue and gray one will be becom-
ing, I think" Her manner, as she
paid the ten dollars which Flora's cos
tunes cost, implied "The horse is
mine. She has become dignihed
member of society,""
'Pll send these right away"
edo 80. please. Where is the feed
store?"
AS she left the first shop she "did"
little mental problem. ga woman
bought horse for eighteen dollars, q
night blanket for two and half and a
street blanket for seven; how much
did she pay for the horse? Answer
Her new winter coat. Was the woman
satisfied? She was"
Then she crossed the street, rumin-
ating.
CT haven't the least idea what a
horse requires, except hay. But I
won't be mean. HIM! I want to buy
some-er-horse provision"
"Yes, madam"
"I'll take-Ill take twenty y-five
pounds of hay and ten of oats"
"Eh? Beg pardon! I didn't quite
understand.
Barbara repeated her statement
distinctly.
eyes; but we don't sell in that way.
Hay by the hundred weight. Feed by
the bag or bushel."
"Indeed?" The merchant looked
honest. She resolved to trust him.
"I have never owned horse before.
Please give me little information. I
shall appreciate it."
SO did the seller of oats, and Miss
Belts left his establishment with the
price of gown to swell the sum in
addition.
Flora was "in clover" She held
up her venerable head and looked her
new mistress so gratefully in the eye
that Bab's heart melted within her.
"You precious animal! I believe
you are almost human! But how You
do eat! I suppose you've been half
starved. Never mind. You shall
have all you want, if 60 without
myself. Goodnight, Flora! Pleasant
dreams"
Did she actually hug the creature?
Elderly maidens, not fully appreciated
by their families, sometimes do eccen-
trio things. Be that as it may, Miss
Belts went into the house and ban
daged her wrist, where an ugly bruise
called for gibing comment from
Kathryn.
"I do believe that beast has bitten
you."
"Well, if she has, she hasn't yet
learned to under stand kindness"
"Oh, 1 thought she was a family
pet?"
There was no reply.
Barbara visited the stable four times
that night. She was there when the
breakfast bell rang, and she was not
in quite her usual dainty trim when
she appeared at table.
GIVE been getting things in order.
I'll not be so late again"
"Shades of Araby! I wish you'd
postpone your stable visits till after
you've visited your family" observed
the younger sister, shifting.
"Children"
eyes. mother. But, Bah, what are
Won going to do with Miss Flora, now
you have her?"
I'm going to buy saddle and
ride. She has a delightful motion,
they tell me-"
barbara Belts! how are you to pay
for all this extravagance?"
"Out of my own allowance.
The tone admitted of no further
comment.
When they left the breakfast-room
Mrs. Belts said, rather wistfully:
"Now that we have a horse, l al
most wish we had-a wagon"
Flora's mistress was inclined to re-
sent the "we have" but glance
motherward checked the tendency
On the walk to the mail her saddle wa:
metamorphosed into q harness and