Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-04-02

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6s AtINiRN%t ON tlptOe, 10 see II
fMXI NWM he were going tc
hNMIUl T. NRMM stop. Yes; he dis.
NHiNWhl.N WMNN appeared at the
AIM tiAh NJ S,%@ entrance. She
WyRkfl Y n JIEyN$ crossed the room,
NNDP '~N ,,kI$%& and opened hel
l@N"S'I door q crack. She
could hear his slow, even tread on the
stairs. Perhaps he was only going tc
leave Mrs. Warren's mail, on the hool
below. But, no he was coming on
up the second flight. The girls heart
beat violently. He must not find her
waiting there, and she sped noiseless-
ly to the window.
Rap-tap!
With sinking heart Bertha saw the
large envelope IN the carriers out
stretched hand; but she smiled as
brightly and said, ooh, thank you''
as heartily as if she had not known
that the brown wrapper covered the
story on which she had builded SO
many hopes.
The corners of her mouth dropped
with the shutting of the door. So it
had come back-after these weeks of
weary suspense! ''I did think they
would take it," she said to herself,
tearing open the envelope. She
glanced at the printed declination
blank, and there was slight curl of
the pretty lips. With an impatient
gesture she tossed the package from
her. ''There is no use!" she SAIL
eff they won't take that, they won't
take anything me" She gazed
stolidly out of the window. For six
weeks this story had been her forlorn
hope. Never had the future looked so
dark as now. Alone in the world,
with fourteen dollars in her purse,
and no visible way of obtaining more
that was he rpresent situation.
Bertha Wayne's first attempts in
writing had been fairly successful.
That was three years ago. Then had
come the financial depression which
had been so far. reaching, and for the
last twelvemonth the only market she
had found for her literary wares had
been most unsatisfactory. The man
whom she had counted as her best
editorial friend had died, and the new
editor had his own corps of contribu-
tors. Stories and poems which o
year ago would have brought liberal
checks were now returned to her with
politely worded circulars. Publishing
firms that were her debtors collapsed
without warning, and for two months
she had not had single article ac-
cepted. 1t would have required a
stouter heart than hers to have met
these days without quailing. For
weeks she had felt physically and
mentally incapable of continuing the
fight. Now she told herself, "I might
as we'll give it mp first as last"
Thinking her bitter thoughts, she
looked down on the hurrying throngs.
Cali with something to do" she said.
"But for me there is nothing-noth-
ing! There's that ugly little doctor
again"
Her eyes rested on young man
alighting from carriage. He was be-
! low the medium height, slender and
boyish, with face that was unde.
niably plain. Having fastened his
horse, he swung a yellow bag from the
vehicle, and passed within a doorway.
"He is n success" muttered Bertha
jealously. "Only little while ago
lie was footing it all over town! Now
he drives everywhere. Well, he's
man-and smart, Isuppose; he is ugly
enough to be! I am only a girl.
What's the use of living anyhow!
At last she went to her writing; but
her mind was distraught, and the
story Jagged. 1t is not easy to build
happy romance when ones heart is
aching.
Day after d,y Bertha Wayne wasted
her precious pennies on paper and
postage, hoping against hope. Days
of work and worry were succeeded by
wakcful, weary nights, until nature
had her revenge. One evening the
girl dragged herself home from the
post Office and crawled up the long
flights of stairs, only to faint at the
door of her room. Miss Winslow, the
little dressmaker across the hall,
found her on the floor.
"It is nothing" Bertha said, trying
to reassure both herself and her
frightened neighhor. "I am only
tired. 1 shall be better in the morn
ing"
But she was not better in the morn
ing. On attempting to arise, she
barely escaped anotherfaint; and Miss
Winslow insisted on summoning
physician.
DIR. Halberta was of splendid pro-
portions, tall, erect, broad shoul-
de:ed. As lie stoodin the doorway, his
strikingly handsome features lighted
by smile, his patient was swept by q
thrill Of admiration. But at his
words her face whitened.
ooh, You have heart diseased"
She looked at him appealingly.
"How do you-know 2" she falter-
ed
The doctor had abandoned his
smile. and stood considering her
gravely.
"A very easy matter" he replied
nonchalantly. II could tell the mo.
ment I saw you. But there is no use
in being alarmed; TINT only heightens
the danger and retards recovery"
"Do you think I can get we'll, then?"
sia skad IN ,arlx,