Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-08-17

door and then turned and held out her
hand.
IN take all my words back" she said,
''if only some one will Eay-say he is sor-
ry-that am going
No one spoke. Her sister turned her
back violently. Her botler-in-law wore
n face Of stone The forr boys. big and
little, feigned to be oecu pied with other
things. and the girls stared and made
no reply, but at the Lass second David,
the youngest boy, who vas s years old,
ran TO her and caught her hand.
Cant l come to see you sometimes
after you go away, Aust Martha" he
said. There were tears In his eyes. The
lonely woman snatched him to her hun
grily for a moment.
Il think he has lifted my curse from
your roof she said ana went out. The
Witherspoons were still ihcredulous. But
when they heard the froat door slam they
ran TO the window to look out. Sure
enough. Aunt Martha was walking down
the path bravely, but with her handker-
chief at her eyes. One tf the girls was
sent up to her aunt's room, but it was
found that of her poor belongings none
had been taken from is place. Nor did
she ever send for them.
The town was all agog over the activity
of Martha Sessions. the Eeress. Within
II hours she had purchased a village
lot. much brautihcd 10y frees which had
years before been planted about the site
of house since bu. ned. She contract
cd for the building of u tiny home and
herself directed the plans. She appeared
dressed in simple but tue garments, and
she wore an air Of anlable distinction.
Il was the same air sir had always had,
except that her liberated spirit looked
ont Of her eyes. People enjoyed the ro-
nance Of il all, and they enjoyed Miss
Martha. whom they discovered to be
4 s.nGulariy wei informed woman and a
lady of excellent taste. She was invited
I to tea ut the most eSLiusive houSes il
| town. She moved at .ast in the society
/ 10 which she had been BORN. People Of
| fegod to assist her in rhe buying Of pic
| lures and china and linen.
And at the end Of three months she
| was settled in her own home. She sat be-
! fore her own Ere locked about at book
! lined walls, smiled AT the pictures for
which she had always lonccd and by
J touching the little bell at her hand could
! summon her white capped maid, who was
| delighted to serve her. She could look
| with happy eyes at her own gold band
ed china and have the pleasure once a
week Of polishing her dainty silver and
| glass. She was full of domestic enthu-
siasm and as important as a child with
a new toy. She had her charities and
she was already recognized as an ardent
member of the church.
Moreover. there came the hour of the
perfect climaN-She had the rector to tea
1t was a wonderful occasion. Mrs. Deli
van, the widow, was there, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Wynant-he was the principal of
the high school-anh young Caroline Ar
mold, the artist, and the Rev. Mr.. Ellison
of course, at Martha's right hand. What
an hour! How the gold bands on the
china shone! How the glass sparkled
How snowy was the linen! How deli
cate were the pinks!
But what were these glories to Miss
Martha herself in her gray silk gown
with the honiton lace and the garnet
brooch with her gray hair crimped anC
her hands decorated with two modest
diamonds? What a lady! What a mis-
tress of a fine occasioni Really il was &
great hour. But it may be that the thinG
which made her happiest. even happier
than the presence Of the Rev. Mr.. Eli
son, was the fact that close beside her, il
his Sunday best, with a smile of content
ment on his face, sat David Witherspoon
dividing his delighted glances between hii
surprisingly beautiful aunt and tn,
ounce preserves.-Chicago Tribune.