Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-11-02


looked into the snug sitting
room, where his landlady sat deep in
the local paper
Where shall l forward your mail
sir"
She did not express surprise NJ his
sudden announcement. He had board.
ed with her six years. She was accuS.
toned to his abrupt decisions and has.
~ departures.
I'm not sure. yet. I'll send YOU a
Awfully hot, isn't it? Good day. Mrs.
Muncie"
And the youthful face. Silvery head
and square shoulders vanished from
the doorway. But a minute or two
later the door was opened.
BY the way, I've packed up n box
# magazines which have been accu-
mulating unread. | may get a chance
at them now. ! wish You would have
the box set in the cellar, and III tell
Jerry to call for it and ship it to me-"
Very we'll, sir
And then Mr. Keith was out of the
house, and. walking down the elm-bor-
dered street. looking erect and young
despite his forty.tive years and his
prematurely Silvered hair.
The faded specialized eyes of Mrs.
Muncie glanced after him with an air
Of motherly proprietorship.
six years he's been here. bless him,
and more considerate and kind gen.
tleman the good Lord never made. \
letter for me, Mr. NickS:'
Mr., NickS, the mail carrier. had
paused AT her gate and was turning in.
Yes Hot day. See Mr.. Keith is
off. Good afternoon, ma'am.'
Mrs. Muncie turned her letter over.
stared at the superScription, opened
the envelope, and read:
My Dear Old Frend-I am coming
down to you for Il couple of weeks.
have not written TO you since | came
up TO this city seven years ago to earn
my living with my wonderful accom-
plishments.' But I've found there is
NV It'N II vi ltlN III = VI ldH- Ht-tS, lIlul
my voice is not so divine as my friends
assured me, and so | settled down long
ago TO the commonplace but rcnuner-
alive employment of putting up fine
iellieS. | have succeeded. | am doing
well. But l want a rest. SO write me
line saying if would intrude, or if
any reason exists why should not i'm
pose upon You for awhile. Affection
htely yours, Margaret Jardine."
\ knock came to the door
Come in cried Mrs. Muncie. ooh.
its you, Mrs Wray, And here you've
caught me just cryin for sheer joy"
The letter in. her hands trembled.
Here Miss Margaret-my dear Miss
Margaret you've heard me tell about
60 often. an who | didn't know was
dead or alive-writes that she is com
'ng to stay spell with me. You know
| was housekeeper for her folks years
an years when they We're the great
people of this part of the country. an
lived in that splendid palace on the
hill, that looks so forlorn an neglected
now. Her father failed in business
and the fact killed him. His wife
didn't stay long after him. An there
was my dear Miss Margaret-onlya
slip of girl of eighteen. flung out on
the world TO earn her own living. |
begged her to stay with me-but she
couldn't be dependent. But now
well, there; you may read for your
self"
And she handed her sympathetic
neighhor the letter.
Two days later Mrs. Muncie. potter
ing away over some crab-apple mar
malade. glanced up at an elegant in
truder who had come unbdden into
her kitchen, stately, graceful, fash
onably attired woman with a delicate.
patrcian face, deep blue eyes and a
beautiful mouth.
Bless my SOUL cried Mrs Muncie,
IF it isn't my dear Miss Margaret :"
And then the faithful old soul had
Miss Jardine in her arms. and was
laughing and crying over her at once.
And so you are putting up pre-
serves said Margaret, half an hour
later. as she sat slipping her tea. I'm
going TO help you. I'm an expert now.
You know, laughing, IA professional"
And this despite Mrs. Muncie's half
shocked protestations. she insisted on
doing. But when she looked at the
jellies Margaret made her admiration
was unbounded. such lovely col.
orS,' she exclaimed. beaming at the
filled glasses. such rose and Grim
son and amber. and all so crystal
clear. How did you ever learn to
make EN- like that? You won't be of
Tended. will you. my dear. if send a
box of them TO my sister that lives in
JeSsup County? She's an invalid. an
they would be such n treat to her
Il shall feel flattered if you do So
Margaret assured her.
So the box was packed and put in
the cellar, and Mrs. Muncie Went
down town TO engage the drayman to
come and get it. But during her alb
Sence fate, in the person of Jerry. the
porter of the firm of Keith 4 Co.. in
terposed.
Jerry had been sent % get a box out
of Mrs. Muncie's cellar. Margaret.
suppoSing him 10 he the oxpressman
sent 10y her hostess. went down the
cellar with him. and pointed out the
box containing the jelly.
There is no address ON it" she said.
DO you know where it is TO go:"
Yes, miss That's all right I've
got the card for It in my pocket"
When Mrs. Muncie appeared with a
man and wagon, Margaret explained
that the box had been called for
Il declare. that provoking Tom