Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-06-08

old ladies again alone until the holi.
days were nearly over,
Il had to come and say goodbye,
Miss Fldelia,' she said. stepping brisk.
~ into the shop one cool August after.
noon. II am going away tomorrow.
How are you, Miss Fidelia? And how
is Miss Flora"
"prctty well, thanl; YOU" said Miss
Fidelia, politely ana with reserve.
pretty well-a litllc tired, | think"
But you've had n good season"
Maud Went on with confidence.
pretty good said the old lady
again. Then she leaned over the coun.
ter and sighed impressiyely, laying
down her knitting.
ITO tell the truth" she said, cts
been sort of trying somcway, this sum-
mcr Miss Ainslee. Seems rs If there'a
mers, and It's worrisome for us, you
know, SO used TO quiet as we are.
There's sister," she lowered her voice
and turned her own nodding old head
to look atIectonatcly across ut Miss
Flora's, bent srdulously over her work.
shes not so strong rs you'd think,
having such color, you know, and
looking SO young; and she does get
just tuckcred all out, and You might
say nervous, If I'm not over so careful
of her. But then, everybody is going
away now soon-thprc hasn't been but
one person in to-day besides you-and
we'll have a chance to rest. Was there
anything you wanted to-day, my
dear!' she added, noticing that Maud's
sparkling face had changed unaccount-
ably.
mo, I think not-or-ycs, I should
like a piece Of that ruching, please
the kind | liked 50 much, you know,
when first came"
"Oh, that" said Miss Fidela, placid
ly, beginning to click her needles again.
I'VE don't keep it any more. You see,
there was such call for it we couldn't
keep any in the store. Seemed rs IT,"
Il little meek eXasperatiOn came into
her voice, lust seemed as If everybody
wanted some OF that ruchng! We had
to be sending to Boston for it all the
time, so we just decided we wouldn't
bother with it any more. There isn't
anything else you'd like"
mo, thank you,' said Maud, smiling
suddenly.
Even as she smiled 4 mist cane over
her eyes. The little, peaceful old shop,
the little, scdate, cOntcntcd old ladies,
secure in the set and tranquil order of
their lvcs-what had they to do, after
ALL with the push and enterprise Of the
biz. modern world? And what was
she, to think, in her young preSump-
ton that she could better anything so
sweet and wise as their calm content.
mcnt with each other, with their own
modest capabilities and the frugal IN
dependence they had made their
own? What if they didn't want i'll
considerable people to come and buy all
the ruching for which they had taken
the trouble to send to Boston? She
laughed again through the soft dew
in her eyes.
"GoOd-byr, Miss Fidelia! Good bye,
Miss Flora" she cried. heartily, hold
ing ont her hands to them. Il shall
certainly come and see you again next
%ummer.'
"Good-byc, my dear" said the old
ladies', one after the other, bcamin%
scdate and indulgpnt Kindness upon
her from their Giim old eyes. ITS
been Il real plaSurc to have you com
Ing in" Miss Fidelia added. 1--WE shall
miss your bright face, slant we. sis
trr:'
Looking back from the corner, Maud
saw them still standing in the door
Way, under the sign OF the Misses zen
Kings, the two gray heads close to-
gether. handkerchief waving from
che OF Miss Fidelia's trembling hands.
while the other rested prOlcclingly
upon her sisters shoulder. - Youths
Companion.