Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-12-28

in Jim's life. and that object lived Oh
the street back of all the fine folk
whose entrances were kept so immacu-
late. Whatever romance may have
been his in the past there was no evil
dence of it now. No lOcket-encascd
photograph lay next his heart never to
be parted with in this life. He did
not need Il photograph of her She
was present in the living flesh adorned
with multifariOus curl-papers every
morning when he dragged the hose out
of the little shed and with the cool
water made the tiny garden green and
fresh. She still enjoying the COM
forts and delights Of single blessed
ness. lived all alone in the house, pos
sessed of just enough income to pro-
vide the necessities and a few Of the
luXurieS of life. How Jim ever dared
aspire to her is a mystery. But some
faint glimmer of former responsibility
combined with the longing to be COM
fOrtably settled urged him on.
Her" steps We're cleaned Oftener
than twice Il week. and they were al
ways spotlets, for she had some of
the propensties of old Aunt Betsy
TrOtwOod. and at the first click of the
gate could be heard not the cry
"Donkeys, Janet: dOnkeysw but the
sharp adm0nition, Go round to the
back door. please" 1t was doubtless
this very quality in her that first won
Jim's heart, for combine his beloved
steps with such woman and what
more could be desired on this earth.
But in spite of his daily attention and
devotion she seemed perfectly salts
fled with the services he could render
outside the family, and even took oc-
casion to show her superiority and in,
difference to men in general in no
doubtful way.
. But Jim played his cards like an old
hand. He suddenly disappeared from
her world. Her surprise on the first
morning of his absence was followed
by dismay when the next man she
hired came staggering into the kitchen
one morning to ask for the "wather
and the sthep- sthone." and his success
sor presented himself with the garden
hose and left for parts unknown.
One morning, after a month of such
: annoyance. she poked her curl papered
head out of the window and saw the
steps shining in their old accustomed
Wilderness. the hose playing gayly in
the garden and the figure of man
wildly striding after Il stray dog that
had inadvertently set one dirty paw
on the forbidden ground. She heaved
Il sigh of relief and made her way
downstairs.
well. jim" she called from the
door. wherever We YOU been this long
time:"
Jim came stumbling in.
Miss Capen." said he, II been git
tin my legacy. Il amt gon' to work
out no more, but just thought Id
like to take care o this little place
Its so kind o purity an homelikc, you
know"
"A legacy. jim! When did you get
a legacy. and how much is IT,"
Ten thousand dollars" said jim
you see, happen to be one of the
heirs to an old chap over in England
That's bout enough To support Il wifi,
on, amt II? with II sdelong glance,
But the girls nowadays they air toe
giddy for me- an what's more they
take no kind o pride in their front
steps. All they want is purity clothes
l got to have woman as Is settled
down. but they amt no such woman
wants the fixes o me-
well. Jim. you did a good job or
those steps this morning, and I'm GLAD