Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-09-26

YOU mother of their ak and noise.
Yes, on the whole, Mrs. Caswell re-
garded the experiment as a success.
Olive seemed to enjoy herself, and
had really grown quite attached to
the children, though impartial. in her
attentions in that direction; she had
even found the impossible Tom less
Objectionable than had been feared,
declaring that he was original and in
telligent. Discounting, then, the daily
revolts of the children against the re-
quirements of shoes and stockings,
and the cynical side remarks of her
liege lord, and her own aching feet
and more aching nerves, the expert
ment was assuredly a success. There
were opportune seasons for diploma
cy. and these were utilized to their
fullest extent. Mrs. Caswell told of
her hopes that in some way Phil
might be able to take lessons in mus
ic-but they didn't see the way clear
yet. She conceded her guests com
ments on the beauty of little Marjory,
but expressed herself as fearful that
a lack of means might injure the
child's prospects in life. She apollo
gized for her W attire; but as she
wore dresses of as good quality as
uti tOuSiH D. lnOuBu peIudpS III pOOT-
er taste, 1t may not be wondered at If
here, at least, her shaft fell short of
its mark.
But Mrs. Caswell was overworking.
She hid it long from herself, and even
longer from her husband, lest he
should say: 81 told you So" And when
at last the visitor took her departure
1T al now the beginning of August
Mrs. Caswell crept into the house
after the good-bys and instructions
to be sure and come again another
summer, feeling strange and dizzy.
She acknowledged to herself then
that she "a used up and planned
to stay in bed the next morning as
long as she could, and let the men
folks" get their own breakfast. She
only had the dishes to "do" tonight,
and then she would go to bed.
But Mrs. Caswell never did those
supper dishes. Half an hour later lit
tie Marjory came running to the barn,
where her father was mixing the
cows. Mama had fallen down on the
kitchen floor, and wouldn't get up.
Mr.. Caswell carried her into the sit
ting room. and sent Tom for the doc
tor, The doctor pronounced it nervous
prostration, but he had a mental que
ry which he concealed from the fam
lily that il might be a slight shock. All
his prescription was absolute rest.
She would probably be herself by the
morrow. He was right. Mrs. Caswell
was sufficiently recovered to worry.
Its too bad to have the expense Of
a doctor, u living expenses have
been so heavy lately. And you were
trying so hard to lift. the mortgage,
Howard" Her voice was very weak,
and there were red rims under her
eyes that told their own story. Her
husband patted her head soothingly,
and said with an effort at cheerful
ness
We'll, well, little woman, don't wor-
ry. ! suppose We shall have to expect
an occasional sickness"
But how about the work. How.
ard?"
Il have sent for mother. She'll come
till we a find a girl"
The invalid's cheeks burned with
something besides fever. II think you
might ask Sue" she said a little peev.
ishly.
Il did. my dear. Sue seemed indis.
posed to come. A mothers love is
after all. the most unselish granted to
us poor mortals here
His wife put out her hands and mo-
toned for him to go away.
About a week after, when Mrs. Cas-
well was just beginning to be raised
In bed, a letter came. 1t was in Cousin
olives English hand, and was torn
open with trembling fingers. 1t was
only a note and read as follows
My Dear Hostess:-A slight relapse
of my old trouble has prevented
my writing you before in acknow-
Judgement of the many happy DAYS
that | spent through YOU hospitality.
The friends that VIZ make in after life
are never quite like the old ones of
our childhood days. and being with
you and talking of the days that are
no more" helped drown the m
OF my sorrow as nothing else has
since he died. Did tell you while /
was with you that the doctors regard
my case as quite hopeless. | shall go
to Colorado before the frosts come in
the fall. | may return-God knows,
You know how interested | was in
your Tom. | wonder if it would be ask
ing too much of your husband to ask
him to be the executor of my little
property. | should feel so much surer
thai my wishes would be carried out
ana tne aHalrs promptly settled up
than II was compelled to rely on my
lawyer alone, and you know that my
acquaintances here are few. The bulk
OF my property goes to his people.
1t was his blood that earned The mon.
ey, and it only seems just that the
money should revert to them, now
that am done with it. | had intended
leaving the little one thousand that is
in my own right to you dear; but you
seem so very comfortably situated
that have another plan. | know how
Interested you all are in Tom. My lit
tie thousand would be a veritable
Godsend to him, and a year or two of
college life would be just what he
seems to need. With my warmest love
to Howard and the dear little n |
remain, your affectionate,
OLIVE.
Toni" calculated Mrs. Caswell, and
thrust the letter into her husbands
hands.