Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-09-26


house was relic Of other days, when
the now thriving town was simply
village, and the old residents, who
had long since died or moved to quieter
and more fashionable quarters, had
considered Summer street the most
desirable place Of residence In the
county. The Honorable Peter Perkins
had built the house. and there he had
lived for years. nominally practising
law, but In reality cultivating that
unproductiye field, SO dear to the heart
Of every true patriot. the field of Polit.
ical Preferment; and being uniformly
unsuccessful. at length. after partic-
ularly disappointing campaign, had
died. leaving only his daughter Mar
tha-Miss Perkins-and his little old
fashioned house.
Westfield, with all its miniature
metropolitan ways, had not outgrown
the habits of everybody's knowing
about everybody else's business, and
after the Honorable Peter Perkins was
laid in his final resting place, there
was not a household in Westield In
which the probable doings of Miss
Perkins were not more or less dis
cussed. But Miss Perkins, being what
her neighbors called "a strOng-minded
person." did not leave her friends long
in uncertainty. for the very day after
her fathers funeral she announced her
intention of opening "a flower store"
q new venture for Westfeld, but one
that she felt sure the growing refine
ment of the people, as they got more
money and were brought more and
more in touch with city ways. would
warrant.
Accordingly, in a few days there
appeared a neat sign over the front
door: miss Perkins, Flowers" And
into the little front parlor there came
a counter and refrigerator while the
window was filed with fragrant bios
soms-r0ses, carnations and viOlets
predominating. The cut flowers came
from a florist in nearby city, but 1t
was not long before a small green
house in the back yard did much to
supply the demand.
At first the young men Of Westfeld
seemed in fair way to bankrupt them
selves at Miss Perkins counter, but
gradually they grew accustomed to the
novelty. and the volume Of trade was
reduced to proportions that could be
relied upon.
And 80 Miss Perkins store became
permanent institution. and Westfield
wondered how the town had ever got
ten along without it. 1t was such
convenient stopping place. too; the la
dies made it sort of rendezvous, and
drop in when you might, you were
almost sure to find some one to tell you
what was going on or coming off in
Westaeld society. Indeed, the young
soc,atv rar,nr+or. oe 49, +ha--- yuo-tfa old.
Weekly Waterman depended upon
Miss Perkins store almost entirely for
the social gossip that made up her
weekly "society letter." 1t Is true
that in this way she always printed
what every one already knew. but the
Waterman was conservative paper
and did not feel called upon to assume
the responsibility of printing news be-
fore 1t had been discussed and con-
frmed by the whole town.
Miss Perkins was busy behind the
counter one morning. arranging fresh
" cut supply of flowers, when two
young ladies arrived at the door Mt
the same instant, and came busting in
together.
"Why, good morning, Miss Clemans,'
exclaimed Miss Perkins, looking up In
surprise. GOOD morning, Miss Elwell;
aren't you chicks out little early this
morning?"
"Oh, not at ALL" replied Miss Glenn
ans with a laugh. "YOu know. were
early birds at our house; I've been to
market already"
"Well, dear mev exclaimed Miss Ell
well. who was a rather languid crea-
ture, "Pm sure you are IN early one
| Now nothing In the world would usual
~ get me out this early. but have a
very important pieHa Of news. and
could hardly wait to get down town
to tell IT."
Miss Elwell stopped and looked at
Miss Clemans to see that she was duly
impressed, while Miss Perkins went on
| arranging her flowers.
| "Well, now that you are here" said
Miss Clemans, "let's have the news
What is the wonderful piece Of infor
nation that has gotten Miss Lazy
bones out of bed before ten o'clock"
II never was more surprised In my
life," said Miss Elwell, land know
everybody will be completely upset
over it. Can't you guess what 1t is?
"Why, of course I can't! How pro
voking you are! Without hint Of any
kind except that it's the most surprls
ing thing that ever happened!'
Miss Elwell seemed to enjoy hel
friends curiosity. Finally Miss Glen
ans said:
1.-THE most surprising thing that eve
happened2 You must be going to &c
married!'
"Now, see here, girls" exclaimed
Miss Perkins from behind the counter
that's the way young ladies talk,
believe, In the comic papers, but 1t ism
the kind Of wit that ia considered gOO'
form in good society; so Rose, II yo'
have any news to tell, let us have II
and, Blanche, stop your onafing."
The girls laughed, and Miss Elwel
said:
miss Perkins curiosity Is gettin
aroused, so won't keep you In sus
pense. Mabels engagement is broken!
"Whatw cried both her listeners a
once. mabel Richey?"
"Um-umph," said Miss Elwell, nod
ding her head in affirmation.
"Oh. you're joking" said Miss Glen
ans, "she and Harry were just devote
to each other. Why, nothing coul
ever come between them. Mabel toll
m, 3d."
But something did, just the same.
replied the bearer Of the news. IAN
that something was Miss Marguerit
Daisy De Jones, of New York"
| Aiso Ntnp,ono ayDla frno1 OWo11