Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-08-02

| pocket, and with trembling fingers
carefully wiped all away. The color
ing now became vivid she could have
sworn that the bland face grew kind
er because of her touch.
TO think of it," she said with
hated breath. ITO think as | should
be alone with him!"
The clock struck somewhere in the
distance. She was too conscientious
TO spend time in alteration that should
be spent at work, so she filled her
needle and knelt beside the chair,
steadfastly striving to forget the won
derful strapgencss of her surround.
ings. The exquisite darning appealed
to her; she put into it all her skill.
1t was slow, however; and when Lady
Danman came up again about tive
O'Clock, only one-half was done.
You are doing 1t beautifully" said
the lady, Now, be off to Mrs. Dunn
parlor-you've done quite enough for
one day"
The spinster deliberately replaced
her needle in huswife of pale green
SILK embroidered with purple and rose
colored flowers. She turned toward
the bust, her eyes filled with an odd
usefulness.
My lady," she said, Il feel in my
heart that you are kind-that you will
not believe that l ask for the mere
sake of folly"
ASK anything you please; I'll an
swer il | can"
About the head-do you believe
that Shakespeare was really like that?
Id be glad to know-to know would
save me from much pondering."
Lady Danman assumed her wisest
look. Most authorities agree; yes,
| believe it,"
Il thank your ladyship most earn
esty. | cannot describe the gratif-
cation | have felt in being so near
in working almost as it were under
his supervision-in winning his APP
prevail. And it seemed to me as If
the distance betwixt him and me
were not so great, after all"
Lady Danman withdrew in maze
Of thought. Good Heavens!" she
said. The creatures either mad or a
genius! What remarkable thing
a woman of her order knowing any
thing of shakespeare"
At home the old maid moved in e
dream of delight. Her cottage that
evening was transformed into a ro-
mantle grange, her garden into Jul
lets garden, into the Temple garden,
into Sweet Anne Pages garden.
In the morning she rose early, set
her house in order, and after break
fast went to clough where Grass
of Parnassus grew in a marsh with
Ragged Robin and Water Speedwell
and tall bullrushes. The first flower
had tempted her; Grass of Parnassus
must surely be the finest to place be-
fore the effigy of her genius. 1t grew
sparsely. two hours passed before she
found more than little posy. Then
her skirts were draggled, her feet
wet, her wrinkled cheeks cleaning
with the heat But she felt no weari-
ness now; in her veins flowed the
blood of immortal youth.
The groom found her curiously 81
lent during the long drive; in fac;
more than once she failed to reply to
his observations upon the weather.
At Cresswell hall, after her dinner
with good Mrs. Dunn, she placed her
tribute on a little table before the
painted bust, and set to work imme-
diately. The darning became poetry;
the chair was sacred as having been
in existence in the days when Shake
speare lived
Lady Danman came up again in the
afternoon, and stood for awhile in the
doorway, the old maid kneeling be-
side the great chair, diligently plying
the bright needle. So engrossed was
Eunice in her work that her ladyship
moved to her side before she was
aware of her presence.
Her eyes fell on the flowers before
the bust; she was still sensitive
enough to feel a curious pang, as If
something had thrust her back into
the distant past.
Grass of Parnassus!" she said.
How strange-how very strange!"
Eunice shipped the last thread. The
works finished now" she said. 4
nope and trust your ladyshipll be we'll
satisfied"
II am more than satisfied" said
Lady Danman. II thank you'll havs
learned something from you-some-
thing that | cannot pay for"
Eunice replaced her needle In the
huswife. My lady," she said, I'll
be better pleased If no mention OF
payment is made-if you'll take what
I've done as a gift. II has been
q privilege-Id hundred thousand
times not have money 1t has meant
much to me--far more than | can ever
tell you. Ay, | know that I'm pre-
sumptuous in asking this favor: hut
once in my life III sew for nought
49,. 1t seems sacrilege to talk OF
money before him"
she pointed to the bust. Lady Dan.
mans perpleXed frown gave place to