The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-07-26

p'oach the presentment Of the genius.
Dust lay thick upon brow and nose /,
she took folded cloth from her apron
pocket and with trembling fingers
carefully wiped all away. 'rhe color.
ing now became vivid, she could have
sworn thar The bland face grew kind
er because of her touch.
40 think OF It'll she said with
dated 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 shoulc
be spent az work 50 she filed her
needle and knelt beside the chair,
steadfastly striving TO forget the won
dertul strangeness OF her surround
ings The exquisite darning appealed
1t was slow however; and when Lady
Danman came up again about hive
O'Clock, only one-half was done.
You are doing it beautifully" SAID
the lady Now. be of to Mrs. Dunn S
parlor-youye done %iite enough for
one day.
The spinster deliberately replaced
her needle in a 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 knd--that you viii
not believe that | ask for the mere
sake Of folly
ASK anything you please I'll an
swer il can"
About the heud-do you believe
that Shakespeare was really like that"
| Id be glad to know-to know would
save me from much ponder'ng.
Lady Danman assumed her wisest
Iook. Most authorities agree; yes,
l believe it."
Il thank your ladyship most earn
esty, |, cannct describe the gratif
| cation have felt IA being SO near
! in working almost as ii were under
/ his supervision in winning his ap-
proval, And it seemed to me rs if
the distance betwixt him and me
We're NOT SO great after all
Lady Danman withdrew in a maze
OF thought Good tleayens!" she
said. The creatures either mad or "A
genius, What a remarkable thing
a woman of her order knowing any
thing of Shakespeare"
AT home the old maid moved in a
Of
evening was transformed into a ro-
mantle grange, her garden into Ju
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
ana tall bullrushes. The first flower
had tempted her; Grass of Parnassus
must surely be the finest to place De
fore the eiiigy OF her genius 1t grew
sparsely, two hours passed before she
found more than little posy Thea
her skirts were draggled her feet
wet, her wrinlled 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 ST.
tent during the long drive; in fac.
more than once she failed to reply to |
his observations upon the weather.
At Cresswell hall, alter her dinner |
with Sood Mrs Dunn, she placed he- |
tribute on a little table before ths |
painted bust. and set TO work lmme |
dia,ely. The daning became poetry;
the chair was sacred as having been
in existence In the days when Shake
speare lived
Lady panman came mp again in the
afternoon, and stood for awhile in the
doorway, The old maid kneeline be-
side the great chair, diligently plying !
the bright needle. So engrassed was
Eunice in her work that her ladyship
moved to her side before she was
aware OF her presence.
Her eyes fen on the flowers before
the BUST she was still sensitive
enough to feel curious pang. as 1t
'''lh't INNS Adh iNlhNl ucI bAtA mo |
The distant past.
Grass OF Pa.nassus,' she said.
How sLrange-llw very aranrel"
tunice s"lpped - 9 last thread. The
works finished now she said. a.
rope and trust your iadyshiplI be well
81 am more than satisfied. said
Lady Danman. II thank yW-I hay.
learned something from you-some-
thing that | cannot pay for"
Eunice replaced her needle in the
huswife My lady" she said. iii
be better pleased 81 no mention o.
payment is made-if you'u take what
I've done as "a gift . Il has been
a privileged hundred thousand
hines not have money Il has mean,
nLch to me-far more than can ever
tel YOU. Ay. know that I'm pre-
in asking this favor: bu.
once in my life III sew for nought
il seems a sacrilege 70 tain OF
money before him