The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-07-27

DoSS 10y SAiCh uROA pAOW oAo 4OSSs
she took a folded cloth from her apron
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.
ITO think of it," she said with
bated breath. ITO think as should
F! 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 strangeness 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 i've
O'Clock, only one-haif was done.
You are doing it beautifully" said
the lady. Now, be off to Mrs. Dunn S
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 filed 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 If l can"
About the head-do you believe
that Shakespeare was really like that?
I'd be glad to know-to know would
save me from much pondering."
Lady Danman assumed her wisest
look. Most authorities agree; yes,
| believe it,"
II thank your ladyship most earn
estly. l cannot describe the gratif
cation l have felt in being so near
in working almost as it were under
his supervision-in winning his ap-
prevail. And it seemed to me as il
the distance betwixt him and me
were not SO great, after ALL"
Lady Danman withdrew in a maze
of thought. Good Heavens!" she
said. THE creatures either mad or
genius! What remarkable thing
woman of her order knowing any
thing of Shakespeare"
At home the old maid moved In &
dream of delight. Her cottage that
evening was transformed into 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 a clough where Grass
of Parnassus grew in 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 pc
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 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 Iadyship
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
hope and trust your ladyship'n be well
satisfied"
Il am more than satisfied" said
Lady Danman. Il thank you'll have
learned something from you-some-
thing that l cannot pay for
Eunice replaced her needle In the
huswife. My lady," she said, "Tu
be better pleased if no mention of
payment is made-if you'll take what
I've done as gift. 1t has been
a privilege-Pd a 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; but
once in my life XII sew for nought.
=. 1t seems sacrilege to talk OF
money before him."
She pointed to the bust Lady Dan
mans perplexed frown gave place to