The Washington herald., 1908-02-10

Vesta sunk wearily upon a shoe box
and stared forlornly about her. The last
of the packing was accomplished. The
last nail had been driven home into the
shoe bsx, which contained the books that
were to be kept out for the new home.
The rest OF the beloved library remained
In the cases, gaps showing where the Sc
lections had been made,
The corner Of the lower shelf had been
the resting place Of the blue and silver
Pilgrims Progress" ever since Vesta
could remember, a book 10 be taken out
Sunday afternoons and carried to the
gentle mother. who patiently explained
time after time the meaning OF the fas-
cinating wood cuts.
There was d very large gap where the
encyclopedias had been. She had bought
those with the eggs and butter money.
As her eyes roamed over the partly filled
eases she could fill every gap from MEM
ory.
And as it was with the books. so was
it with the rest OF the household belong
ings, Here and there a blank corner re
minded her OF some familiar object now
stacked IN the woodshed Very little was
to be shipped for the way was far and
freight rates were high. Tomorrow the
neighbors would gather and John BerWin
would hang out the red flag BY nghtfall
the house would be emptied and its con-
tents scattered through the farmhouses
for miles around
Tears came unbidden TO Vesta's eyes as
TH-l-H r..a
We're Of the homely liying-room with its
rag carpet and the comfortable rocking
chairs on either side Of the stove I'm win
ter or standing in front of the north win
dows in summer, when the double sashes
were taken down and the wind blew
through the house, softly scented by the
blooms from the orchard on the other side
of the well-kept fence.
1t was the only home Vesta had ever
known II seemed 10 the tired girl that
she could never learn 10 love another half
so well.
Until her mothers death Vesta had
been shielded from all troubles. After
she had come back from the little burial
ground on a hill, she had found occupa-
ton and forgetfulness in her efforts 20
make her father forget his loss. She had
even refused to marry Ben Folsom be-
cause she had considered il her duty TO
stay by her father and comfort him in his
sorrow.
Ben had gone West and she was left
more than ever alone, Then had come
that terrible day, a year and a week
after her mothers death, when her father
had driven into the yard with Sadie Con-
Eors, who had been teaching school over
ar tha corners and had announced his
marriage
Vesta tried 10 learn TO love this gaunt
bustlIng woman, whose every trait was
the antithesis Of the woman whose place
she took. but the new Mrs. Brewster had
repulsed every advance. She hated young
persons; she had married 10 be rid of
them and she treated the stepdaUghter
with scant courtesy.
The ways Of the household were amend
cd 70 suit her radical tastes The old
rockers were sent TO the attic as too old
fashioned. and two upholstered mOnstrosi-
lies had taken their places. The other
memorials of Negtas mother quickly fol
lowed the rockers TO the garnet and the
house was completely changed in appear
ance. as were the occupants i'm their attj-
tude toward each other.
And now even the old homestead was "a
he given up The fertile farm was to be
sold and the household goods TO be auc-
toned off Mrs. Brewster had decided
that the Northwest offered greater oppoT-
tunities for her husband and they were
10 move to Manitoba and start afresh iT
the wheat belt.
Mrs. Brewster hustled into the room
Come and eat some snpper," she com
manded. Don't sit there looking as