The Prescott daily news., 1908-02-25
THE MAGIC. FOUNTAIN
By IONA GALE
(Copyright.)

Ing had been thinking of spring. Are there not days of snow when without reason spring is In ones thought? To explain this l have a theory that year-long spring is the secret spirit of all things; and that she walks masked now as ripe summer, now as yellow autumn, and now, when the fancy seizes her, as white winter. But all the time the happiest hearts under stand the jest and know that what ever she may wear-wreaths of corn or grapes or snow-yet spring is never absent from the world
 l am wont to call this secret pres- ence the Little Spring, and all that ! morning, though the snow blew and piled about my easement, had known that the Little Spring was in the air. Then Peleas came in, and the wintry sun touched his white hair as it touched mine, for we are both 70 and everyone believes that we belong to the Winter People, the people whose hair is white and whose steps are slow. But we laugh at this, because we know that we harbor spring in our hearts
 "Ettare,' said Peleas, "Nichola has friend who is ill in the hospital She has gone to see her and she has got in her place for to-day, the most pathetic little woman. She is down there in the kitchen now, making a salad. Her eyes look as if they had seen nothing but the things they didn't want to sec"
 Then her salads will be good" I said. Haven't you often noticed how the disappointments in life come out in appetizing dishes or exquisite needework or beautiful dispositons?"
 "Ah yes," said Peleas, but their eyes never look any less sad Isn't it curious that excellent salads and kind deeds leave the eyes sad-as if they wanted something more? I wish we could cheer her up Her name is Mary"
 But oh," I said, Mary is such an established kind of name. If only she were Bella or Bessie I would have some hope. But Mary-Mary seems named and described from the begin. ming. Peleas," l cried, stand close up to the plants and see how like spring 1t smells l wish we could teach her that"
 "Ah we'll" said Peleas, finding his book, we've a whole day to do it in |"
 Sometimes when 1 wake in the morning I think of those very words of Peleas. No matter what charming possibility We plan to bring about for others CT for ourselves, we've whole day to do it in.
 Presently I went down to the kitchen. It was strange to see in her place this quiet woman with the young face and the sad eyes and the -0wn of heliotrope singham.
 Mary" I said, what fresh, crisp lettuce! am glad to know that l vas right. thought the world smelled Of spring this morning"
 Spring. maam?" said Mary as if she hardly knew what the word meant.
 "Yes-spring, said. March, April, May Surely, in spite of the snow, you have not forgotten?"
 May smiled faintly, and sighed, but the smile was sigh after all
 understood her silence 1 protest I think that no one could properly answer that question, thinking only of spring
 "Ah," said I, "Mary-if it were spring at this moment l suppose that you and I would as lief it were win ter if only we could be with the one whom we like best to be with"
 "Ma'am," said Mary. "Yes'm."
 had only to look in her eyes, swift ly lifted, to know that in her heart some wish was hidden of which that swift look was the spirit. Whom did Mary like best to be with? won dered as l moved about the spotless kitchen.
 For myself said l. spring or win ter, I would wish the same thing Mary, let us both wish that-to be near some one very, very dear. And II, as l suspect, spring IS somewhere about, think we shall have our wishes"
 "Oh ma'am," said Mary. "Yes'm.' But the sadness of Mary's eyes was like the outer winter itself
 "Ah well" said as left her, this,
 am persuaded. is a very special day And l know that spring is somewhere about, listening"
 went back upstairs, smiling at the pleasant mystification in Mary's face.