Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-02-08

am told. She's having a dress made.
Mrs. Parsons raised her brows sig
nlficantly. II understand from her
dressmaker that It is to be the great
est surprise we have ever had yet,
and you know what surprises Mrs.
Adams costumes arel am anxious
to see IT,"
EYES," smiled Hilda, In an agree
able, non-committal way, and waited
until Mrs, Parsons had departed.
Then she finished to Annei "Well,
II the dressmaker thinks It Is sur
prise, what can It be like? Anne,
I'm simply wild to see It,"
"I-I'm not" quRvered Anne, and
was thankful for the headache that
kept her at home the following Sum
day.
Mrs, Topper and -Hilda went to
church, however, and when they re-
turned, the former was smiling, the
latter in flutter of excitement.
Anne" cried Hilda, "the surprise
appeared to-day, and 1t was certainly
the biggest surprise Mrs. Adams ever
gave ub' Ohb Lhdt uISsS 10 q bSdulys
It's a soft gray silk, trimmed with
silvery lace. Why, Anne, Mrs, ADD
ans looked almost handsome! You'd
never believe It without seeing her!
II only her hair matched that suit,
and her cheeks weren't so red--oh!"
Hilda stopped to catch S2r breath,
while Mrs, Topper placidly smoothed
out her gloves, and said again, II
know Mrs. Adams. Give her a little
more time.
Anne suddenly sat up and looked
at her mother. do you mean"
she began, and stopped
wait and find out what | mean.%
returned her mother.
Hilda turned abruptly, looking
from Mrs. Topper to Anne with a
new understanding dawning in her
eyes. At the dinner-table she was
thoughtful, and she did not mention
the subject of tact. In fact, she
spoke only once of Mrs. Adams, and
that was to remark abruptly, Anne.
Mrs Adams didn't speak to me to-
day, but she did make out to see
mother"
"Give her time" repeated Mrs.
Topper. "She goes to her sisters on
Friday"
Just what connection there was be-
tween visit to her sister and the
subject in hand, neither Hilda nor
Anne saw--until her return.
On Friday Mrs. Parsons stopped on
the porch to rest, and incidentally to
relate joke.
~ was out to tea with Mrs. Adj
ans last night, she said. "And what
do you think? 1t amused us all so
much. She had forgotten to put on
her rogue We all said afterward
that we wished she'd forget it al
ways. 1t does seem as II some one
ought to speak to her about that.
But then, who would dare? I'm
sure shouldn't"
Anne flushed, and drew back un-
easily into the shadow OF the vines.
After Mrs. Parsons had gone, Mrs.
Upper laughed and looked at Anne.
Perhaps Mrs. Adams did forget
last night. If so, she was just as for
getful this morning. was down at
the station when she left"
Mrs. Topper rocked a moment, and
then added, "She was as cordial as
ever this morning"
The snow was flying before Mrs
Adams again dawned on the Upper
horizon. Anne was out walking one
day, when Mrs. Upper and Hilda
heard the news. 1t came by way of
an excited Mrs. Parsons.
"Can you believe it?" cried that
lady, entering the house without ring
ing the bell. She was not In a state
to use ceremony. MRS. Adams is
home in gray hair and tailor-made
suit Of black broadcloth! Think of
it," Mrs Parsons waved her muff
frantically. "Gray hair as gray as
mine, and not a bit of paint or pow
der on her face! And l must say,
Mrs. Upper, she's hne-looking
woman-decidedly fne-looking. How
l wish she had visited her sister be-
fore!"
"Yes," said Mrs. Topper; but Hilda,
for wonder, said nothing.
Mrs. Parsons had scarcely gone
before Anne came rushing in with
glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes.
She spoke all in one breath.
Guess what's happened?" de-
manded Anne. "But then, you'd
never guess-it's so nice. Mrs. Ad-
ans waylaid me and invited me in.
She was perfectly lovely to me. She
says her fifty-third birthday is next
Tuesday, and she's going to have
some of the young people in for tea,
and she wants me to come and help
her entertain! Isn't that jolly?"
Mrs. Upper laughed, and MUIR
INJURED, "Fifty-three, is it? thought
she was only fifty"
But Hilda sat up and looked re-
provingly at Anne:
"Anne Upper! Did you tell her
you'd go after the way she's treated
your"
Anne hung her head, guilty.
happy, and twirled her muff. "Why,
Hilda, to tell you the truth, III
never thought of that. was so glad
she was nice again, and then-no one
ever asked me to help entertain be-
fore! From the Youths Com
panion.