The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-02
BY FRANCES WILSON.

years ending at a neat, maidenly tomb stone on which she could plainly declpher the inscription: "Georgiana Brant, Spin
 ster, Aged 80 Years"
 The perception of the underlying humor
 of this situation temporarily restored her
 natural gayety and life began to assume its usual aspect
 "A bas with dates" she scoffed as she poured her coffee. Dates are responsi-
 ble for all the old age in the world. If
 birthdays could be abolished old age
 would soon disappear" With this astute observation she turned to the perusal of
 her mall.
 There are days when one can feel the stir of spring even in stonebound New York when there comes a new vivacity into the pickering of the sparrows, ap- prising the listener that their long, vio- l lent converse tions have to do with nests and the rearing of young. Here and there a tree, graciousy permitted to thrust itself upward through loophole in the sidewalk, timidly shows signs of putting forth leaves, though with
 stealthy air, as if fully realizing the
 danger of donig so in city where the
 hurdy-gurdy allows no one to forget the
 fearful risk that lies in the wearing of the green.
 Before Georgiana had gone a block she
 felt the news that was in the air spread
 ing like wildfre through her veins. The
 memory of other springtimes brought
 back the bygone days when she and
 Helen wore their hair in pigtails and be-
 guiled the time by planning their future lives down to the last, small detail.
 Helen's dreams had partia--y come true.
 She had married a 'tall dark man,"
 though she had failed to become the mother of three dashing sons and an equal number of daughters, all striking
 tf,,1 ,.Ia fhn ! ing of whom had cost her an exhausting amount of mental wear and tear. She had been the first one of their set to marry and her house had become her idol She was at that point between com fort and adluence where possessions be- come dead weight to the possessor. She was not poor enough to be content with simple things, nor rich enough to trans fer the responsibility of expensive ones to the shoulders of hirelings. As Georgiana now ascended the steps i of the handsome residence, whose Win ! dows were yelled with heavy Russian lace, !, she smiled inwardly. Having committed t, the extravaganza of those curtains, Mrs. ' Gpdegraft paid for 1t by keeping them , iI repair with her own hands. More
 oyer, the size of her house made six ser <; wants necessary; but since she could got , afford a housekeeper to act as buffer between herself and them, she lived In a continual state of apprehension. Year by year, the hunted look in her eyes deep enee. Once Georgtana eXpostulated with Ter.
 ] "Hsien, why do you keep buying things 8acn they're such a nuisance to you? You never haze moments time to read, hear
 music or look at pictures. You devote your entire time to counting your spoons! IF you'll take my advice" she continued air 1 fly, "youi pitch these things all out of the window, get new ones good enough to | use, but not worth worrying about and l try to lead better life"
 | Mrs. Updegraft has regarded her with Il fconsternation not untinged with contempt i'It is easy to see that you're not mar ried," she commented drily. And since | there was no denying the truth of the ob- servation, Georg1ana took refuge In a dis crete silence. though she was inwardly convinced that she wouldn't allow posses
 sions to become a torment even If she were
 Such morning Helen," she exclaimed i now as she entered her friends room. i The spring Is running up and down my ] spine and I've come to take you to the { park to play. But what under the sun , are you doing?" she demanded In a changed tone, as the general confusion of
 the room dawned upon her. Boxes, bundles and scattered garments over l spread every piece of furniture, while l moth balls and champion contended for ! possession of the air.
 "Oh, good morning, dear" Though it
 was not yet noon, there were rings of ex- 1 haustion beneath1 Helen's worried dark eyes. I'm putting away winter things" she explained Yes, it is a nice morn- ing, though I haven't had time to mo- tice 1t. Throw some of those things on the bed and find yourself a chair, won't | you? Oh dear! I don't know where to begin"
 1 Georgianas laughing eyes roved about the room for moment and then came 1 back to the mistress who, clad In be- 1 draggled blue morning gown, stood help l lessly in the midst of her possessions. She 1 opened her lips to speak, and then closed ! them again, remembering the futility of l argument Helen was on one of her do- | nestle orgies and nothing could stop her. ! Besides was not the authority of tradi- | tion on her side, there being widespread 1 feminine superstition that to achieve mar 1 ried happiness one must go through
 household purgatory?
 1 Nc I can't sit down. I must get out into the dayshine. Oh, Helen"-in spite | of her resolution the protest broke from | her lps-"do let one of your maids at- ! tend to these things. You've only one | life to live For pity's sake, live 1t! Is
 raiment more than a spring day? If you | must put away all these things with your 1 own fair hands, do wait for rainy weather"
 For moment Mrs. Updegraft wavered ] Georgiana's enthusiasm was infectious and the odor of moth balls was bring l ing on a headache. It crossed her mind | that 1t was amazing how Georgiana kept 1 her looks. But then-she was a single l woman and without cares. In the midst | of her indecison the entrance of a maid
 reminded her that she was a married woman with valuable possessions. ''No, dear, it's impossible" she rejoiped | decidedly. q never allow my Russian | curtains to be taken down unless I am | on hand to oversee the process. The l carelessness of servants is beyond be- lief, and my curtains would be snagged
 in a dozen places if I were not here to | watch them. But stay and talk to me, | won't your"
 l Miss Brant had risen to depart, pity | and amusement mingling in her face. Stay here and inhale the odor of moth balls when l can be in the park with the spring breezes playing about my cheeks like the cupids on a ceiling? Jamais, I'd rather watch sleepyeyed Earth wake up. couldn't think of 1t Helen I'm off. I do wish you wouldn't take your nice | things so seriously There's no use of having them If they spoil all the fun. Mrs. Updegraft, who had followed her | in tn the hall and was now laapipU rpop