Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-05-21

Della Priddy few briskly around her
little kitchen Della was giving tea
party that night.
In the other half of the house two
women sat talking in a sunny bow
window. Everything here was neat
and orderly, but the rooms lacked the
air OF festivity that was impaired by
the preparations for the party.
'Tf was to give a tea party to the
sewing society wouldn't you think 1
was mean II I didn't invite my next
door neighbour demanded Ann Bart
impatiently.
Il don't know" returned Mrs. White
eYasively. Il guess III put this edging
In plain. What do you think, Amir"
Mrs. Bart stabbed her knitting nee
dies into the folds OF the shawl and
leaned back in her rocking chair. I'D
put 1t In plain IL 1 was you, Sonny.
You needn't try to get out of answer
ing me, for want TO know what's the
reason Della Priddy didn't ask me to
her party. Haven't l always been
nice to herr I've asked her time and
again to every kind of doings me and
James ever had Not that shed ever
come a step, but / invited her. and
now James Is dead and buried and
I've come to live In the other half of
the house / should think she'd have
manners enough TO ask me- I've been
a member Of the sewing society ever
since married and came to SILVIA
ter-that's twenty years ago. It's
public slight, that's what it isr'
Mrs. White quiEered uneasily. you
never knew Della before you was mar
ried and came to StiIIwaterT' she ven
tured hesitatingiy.
Ann Bart shook her head.
~Fn have to be going along home, /
guess" said the other woman, rising
slowly and picking the threads from
her dress. There's supper to get for
Henry and the children and"-she
paused awkwardly and shifted her
glance from her companions face to
the towering plants in the window
'.your night blooming cereus has got
-one, two. three-it's got seven buds
on it! They look like they'll open to-
night" She turned surprised eyes
upon her hostess.
Mrs. Barts lips took on a bitter
curve as she replied: yes, it'll be
a-bloom tonight / guess III have to
admire it all by myself Every mem
Der Of the society / asked to come in
and see 1t said she had an engage
ment-just as II / didn't know twas
Della Priddy's party they were going
tor
As the afternoon wore on her bitter
ness increased, and she was trembling
with anger and disappointment that
she could no longer conceal from her
self She wished some calamity might
befal Delia's tea party. Indeed. she
was quite willing to become the au-
thor OF any catastrophe that would put
an end to the merrymaking.
At 8 o'clock she saw Della arrayed
In a black silk skirt and white shirt
waist, tripping down the street with
a pitcher In one hand. Della would be
back In ten minutes.
Like a little fury the widow few
across the hall and opened Delia's
door. The table was set for supper
gold banded china, pale pink ham,
pickles and preserves, three kinds of
cake. balls Of pot cheese. a golden sal
ad-even the bubbling of the teakettle
in the kitchen bespoke the pot Of fra
grant tea that was TO come. Ten places
were laid, and Ann Bart swiftly count
ed the members Of the sewing society,
and there were nine and one over
that would be Delia's cousin from the
Junction She was always invited TO
r-'ia's parties.
Ann Bart hesitated for an instant
only. Then she darted back into her
own room and fetched large fat has
ket from her kitchen closet Into the
basket she set the plates of ham and
cake and cheese, the dishes OF pre-
serves and the bowl OF salad Guilty.
she returned to her own rooms and
sought the stairs leading to the large.
open raftered attic that was shared
alike by the two inmates Of the house.
On the north half of the room Delis
Priddy kept her belongings, and in the
south half AIMS things were stored
away. Ann was particular to place
the captured viands In Delia's half OF
the attic. When Della found them she
rAc PsGanC0'
Mrs. Bart was too angry to analyze
her own motives at that moment
A large chest was set back under the
rafters. Ann crept forward and threw
back the lid The chest was half filed
with boxes and bundles and formed a
safe hiding place for the plates Of
food These were set carefully on top
OF the packages In the trunk. and Ann
held one small box In her hand while
she arranged the chest The sound OF
footsteps on the path below brOushl
her to her feet with a sudden sense OF
guilt. She dropped the lid with bang
and threw the basket into a distant
corner among her own things
Once below in her own rooms she
found herself clutching n small paste
board box She had forgotten to re
place II In the chest She heard Della
on the back porch talking to the cat.
and she hastily thrust the box in her
workbasket and threw her knitting
over the whole.
Delia's light step came into the bah