The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-04-13
don't see what he's got to do with

I don't see what he's got to do with
it, ~ s.
"He was fathers uncle,' said Imo-
gen sullenly. "I'm mighty glad, Hen
| rietta Owen, that. you've spoke your
| mind and told me what you think
| about the matter. First time I ever
knew you was so sympathetic for HUI
dab Scott"
Il can't help being sorry for her,
| Imogen. You had nice home of your
| own and enough to live quiet on, and
the old place was all Huldah had
You know the only thing she can do
to earn money is to take boarders, and
| now that her house is gone she can't
do a thing. Most of her furniture is
stored in Deacon Browns barn and
she a-living in those two little rooms
over the bakery a-trying to sew, poor
soul, and her hardly ever taking a
needle in her hand, not being handy
that way. No wonder she looks shab-
by and old fashioned. But she's proud
as Lucifer and won't let anybody help
her by any ways
$50 I am to blame for that, am ~"
demanded Imogen fercely.
"She ought to have her home back"
said Mrs. Owen obstinately. cts
| proved her father paid the money for
it. must be going now," she contin-
! ued, with a side glance at the flowers.
'You mustn't mind what I said about
Huldah Scott. can't help feeling sor-
ry for herr
II expect everybody in town feels
the same way" challenged Imogen.
'"rhey seem to feel sorry for her."
admitted Mrs. Owen. "Goodby, I'm
ogen. Come around and see me when
! you can"
The subject of the lawsuit her father
! had Instituted against the meager es-
tate of old James Scott was sore one
for victorious Imogen Morse. Three
years had passed since Huldah had
been turned from her home, and in
| that time she had tried half a dozen
| ways to earn a living and failed in
each. But she was a splendid house.
keeper, and formerly she had earned a
comfortable livelihood by taking
boarders in the rambling old house Of
her father. Now she was knocked
hither and thither among the few
| wage earners in the village. At pres
ent she was tending the bakery for
| the Smiths.
Imogen always looked forward to
Easter as a season of great joy, for
| she loved the resurrection of the flow
ers from their wintry sleep, the new
| clothing Of the earth, the vague prom
Use Of new life beyond this old one
| All these things bore significance for
| her.
She impressed the story of the resur-
| rection on her Sunday school class.
She found herself waxing eloquent as
she compared the arising Of the bless
| ed Lord from his death sleep to the
awakening of the dormant plant life.
She was filed with joy at the ap-
proach of Eastertide, and it was not
! herself but black shadow Of her real
nature which had carelessly overlook
! ed the wrong that had been done to
| Huldah Scott.
The next day would be Good Friday,
| and Imogen resolved that she would
! have some hot cross buns for her
breakfast, so after her dinner was
cleared away she walked down to the
bakery. The store was quite empty
save for a little girl perched on stool
behind the counter. It was the bakers
| child.
| "Well, Edna, who's tending store
today?" asked Imogen briskly.
| miss Huldah's tending store. She'll
be back in moment. Have your lilies
withered up yet, Miss Imogen?" asked
the little girl eagerly.
"Withered up? What do you mean,
child?" demanded Miss Morse
'fWhy, father said he should think
the lilies would wither up under the
touch of your hands, you're so hard
hearted" said the child, with the bru-
tai directness of her age.
1mogen gasped and turned white.
"Well, never" she gasped; IT never
did!' Then she turned and fed from
the place.
Back in her own rooms, she looked
strangely at the lilies. Once she reach
ed forth finger tip and touched the
white waxen blossom. 1T didn't with
err" she said eagerly. II wonder what
I can do. Suppose I should touch one
tomorrow or Sunday and it should
turn brown! I never thought of that
I suppose am not fit: am not fitn'
Miss 1mogen bowed her black head on
her hands and sat very STILL
She was very busy the next two
days, and on the night before Easter
she sat in her sitting room with the
three Easter lilies ranged in a row be-
fore her.
cts no credit to me to give Huldah
Scott back her house again. That's her
own. What can I do that will hurt
me the most? Speak up, Imogen
Morse"' she commanded herself.
| The gate clicked, and Huldah Scott
ran up the path and knocked lightly
on the door. "Come in," said Imogen.
| '1ts me- said Huldah breathlessly.
Il just heard little Edna Smith tell