The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-04-27


Again she approached the window
and stared at the cottage. The moth
er and child were gathering the rub
Dish into heap, and presently they set
fire to it and watched it burn to ashes
Presently the mother brought trow-
ell and dug small bed in the poor
soil Of the yard, and the child plant
ed some flower seeds with eager mud
dy little fingers.
When that was done they came to
the dividing fence and peeped over
into Miss Wilbur's pretty garden.
' There was brave showing of crocus-
es and tulips, and the strangers look
ed wisfully at the purple and gold Of
the blooms; then they turned and dis
appeared within the cottage.
The sun declined, sending long sift-
ing rays Of yellow across the yards and
finally into Anne Wlbur's thoughtful
face, now stern and severe.
TOmorrow's sun would rise on a fair
Easter morning; the churches and
dwellings would be sweet with BIOS
SONS. Her own church was noted for
its magnificent floral display, and she
knew that in the drawing room her
servants were arranging Towering
plants from her conservatory.
The barren little yard about the cot
tage haunted her and blotted out the
brighter pictures.
After awhile she strolled into the
conservatory and wandered through
the green alleys, touching here and
there blooming rose or inhaling the
sweetness Of a clambering jasmine
flower. Her gardener, James, was
working among the ported plants in a
cooler house.
''How many red geraniums have you
now, JamesT' inquired his mistress.
"About 300 plants, Miss Wilbur
"And pansy plants-and sweet alys-
sum?'
About the same number, ma'am."
"Set aside hundred plants Of the
finest Of each. Take two men over to
the cottage and clean out the yard
thoroughly. After that is done report
to me-"
cts getting late, Miss Wilbur" hest
tated James respectfully.
"You will receive double wages for
overtime" she said coolly.
eyes, ma'am," said James with alac-
rity.
Anne thrust a bunch of bright eyed
pansies into the laces of her bosom
and went back to the library. She
seated herself at the desk and wrote
brief note to her agent.
"Please have the cottage thoroughly
repaired inside as we'll as out. Con-
suit the new tenants wishes regarding
paint and paper. Try to start the
work by next Monday"
Later in the evening James reported
the task accomplished and received
other orders from his mistress, some of
which seemed impossible Of accom-
plishment. but Anne Wilbur possessed
a magic tool that could achieve aston
1sh1ng results. and for the first time
she realized the value of the gold
which had always been hers and which
she had accepted as her natural BIRTH
right.
Before Anne retired that Saturday
night she peeped once more through
the window that overlooked the cot
tage yard. It was almost midnight,
and the little house was dark, but
there were shadowy forms moving
about the yard, and occasionally there
was the clink of a shovel against stone
Anne drew back with satisfied smile,
and as she mounted the broad stairs to
her room she hummed little tune I'M
der her breath.
Call me at 6, Marie," she said when
she dismissed her maid
At 6 O'Clock on Easter morning, Anne
looked eagerly from the library win
dow toward the cottage. A strange
Transformation had taken place over
night, for the trusty James had done
his work well.
Instead of the sQualid disorder of the
bare, grassless yard there was a COW
ering of fine green turf. Quantities Of
rich brown earth had been formed into
flower beds all around the house. Beds
of glowing red geraniums were massed
here and there, while gorgeous pansies
filled every available space that was
not occupied by snowy sweet alyssum.
1t was like the transformation scene
in a pantomime
The back door of the cottage opened,
and Anne almost heard the cry of
amaZement that burst from the lips of
Marcia Rodman and her little girl
The mother stared with unbelieving
eyes, while the child danced with de-
light among the flowers and then dis
appeared around the path that led to
the front of the cottage.
"Oh, mother" Anne heard her cry;
Its splendider in front than it is in
back. It's the beautifulest place we
ever lived in"
The little mother pressed a hand
kerchief to- her sweet eyes, and Anne
saw her approach the fence where
James had presented placidly inter-
ested countenance He had been in
structed to say that his mistress wish
ed the grounds to be beautified for