Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-04-22

livelihood. had drifted back to the
city and into the cottage owned by
the deserted sweetheart.
| Again she approached the window
and stared at the cottage. The moth
er and child were gathering the rub
bish into heap, and presently they set
fire TO II and watched II burn to ashes.
Presently the mother brought a 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 a brave showing OF crocus
es and tulips, and the strangers look
ed wistfully 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 Wilbur's thoughtful
face. now stern and severe.
Tomorrow's sun would rise on 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 lowering
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 clambering jasmine
working among the ported plants In a
cooler house.
How many red geraniums have you
now, James" inquired his mistress.
about 300 plants. Miss Wilbur"
"And pansy piants-and sweet alys.
sunni"
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-"
"It's getting late. Miss Wilbur" hest.
"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 ana wrote
brief note TO her agent.
please have the cottage thoroughly
repaired inside as well 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
ishing 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
taga yard IL nm. aimost vn,an,rht
ond tho r,ttia ho,,sa -ras aa.,r t,,,t
thara ,,,ara shaSam, sas,,,s r,.r,vs..
aho,,t +ta rard .na oo.a.,o,.,,. o.,
roc ,ha o,;,,Ir - = s,,o,-s, as,a,,,st .,ta,,a
Anna No.. 81, Ter sat,saaS srs.,,
and &c sha ,,,oun.aS tha hroaa $50. -
nor roon,. sho hn,or,ad = ,,tt,a t,,,,a -,
dor nor hroath
"cau nc 90 Moaar sha ..,a ,ha,
che d,s,,,ssad ha, rnaid
Ate o,clocL on rastar ro-,,r An,a
,ookad 90 ~or,v From tha ,,hrar1 ,ri,,.
dow toward the cottage A strange
Transformation had taken Mace over.
night for the trustv lanes had dome
his work we'll.
Instaad or tho so,a,,a a,soraar ~ en-.
hare orassless yard thera was Gov.
er,ng of fna creen t,rf onant,,,os .,
rich brown earth had baan formea into
aowar hoas oil oro,,nd tha ho,,.a ped.
of glowing red peraniums were massed
here and there. while gorgeous pansies
filed every available space that was
not occupied by snowy sweet alyssum.
II was like the psformation scene
in a pantomime.
The hack door of tbe cottag a onanaa