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

Tall, graceful and very lovely, her
slender form was silhouetted against
the light. There was no one to adj
mire Anne save the little Drowu eyed
secretary across the room, and she
looked and adored with all her foolish
heart She thought 1t must be glorious
to be young and rich and lovely and
case with her employer. but then the
little secretary thought OF her own
large family Of brothers and sisters
and was Immediately very thankful
that she was not as lonely rs Anne
Wilbur, who lived in the stately house
with a cold and stiff guardian aunt.
Miss Wilbur looked out at the sun
shine and the deep grassy yard behind
the dwelling, with its careful grouping
of shrubs. its freshly raked brown
earth beds where prim rows of tulips.
daffodils and crocuses Haunted their
gay dresses.
1t was merely a city lot, yet money
and skill had combined to make 1t
pleasant retreat from the glaring
streets or the STIFFNESS OF the house in
midsummer. Sometimes in the early
morning Anne walked along the gray
eled paths, but 1t was used principally
by the servants In the big house. who
sought relaxation there after the days
work was done.
At the rear wall of the yard there
abutted another lot inclosing shabby
cottage which was sadly In need of
fresh paint; the neglected yard sur
rounding 1t showed the accumulation
of winters debris. The charitable
mantle of snow which had covered 1t
had now melted, exposing old bottles,
tin cans, rags, papers and broken
boxes to the searching light of the
spring sunshine. In all the yard there
was not one tuft of green grass. not
flower nor anything that was besuA
ful-and yet u was Gpring.
Anne Wilbur owned this shabby cot
tage, and succession of destructive
tenants had ravaged the place of its
original coy prettiness. At last, de-
spairing of maintaining 1t In any sem
blance to responsibility. she had or
dered 1t demolished, only to find that
her agent had unwittingly leased the
premises to new tenant. The little
secretary had just read this news to
her from the agents letter, and Anne,
with an Indifferent shrug of her shape
ly shoulders, had walked to the win
dow that overlooked the cottage.
For moment there was vexation on
her face that her intention had gone
awry. The next dissatisfaction disap-
- r..
n week she was to be married. Her
fiance lived In a distant city. She
would not be obliged to contemplate
from her rear windows the shabby
cottage, the tomato cans, the old
brooms, bottomless coal scuttles and
broken crockery. 1t would be for
others to view this inartistic scene,
while she would look upon more invit-
ing objects.
A moving van was backed up be-
fore the door Of the cottage. and In
its cavernous depths Anne could see a
pitiful gathering of furniture. The
men began to unload the van, and
Anne noted that the few pieces,
though somewhat shabby and worn,
were Of handsome quality and In ex-
cellent taste. She also saw that the
windows of the house had been bright
" polished and that crisp, clean mus
lin curtains hung within.
These things promised more am
bilious occupant for the house. Anne
turned to the secretary: Miss Binns,
will you please telephone to Mr.. Col
Inns and ask him about the new ten
antp
Presently Miss Binns returned. "Mr.
Collins says 1t is widow and her lit
tie daughter. The mother is employed
in a millinery establishment down
town. She seems quiet, refined
young woman, and her name is Rod
man, Mrs. Marcia Rodman."
Anne Wilbur dismissed the little Sec
rotary and turned once more to the
window, pressing her face against the
cold glass. The van had gone away
and all was silent about the shabby
cottage. AS she watched with hag-
gard face the back door opened and a
woman accompanied by child came
out and looked at the neglected yard.
The woman was small and slight,
with dark. pfquant face and sweet
Lips There was flush in her cheeks
fairylike image of the mother. 1t
was evident that they were discussing
the possibilities of improving the
yard. and Anne wondered what they
could do, for 1t was plainly to be seen
that they were poor. When the moth
err and child had re-entered the cot
tage Anne left the window and sat
down before the glowing CRATE fire..
There was fierce Joy in her gray
eyes and her fine lips were scarlet
with the pressure she exerted to re-
strain her emotion. 1t had come her
turn at last. Five years before she.
Anne Wilbur. a petted daughter of the
rich. had lost her lover to the poor
woman who now occupied her wretch
ed cottage. The girl had been no
body, and thriftless Jack Rodman had
thrown over friends. position and pro-
fession and eloped with the dark eyed
beauty. Jack had died afterward PEN