Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-09
HER HEART GAVE A GREAT LEAP

interior. And at the front door stood
three ladies. "Callers!' thought Miss
Lois. Seven different women have rung
that bell since I sat down here to read.
Oh, there she comes"
The door opened and fat little lady
in q glowing gown stood on the thresh-
old. She offered both hands and her lips
at the same time. Her joyous laugh
into the little dark room. where Miss
Lois sat wondering alone. And Miss
Lois smiled a wavering. responsive smile.
1T sounds good" she thought.
At that moment footsteps sounded on
Miss Lois own porch. 1t was most
unusual occurrence. Her heart gave q
great leap, the book fell out OF her hands.
and she stood up palpitating. But the
chink in the blinds she saw flicker OF
blue. why, it's the postman" she ex-
claimed. Il believe he put something. in
the box. Whatever can 1T be?"
before Miss Lois dare venture forth Had
somebody sent her letter? But, no. this
was something better than a letter-a
package securely bound with hempen
strings.
Miss Lois Burnett she read.
Without a doubt the package was in
tended for her. And how much better
was it than any letter! For Miss Lois
never received any presents.
Painting with excitement she hurried
indoors with her treasure There was no
sign upon the paper package to tell
whence il had come. When she undid
the wrapping she gave a gasp. partly OF
perplexity, partly of disappointment. for
it held nothing save scrubby brown
ball, a mere knot Of roots and stems, dry
and apparently lifeless.
Miss Lois had seen nothing like it. At
first she feared that somebody had tried
to play a joke on her. But the brown,
rough thing was so fragrant, SO mysteri-
ously suggestive Of secret forces, that
she began to take interest In 1t. There
was more to II than she knew or had
any way of finding out. unless she con-
suit somebody wiser than herself. That
somebody should necessarily be Mrs.
Crane, her left-hand neighbor. Mrs.
Crane raised marvellous plants and her
flower garden In summer perfumed the
whole street.
shed know exactly what this thing
is thought Miss Lois.
She scarcely knew her neighbor to speak
to her. 1t was going to require no small
effort to make such an overture as to go
to her door openly and ask her advice.
Several times that afternoon she almost
made up her mind to go, but e4ch time
the habit Of years deferred her. She was
too much upset to eat any supper. After
ward she sat down to read, but reading
palled She took up her knitting but her
gaze roved constantly to the brown ball
on the table beside her. At last she
sprang UP. seized 1t and started with II
for Mrs. Cranes.
She mounted the steps timidly. Through
the unveiled windows she could see Mrs
Cranes bright sitting room and Mrs.
Crane herself sitting comfortably with a
inclined to run away. She wished she
had not come at'all She was just turn
ing to fly when the door was flung sud-
denly open upon her retreat.
"Why, it's Miss Lois!" exclaimed Mrs.
Crane. II thought ] heard somebody.
ri
"Oh, no-no," murmured Miss Lois II
just came to ask want you to see
Look at that"
She thrust the knotty mass into Mrs.
at it and then at Miss Lois. Her eyes
twinkled. "Oh a fern ball. she said.
did you never see one? They look per-
fectly dead, you know, until they receive
moisture. then gradually they begin to
show life. Little by little the stems swell
and put forth delicate fronds. But just
let me show you mine.
She drew Miss Lois into the warm, de-
lightful, fiower-fragrant interior. 1t SEEM
ed to Miss Lois that she had never seen
In her life before. Mrs Crane directed
her attention to a mass OF feathery green
suspended In the bay window, There's
nay fern ball." she said.
Miss Lois gexed in wonder. her small
hsnds c,as2e6 nervously. And you think
mine aCl be like that?" she asked
.-Oh. certainly; you must soak 1t for
day or two IL water and hang 1t up in a
window where ii can get plenty Of sun
shine. Then you'll see.''
Miss Lois looked obviously from the
growing fern bah to the unawakened one
1T doesn't seem possible" she murmured.
Mrs Crane laughed. "Just treat IL as
I've told you and find out for yourself"
she said.
Miss Lois carried her treasure home.
She had never grown plant I'm her life,
but she was ardently eager to see what
she could do with this one. She pondered
the matter of sunshine a good deal. She
would have to open one OF the parlor
would be like making a great hole in the