New Britain herald., 1915-08-07

violets was on her breast, and boy of between 4 and years Of age was clinging to her. skirt.
 Indeed, I am glad to meet you, Miss Tapscott," said the young widow in a singularly musical voice. "In the days before I offended her by-by marrying Walter, my aunt used to speak often of you and your kindness to her when she was so very Ill. This is my little boy, Miss Tapscott-Wal- ter dear, say good morning to Miss Tapscott, and tell her you are pleased to meet her."
 "Dood mornin,'" said the child obe- diently. "Pleased meet you-O, num- my dear, did all those funny little curls over her ears grow like that?"
 MT. Stetlow automatically clapped his hand over the young questioner's mouth and drew him away.
 "Please forgive him, Miss Tapscott." said Mrs. Thornburn, blushing with modification. He's only baby. He doesn't mean to be rude. I am sure you will learn to love him when you get to know him better. Don't you, MT. Stetlow?"
 "Humph! reg'lar man-trap. Won't hev' one around unless he's dancin' attendance on her." comment ed Miss Tapscott mentally.
 "I'm not partial to children" she said aloud, as she laid the tips of her fingers in the extended hand and let them slip away again-a compro- mise with the laws of etiquette. And boys in partic'lar I can't abide. I'd ruther live alone, if it makes no diff ference to you and was jist sayin' to MT. ,Stetlow when you come in that I wondered if you'd mind rentin' your share of the house to me. l don't think me and you and that boy 'u'd be altogether comfortable livin' together, and if you and him 'u'd like to lives summer else'-
 "Oh, Miss Tapscott! please don't suggest it," said Mrs. Thorburn with a frightened look in her soft eyes. "If you knew what 1t means to me l am sure that you wouldn't. My lungs are weak, the doctors tell me and I must get out into the fresh air of the coun- try as soon as possible. Oh, am so sorry, so sorry! thought we should be such company for each other,'
 Even Achilles had vulnerable spot in his heel; but whether Miss Tap scott's was in her heel or her heart, no matter, she weakened.
 1T don't want no company, she replied grimly. But I ain't one to stand out when it's question of a body's health. So, as you don't want to give up the house, and l don't nuther, I reckon the best thing we can do is to partition it off even; you live in your half and I live in mine, and no interferin' one with the other. If that's agreeable, all that's left is to decide which half you'll take and which I'm to hev'. I ain't never seen the place. Hev' you?"
 "Yes," replied Mrs. Thornburn. T was there yesterday. I think I should prefer the east side; but that wouldn't be wholly fair to you, because all the roses grow on that side, and l love roses-they were Walters favorite flowers"
 Miss Tapscott's face set squarely and hardened.
 "I hate 'em!" she said with exceed ing bitterness. "The very sight of 'em makes me sick, and I wouldn't trust a man who was fond of 'em as far as could throw him. I never knowed but one man who really and truly loved 'em, and he was the vilest human critter that ever lived. You kin hev the roses if you want 'em-I don't. I'll take the west side for mine."
 So the matter was settled; and Miss Tapscott left the offices of Stetlow Barns & Burns with a step that was positively elastic.
 Her first duty was scrupulously to settle all her bills and to obtain re- lease from her landlord, then to gath. CT together such of her household goods as she wished to retain, an6 send them to Yorkshire, selling the rest to the secondhand dealers for what they would bring.