Evening star., 1915-02-27

life from that of her old schoolmate,
though they had started in with equal
chances. Everything that Mr.. Grant
had touched had turned to gold. Every
thing that Mr.. Simmonds had attempt
ed had resulted in failure. Now in
middle life Mrs. Grant had a fine home,
children and grandchildren. Mrs. Sim
monds had a small home, pittance to
live on and her coleus!
She gloated over her triumph, the
one precious thing which the wealth
of her neighbor could not buy. Full
well she knew, had she been minded to
sell, she could have bought many more
needed things with the proceeds. But
she was never tempted to sell. Once
or twice florist, having heard of the
wonderful plant, came with offers that
would have tempted almost any one.
They would have tempted Mrs. Sim
Grant would buy the first plant on
sale. "An' I'd rather not have any
thing than fur her to have that to add
to her collection" she mused to her
self.
Mrs. Grants gardener led hard life
for a time, urged on, commanded, to
duplicate the strange colored coleus.
But he never succeeded.
Mrs. Grant went more often to Mrs.
Simmonds' than she had done in years.
She sat quietly while there, a strange
eagerness in her-an eagerness for the
coleus, an eagerness to avoid showing
that she wanted it. But Mrs. Sim
monds knew.
She knew that every neighbor wanted
it. But she never gave away the tint
est slip. 1t seemed strange for her to
hold so tightly to anything, she who
had given away things all her life.
And she would cheerfully have given
away a good part of that had it not
been for fear Mrs Grant would get it,
People hinted for it covertly and
openly. 1t was so bright that it would
have frightened the darkest room. Mrs.
Simmonds kept it in the sunniest win
dow of the house. And it was strange,
indeed, for a passerby not to stop and
admire it, 1t became the talk of the
little town.
It had grown to an immense plant by
dazzling in the window by the sun.
Mrs. Simmonds' pleasure in it had nev-
er decreased. Mrs. Grant still watched
it with wistful eyes. At times she had
to close her lips tightly to avoid Of
fering to buy it,
One day Mrs. Simmonds had an inn
pulse about sharing the joy in her
wonderful plant that she could not re-
sist The little pale dressmaker
stopped before the window and looked
within with wiStful eyes.
Mrs. Simmonds called to her. Don't
you want to come in, Miss Blake, and
see my coleus?
Miss Blake gladly came in. And she
Q10 not stunt neF WOTQS Oh PRAISE.
Mrs. Simmonds thought long as the
girl stood there. Sne knew something
about how few pleasures, how many
sorrows. had come her way. MY
dear" she said at last, I'm going to
give you a cutting to carry home. You
can root it in water quite easily.
Miss Blake protested. even while her
cheeks flushed with pleasure. OH
II couldn't let you" she said.
IT want to-" said Mrs. Simmonds. Il
know what a pleasure the plant is to
me, and 1 want to share it with you.
There's only one thing about 1t. l
want you to promise me solemnly not
to give a slip of 1t away.
Miss Blake gave the required prom
Use and went on her way rejoicing.
Mrs. Simmonds looked thoughtfully
after her. 'Im glad I gave 1t to her..
she said. IT love to think of what
pleasure it will be-. And as long as
Bertha Grant didn't get it don't care
who does"
She worried over it later, however,
fearing lest in some unforeseen way it
should fall into her rivals hands. She
made an especial trip to Miss Blake to
reassure herself.
'I don't even let any one see 1t" Miss
Blake said. you can be sure it's per-
fectly safe. I wouldn't think of either
giving it or selling it to any one. II
you ever decide to sell you can have
this one back"
1t was in the summer that Mrs. Sim
monds found food for thought moro
engrossing than the coleus. Her sister
was Ill and wrote to her, with an ur-
gent plea for her to come to her Mrs.
Simmouds made ready at once. At the