The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-20
TODAY'S SHORT STORY
Heartsease

place where she had been stricken and so back she came to Marathon. whence she had gone a score of years before.
 A correspondence with real es- tate agent there had resulted in her buying the old Hurd house, which she remembered as being rather a shutup and desolate place. Mrs. Hurd had sold out and gone to live with sister elsewhere. The old house was, the real estate man said, a bargain, and Rhoda did not dis pute him. She was looking for shelter and must have it even though it took half her money to buy it.
 She moved into the house on a wild March day from a van that dis gorged her damp belongings as all the best of her household gear in order to pay up the last of her husbands debts, and what she had left were only odds and ends that were worth more to her than to anybody else.
 During the dreary, wet week that followed she tried with the help of n boy whom she engaged for few hours daily, to make a home for herself in two or three rooms of the house. A living room and bed room and kitchen-these were what she needed nose. She did not expect to find rest, either for her body or her brain for a long, long time, if she ever did.
 One night she awakened after a bad dream to hear the wind blowing with rushing sound of great wings. It came in at the open window and stirred her hair as she laid in bed. 1t filled the air with a fresh sweet ness and the sound of harp-strings She listened until the sound of the wind became a certain melody and the coolness of it had eased her aching head. Then she slept and slept-and slept.
 When she awakened she seemed to come from a great way, as if some- thing had pulled her out of unheard depths. Her. eyelids seemed to have weights upon them. She was entirely lanquid and Quiescent And so she slept again. This time she was awakened by sharp little noise. When she looked up she saw little bird sitting on her windowsill scolding her.
 My neighbors have begun to call" |" Rhpda said to herself.
 The bird flew away and she went to the window. A change had taken place over night. The last of the snow was gone and the earth had freshened wonderfully. In the dis tance the noon-whistles were blowing.
 II have more than slept the clock around" Rhoda thought. What a surprising thing for me to do." She felt hungry, and for the first time in weeks the tea and toast tasted good. Across the table where she ate, into her teacup came a rollicking streak of sunshine, which at once was all invitation and warmth.
 Come out, come out.' it seemed to say.
 Without waiting to attend single task Rhoda put on her rubbe-s and n shawl and went out of doors.
 The house stood in a large yard much neglected and full of queer tangles Into the depths led mar row path of stone. and Rhoda chose to walk there. But soon she was led afield, for she saw gleams of white here and there white pure as snowflakes but yet sentient with vital ity. She stopped. and her fingers touched flower bud up-springing from green and-white leaves.
 "Crocuses " she breathed. "Oh the darlings! Oh, the beauties :"
 There were hundredes of crocuses, And farther on there were the red dened pointed leaves of tulips and ionquills and narcissi. And here was great clump of violets and there a clutter of leaves from which presently would emerge a golden draft of daf- fodils.
 Lots of things coming up today" said a pleasant voice, and turning Rhoda saw a woman leaning upon the fence which seperated the Hurd place from the neat yard adjoining. Eve just been noticing" went on the woman as composedly as if she were in the habit of conversing with Rhoda~aevery day. how the moles have dug holes under my rose bushes. Just come and look. 2
 RhOda moved forward
 Right where you're standing Mrs. IIurd used to have a pansy bed" said the woman. T guess she had every shade and sort of pansy that ever grew But she didn't call them pan xies."
 What did she call them?" asked Rhoda. Now that she was so near she could see what. pleasant eyes her
 . ,~A