Year: 1873




canary singing merrily In its cage.


"Tm sure | don't know what I evel
should have DONE" she said, 'if Il hadn't
been for the cottagel So kindly or
deredp


No longer encumbercd with servants
or relations Miss Plumtree managed Ia
live delightfully."- In her new quarters, and
never admitted that she missed single
| comfort; until one day the news came
that the savings bank, where her tiny
maternal fortune was treasured, had
failed, and not penny was left. For
one moment Miss Plumtree stood still as
she listened to the tale; but in another
the magic lantern was produced, and a
new object thrown IN bold and brilliant
relief upon the shadowy foreground OF
her future.


"rm sure don't know what I should do
now, if hadn't amused myself once by
learning dressmakingl Sokindly orderedP'
she said, with such smile that people
were almost readyto believe that this was
the pleasantest thing that had ever hap
pened to her. From that day Miss Plum
tree no longer lived alone. Every morn
ing she tripped forth, work.bag in hand,
and fitted like little business woman,
as she was, to one house or another as
u.
one thought IL pleasure to see her sitting
by their workable; her form was grace,
full yet, aAd the wavy hair, drawn back
from her forehead and knotted carefully
behind, gave such classic contour to her
head. These were her only beauties, ex-
cept the smile, and that made everyone
feel as If the sun shone on the darkest
day.


And so all went on beautifully for a
time, until Miss Plumtree began to find
herself inconvenienced by a severe pain
in one of her eyes. Sometimes she came
to her work with green shade over it.,
sometimes she did not come at all, and
at last was obliged to give herself fairly
into the physicians hands. For a few
weeks she sat alone at home once
more; after that the pain ceased and
she felt quite well again, but the sight of
the unruly member was gone for ave.
Miss Plumtree Immediately looked up
her little book of engagements, and ap-
peared next morning at the door where
she had been promised for that day, three
months before, the illumination lighting
up everything before her.


81 don't know what ever should have
done, she said 'if it hadn't been for my
having another eye"


Il
Of sitting with her face against the pane,
ever since the night she had seen the
shadowy figure pass along the rustling
grass. But she still kept up her little
twilight season of thinking over matters,
and how kindly everything had been
ordered for her ever since she could re-
member.


"But poor dear Jacki" She had been
so happy in thinking of his having every-
thing, and now she heard he was running
1t through very fast, and sure to get into
trouble before long. She wondered If he
would ever consent to come and share
with her il the worst came to the worst,
She was afraid he would not, everything
would seem such changel And there
was some one elseI How changed every
thing would seem to him--to Philip-if
he were ever to come backl Bat he could
not have heard that there was no one
now to interfere. She did not think he
would ever hear; probably he had gone
great way off and would never know.


One November night Miss Plumtree, as
usual, slept her twilight thoughts quietly
away, and awoke to find great surprise
awaiting her. An invitation from some
friends living fifty miles away, to come
and pass few days with them. It was





tree had received since she left the old
house, and she really did not feel that
she ought to have any, now that she had
no longer any hospitality to offer. But
here was the letter, very positive indeed,
and refusing to take no for an answer.
SO she put some things in a satchel, and
set of the next morning by the daily
stage.


81 shall certainly be back the last day
OF the month" she said, "for l am en-.
gagged all the first week In December"


The days glided by as such days will
do, the oasis seeming smaller for its very
greenness in the desert, the last day Of
the month arrived, the returning stage
was heard rattling down the village hill,
and there, on the drivers box, her nose
little red with the cold, but luxuriating
in the free, fresh air, sat Miss Plumtree,
punctual to the hour and minute. How
good it would seem to see the little cot.
tage againl They should make it in
another minute, but Deacon Cranberry's
house was so much higher, it cut off the
view just here. Now they were passing
the deacon's. And Miss Plumtree began
TO look under the apron for her satchel.


"Jerusalem" exclaimed the driver, and
Miss Plumtree looked quickly up. A
u 3.
and little curl of smoke, were all that
was left of the cottage. The two silver
candlesticks, the oval mirror, all were
gone, only the canary bird, fortunately
left at the deacon's, and nothing for Miss
Plumtree but to take shelter under the
same kindly roof until she could have
time to think what must be done next.
The ensuing day was Sunday, and when
the deacon's wife knocked at Miss Plum
trees door, she found her bonneted and
cloaked, the illumination in full play, and
Miss Plumtree only waiting for the Sec
ond bell. I'm sure | ought to 60" she
said, with smile, which the deacon's
wife declared more, beautiful than ever,
for don't know what should have done
ii it hadn't been for saving the things in
my satchell So kindly orderedp


So she went, and when the day had
passed pea cefully by, and the short De-
cember twilight was gathering, she slip
ped away to her own room for her little
season belonging to the hour. What
strange things were happening all the
timel And how strange it was that the
cottage had been burned lust as the old
homestead was to be sold for Jacks debts.
and he had gone away without her being
able to ask him if he would forgive all
and share with her. Poor dear Jackl
But there was always something left, and
as soon as Monday came she must think
what was to be done. Just then the dea-
con tapped apologetically at the door.


Come in" said NJ iss Plumtree, and he
opened it crack and looked in.


"Miss Plumtree, he said, ''there is
some one asking for you-some one"
and the deacon he STATED and blew his
nose, then laughed little and began
again. "Some one that think you used
to know-I ought not to be positive, but
perhaps"


The deacon stopped again, and figure
standing between the hall lamp and Miss
Plumtree's room threw shadow on the
curtain. She had said once she should
know a shadow; this time she did know
1t, and sprang towards the reality.


"Philipl Then you heard after allp'
One week from that day friends once
more escorted Miss Plumtree to the door
of her olden home, bet this time as a
l. IL 4. - l.