The Spinster Book

Le

and every chalice was filled with fragrant incense. Bees, powdered with pollen, hummed slowly back and fo

o herself, "June-Oh

ing. Lynn also had an intermittent correspondent or two, but the errand usually proved fruitless. Still, since Mrs. Irving's letter had lai

ure. Iris read everything she could lay her hands upon. Mere print exercised a certain fascination over her mind, and she had conscientiously finished ever

emmed about by the narrow standards of East Lancaster, had a broad outlook upon life, a large view, that would have done credit to a woman of twi

eary, toilsome day drags to its disheartening close, and both love and friendship have proved powerless to appreciate or understand, but in t

od. It asks nothing and gives much, when one comes in the right way. The volumes st

and soul of you cast down by bitter disappointment? Would you leave it all, if only

visit, from Arctic snows to the loftiest peaks of southern mountains. Gallant gentlemen will go with you and tell you how to appreciate what you se

u smell the smoke of battle, hear the ring of steel, the rattle of musketry, and see the colours break into deathly beauty well in advance of the charge? Would you have for your friends a great co

ce, "you're surely not

that in her pink dimity gown. She put on her white hat, the brim drooping beneat

ar, your

little unwillingly, but tan was a

gate carefully. Mrs. Irving waved a friendly hand at her

swered Iris, "but

stely embroidered at the ankle, as one suspected, by the hand of the wearer, and the dainty, high-heeled shoes. Th

octor Brinkerhoff. "Good morning, l

d Iris, with a quaint court

and potions always at hand." He made careful inquiries as to the physical and mental well-being

e said to herself. "What a pity

lls, and wandered over mossy reaches and pebbly ways, singing meanwhile of all the fragrant woodland through which it came. Hidden springs in subterranean caverns, caught by the laughing melody, went out to meet it and then followed, as the ch

s violin case, and Iris, a little co

r box, and then her heart gave a little leap,

postmaster. "I've finally got something fer ye! Here! Mis

d Iris, in awe,

kon," laughed the old man. "Any

, and one from Santa Claus. The good saint had left his communication in the little maid's stocking one Christmas

said to hersel

iar and the post-mark was blurred, but it seemed to have come from the n

ld Aunt Peace know? Why not have just one little secret, all to herself? The daring

maple, tucked the letter safely away in her stoc

minably, and she was never alone. She did not forget the letter for a moment, and when she had on

stood alone in her room with her heart wildly beating. The door was locked

it at the end with the scissors, drew out the

and slender as the rushes, dainty as a moonbeam, and sweet as a rose of June. Your dimpled hands make

r eyes, my dear one, how shall I write to you of your eyes? They have the beauty of calm, wide waters, when sunset has given them that w

wer, nor tell you my name, but if you are displeased, I am sure I have a way of finding it out. Perhaps you wonder where I have seen you, so I

gracious permission to tell you all that is in my heart. Until then, remember th

re surprised. Her first love letter! At a single bound she had gained her place beside those fair ladies of romance, who peopled her maide

om, and pattered across the polished floor, in her bare

l on her hands,

lver cross so

ushed close against her breast. "I wonder," she murmured, her