The Spinster Book

Human D

" remarked Lynn, "this vi

a 'fossil,'" asked Aunt Peace, h

ully. "You're younger than any of us, Aun

s tall, straight young fellow who had brought new life into her household. A Mar

Margaret, who had ove

e picked her up, bodily, and carried her, flushed and protesting, to her favourite chair, and

ay where I am, if I may

nded upon the polished floor. Iris happened to be passin

little old maid you are! You remin

tory, Au

eless man to reform him. She used to follow him aro

d comfortable," observed Lyn

ent to th

oman?" ask

of a bro

m too," said Lynn. "I do not

etorted Iris, "but it has to be done. Oth

t should be. I was never in such a clean place in my life. The exhibits themselves look as though they'd been freshly dus

th a touch of sarcasm, "until recently. Before

own silk with the irregular

d Aunt Peace, instantly gathering a p

ys. Might one inquire ab

t a pin,"

ass case. In someway, it

irst husband's hair i

happy bridegroom whose wife wears a jewel made out of her first husban

y, "is as it may be. We have the

astily beat a retreat. They heard him in the room overh

d, suddenly, "what are you

he answered. "After t

and, always quick at perceiving hidden currents, Iris

h her own thoughts. "Margaret," sai

t Peace-w

ve been thinking-afte

Peace. We shall have you w

-and I have already lived more than my allotted threescore and ten. My problem is not a new one-I have

I have,

ess,-"she has given to me infinitely more than I have given

eaningless ones which make so large a part of conversation. The

now, or possibly twenty-one. She has never known when her birthday c

went on, unwillingly. "He had asked me to go and see a patient of his, in whom, from what he had told me, I had learn

g that an answer was expected,

ged children, playing in the road. They refused to let us pass, and we could no

t out, the children began to throw stones at the horse. It was a young animal, and it started so violently that I was almost thro

ne hand free. I tried to make the child sit down, and she struck at me. Her tor

e whole tribe was behind us, yelling like wild Indians, and we were in the midst

e said, 'a little farthe

s that haunts me yet. She hated everybody-you could see that,-and yet

e, watching us. 'Doctor,' I said, 'that child is not like the others, a

was in earnest. He would not let me go there again, but the very next day, he went, late in the afternoon, and broug

d close to her head, fed her, and put her into a clean bed. The bruises on her body would have brought tears from a

, and hoped that they might never see her again. Nothing had been paid tow

ths after their marriage, and when the child was born, she was absolutely destitute. Finally, she found work, but she could not take the child with her, and so Iris does not remember her mother at all

r delirium! Doctor Brinkerhoff was here night and day, and his skill saved her, but when she came out of it she was a pitiful little ghost. Mercifully, she had forgotten a g

e she learned to love me. Through it all, I had Doctor Brinkerhoff's sympathetic assistance. He came every week, advised me, counselled with me, helped me, and even faced the gossips. All that East Lancaster knows is the si

und a bit of human driftwood, and with your love

in; when it seems empty, purposeless, and bare, I look at my little girl, remember what she was, a

d me," continued Marg

ke her comfortable, but money is not everything. I dre

ou say, the house comes to me, there is no reason wh

I wanted, but I did not like to a

he question. She might be a great deal less lovely than

re the mother's heart stopped beating for an instant and went on unevenly,-"so you will be

ty-th

ting aloud as she looked out of the window, and had no idea that she was hur

uggested Mrs. Irvin

de her an old-fashioned spinster like myself. She

h worn, but, though walls have ears, they are happily blind, and

blindly trusting that their own venture will turn out differently from every other. Someone once said that it was like a crowded church-those outside were endeavouring to get in, and those inside we

s in love," said

ense!" She rose majestically, and went out wi

he hurt that Aunt Peace had unconsciously made in her heart. Never before had it occurred

ever known. If Aunt Peace should die-and if Lynn should marry,-she did not phrase the thought, but she was very conscious of its existence,-she and Iris mig

barrier in his path? His mother, whose heart had been hungry all these years, should she keep him back by so much

Because I have suffered, he shall not." Then she laughed hysterically. "H

el, forever separates the wheat from the chaff, the joy from the pain. At the touch of her hallowed fingers,

ly, from the back of the house, the gi

spent with th

tring of p

m over, eve

ry! My

e deep, vibrant voice had an undertone of sadness-a wor

was no older than the unseen singer. Love's cup had been at

s that ble

ain and bi

ad and strive

s-Sweetheart! To

hen the tears came in a blinding flood. "Mo

st time, the woman who had gone to her grave unforg