Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-06-12


not Becky bring the GAMBLER Edward
kisses the widow; kisses her, and calls
her his Clarissal To kiss n woman in
Widows cap! Excuse human infrmity
us we may, is there not very great pre-
sumption IN the act3 lsit not greeting
the baud-maid of death-he--but it is
plain, Edward wants Imagination Again
we ask it, is there not something awful,
freezing, in that white, chilling muslin,
that sometimes surrounds the face of We.
nus with frame Ct snow-that ices beau
ty for twelvemonth2 In the supersti-
ton OF custom, VIC are prone to think the
dead has yet some lnnen upon her-a
years hold at least. Is there not?-but
there is this excuse for Edward;i! is dusk;
he cannot see the cap that ught to freeze
hin.
Thank goodness! Becky had brought
the candles.
was now enabled to have a good
stare ct Edward. He was very hand
some fellow; that is, ninety women out of
hundred would have called him hand
some. His figure was thick.sct, but far
above the middle height, with the chest
and back Of a gladiator. His face was
large and open, with careless good hui
NOR uponit-his brow unlincd by thought.
He had fine color, black whiskers,
sufficiently large mouth, and rcmarka-
bly, white teeth. know that Mrs Cramp
thought his eyes--they were black as
coals-very very beautiful; for my part, !
liked not their expression. They were of
those eyes that seem always trying TO look
gay and sparkle; and then there was an
occasional dropping down and pulling of
the corners Of the mouth, as though
twitched by uneasy heart-strings, My
gentleman had clothed his Aeshly man
with due sense of its excellence. There
was lace on his cravat-goId-ace on his
coat and waistcoat-gold loop and button
in his beaver. He wore a jewel on his
finger, and took snuff from what seemed
a box Of embossed silver. And this was
Edward
No, reader. II was not. 1t was ClickIy
Abram, highwayman. And did Mrs
Cramp know thls' Not she, poor wild
owed dove. The truth is, she had met
the man at Ranolagh; and as, conscicn-
tIous soul! she could not boast Of her hus-
bend, she had never spoken Of his exist
ence. Again, knowing Mr. Cramp could
not much longer ensure this sinful world,
his wife, like provident woman, looked
; around her for more than substitute for the
dying cardmaker, and looking, beheld--
Edward, Hence, she had always spoken
obstacles that time light destroy and then
and then-Edward and she might wed,
Blu, Edward must %ait, the ward or niece
of some ancient vilIan--for she now and
then spoke of an old tyrant-whiIst to the
, widow, Edward was the only darling son
: Of rich lady of the manor somewhere
near the Lands End Ali this | after
wards discovered; but as hate mystery
lay the case before the reader at once
'Supper-somcthing NICE, said Mrs
} Cramp,in whisper to Becky as the widow
: crossed the room to lay me on the mante-
piece and then as she returned never
mind expense
'Ar'n't you surprised to find me as-as
am;' said Mrs Cramp, glancing at her
mourning,
Not in the least my angel knew
your husbands doctor all the time, said
Abram.
rs it possible? Well, ifId have known!
shall never forgive myself exclaimed
the widow, trying 10 look very like pen
itent.
and now the maids gone, my sweet
one-name the day, when shall 1t bc?-
IN tired Of this damned London, and
don't know how it is, get quite foolish
i want to see the old LADY, want to
hug my old mother again Such were
the liial yearnings of Edward; but we
fear that the stir caused by the highway
robbery of CIickly Abram had some in
: Huence upon his wish for travel.
When shall it be;' he asked, smiling
upwards in the widows eyes.
why do you ask me: You can leave
London when you Iike-can't you? said
Mrs Cramp, with an innocence that would
have adorned girl-hood at sixteen.
'No-no: don't bulge without my
1o,r Fl,r;.e, Cooo ,,o,lI z,, 1904,