Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1862-05-15

1elIOW nut VIC taken 100 muCH PhlhS WIN
your education to permit you to throw yourself
away on the first young chap you happen to
fancy. when there's no security Of his being
able to take care Of you. I've labored bard to
do my dut,. I've reared you up too tendorly
to see you the poor neglected wife Of country
parson."
why, father, Mr.. Atwood has scarcely ever
spoken 20 me-" returned toe girl, whic a pain
fu quiver,ng round her mouth told of smoth-
cred tempest
Il kpow he hasn't, and yet you are ready to
give your aft c,ous unsought Ready to leave
the father who has taken care of you all your
| lite aud shielded you from every hardship, to
share the f1rtuues-nu, the miserable misfortunes
of poor stranger"
mo, father. I'm not willing to do this ~ an
swcrcd low steady voice. aud pnleness he
prleness Of determinaivn--cre crep, over the girls
fncc
Twas an eloquent scrmon-rung out in mu
sica tones flashed out in the royal splendor OF
a pair of glorious eyes hui amid the listening
nud enc", where some wept with feeling, some
smiled with appreciation, and others we're quiet
with unnttcrabe admiration there was ono s'lIl,
white face. with dumb. despsirne eyes. that
cnzed in stern agony on the features of the
Young preacher. note the broad, genius haunt
ed brow, the dark, mysterious eyes, and gentle,
lcvab'c month and then, with unAinching
fingers, threw the dark mantle Of despair over
the orivcring heart that would have fain ho Sed
to the radiant image of goodness, Intellect and
beauty.
"Ah. Vera, letter came for you this even
ing had forgotten it, Here"
They had reached home, and were sitting in
the little, old.fashioned library. Vera Vance
held out her hand half impatently, aud read
with flushed checks vet h,lf scornful lip. the let
ter that 10 Jimmie Mason had seemed part
,of his very life.
Read it aIoud' asked the old gentleman,
after Vera hrd finished and was foldiag it up
in kind of abscnt.minded way. The voice
was very low and coaxing as if the father =
yearnng heart would fain give his child tie
tenderness she po needed,
at is long and uninteresting," returned
Vera. He merely loves ME. and urges an i'm
mediate nnG decisive answer" concluded the
girl halt >cornfnlly
"Wha, answer shall you return7" queried
the father.
"Sholl acccp, him 2" she asked.
"1f you love him, my child
The old mans voice was very pleading and
mournful
IF love hint Bah! what difference does
my love makew and now the pale face was
crimson with it4 great high tides of excitement
"My child, my child. because love you too
well to see you wear ont beneath the CALLING
chain of poverty, YET do not want you to mar
~ merely for wealth. 1t is as easy to love a
rich man ms poor one. Do not marry this
man merely because he has money"
The girl made no reply, save to wind her
arms round her fathers neck and drop her
head on the heart whose great mournfu throh'
beat out q world of anxions tenderness.
For time the fire burned. the clock licked,
end the autumn wind hurried shvering through
the pine trees. hut no word br'ke the stiffness
in that little library AT length, rai'ing her
white desoate face from her fathers bosom.
Vera -aid
II will wait week, father and then will
send my answar.'
Once, twice. thrice the old man essayed to
sneak, then with weigh Of nnsh"d tears press
ed on hi heart and sitting the power of speech,
he folded Vera in his arms. and the goodnight
MISS anu CnbIh'N NtIC 'a' H'io i''h' WV
nesscs of his affection than any words could
have been.
E 1t was a week after this Vera Vance was an
unohscrved heorer Of the following;
"Yon are going home with me, tonight AL
wood. are you not 7"
II suppose so Who will he there y
None but the family, excepting Miss Vera
Vapc.."
Then must respectfully decline going as
that young lady's father already looks daggers
if speak to her. have no desire to induce
hsr to disobey the only commandment with
rrome!'
They were gay almost boyish-looking crea.
, lures, and in moment more forgot their words.
Bn the flushed qnvering face of Vera Vance
told that she could not so easily orgct.
"The cnncei,e1 jackanape - sac murmured
? Indignantly. mo doubt he imagines that ex.
, posed to the facinatons of his enhancing pres
ence should immediat,y break the command.
5 ment with promise, by worshipping his super.
natural petlections. But, without the aid Of
r his philan'hropic shield from temptation, |
think Vera Vance knows her duty to her father
aud mother. Love-happiness-wh mockiug
words they are What superative humbug
0 the world is, anyhow ~
e That night Vera Vance forced smiles of mock
gaye,y on her lips, and whispered,
i III have accepted Jimmie Mason. Bless me
, father !"
And the old man was deceived and was Joy
e ful in his child's counteriei'ed happiness. Thc
t. world was deceved-farly entrappsd into ren
y dering verdict ofnpprobation when Vert
Vance and Jimmie Mason were married 1
was truly splendid affair