Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1869-12-30
WOODSTOCK, W., THURSDAY, DEC 80, 1869

E"ScH W VIC IHtIIltu, L UelleVc, now
went so far as that is marvel to n
Slill,) but an incident offrightful cha
actcr took place as to put the matter el
tirely out Of the question. WAS
Young undergraduate, spending the sun
mer with Il reading party at the Iris
lakes, when | met with-wi,h Luc,
aud got, in short, TO be accepted. Sh
was residing with her mother, in tn
same hotel in Killarney a. oursclve.
and we all met every day. We boate
on the lake together, and fshed, an
sang, aud read. We landed on til
wooded islands III the soft summer even
Ings, to tax" our tea in gypsy fashion
and to sketch: but she and | nosil
whispered-not about love at all, AS
remember, but OF the weather and tn
rnbFic; only it seemed 80 sweet to sinl
our voices and speak low and soft
Oacc, in party over the moors, while
was leading her pony over some boggy
ground, ! caught her hand by mistake
ustcad Of her bride, aud sine did no.
snatch it away. 1t was the h-yday and
the prime Of my life, my frieu1, and that
youth Of the spirit which no power can
ever more renew. | knew what she
felt. and what would please her, as soou
as the feeling and the wish themselves
were born, Our thoughts--my thought
at least, 'eapt out to we'd with thought,
ere thought could wed itself with speech.
She took fancy to huge mas,itf dog
belonging to fisherman; and bought
it for her al once, although it was ter
ribly savage, and, (except for Lucy's
liking it, not either good or beautiful.
It's name, also--,hc only one it would
answer to, and sometimes it would moi,
answer to that--was Towser, not a
name for lady's pet at all, and scarce.
ly for u geutlonuu'S. There was a
little secluded field, hodged in by cop
pice, which sloped into the lake, about
II mile from the hotel; and there Lucy
agreed for the first tilne) to meet me
alone. was 70 be there, before break
fst. at eight n'9lock in the morning, and
you may be sure was there y, six
with Towser. Perhaps | was never
happier than at that particular time.
The universal nature seemed in harmony
with my hiiAsrul feelings. The sun shons
out bright and clear, 50 tha, the fresh
breeze could scarcely cool the
pleasant throbbius of my blood; but the
blue ripping waves Of the lske Looked
lrrepressbly tempting, and could moi
Islst Il SWIM. Just q plunge and GU,
again, thought |; for ,hough had such
plenty OF time to spare, | determined to
be dressed aud ready for the interview
m hour at least before the appointed
lime. Lucy might, like myself, be n
little earlier; aud at all events, with
such an awful consequence in possible
apprehension, I would run the shadow
OF risk. Mind my clothes, mind
them, said to Towser (who took his
seat thereon, at once sagaciously
nhohsh), for | had heard Of such things
a. clothes being stolen from unconscious
llpper1 before them, with results not ,n
be thought of; aud in ! wont. I re-
member the delight OF that bath even to
has day, the glow, the freshness, the
luxurious sottness of each particular
wave, just as the last view which his
eyes rested on is painted on the memory
IT one who has been stricken blind, or
he last heard melody is treasured in
hat Of II mun stunned deaf by u fall; i;
was my last perfect pleasure, and sue
'eeded by shock that | shall never, n
hlnS, quite get over, When I had
'athed as lop%as ! jnd:;rd to be prudent,
landed and advanced towards the 500,
where my garments and Towser Law i
Us | did so, every individual hair upon
lis back seemed to hristle with fury.
his eyes kinded Goals of fire; he gave
ne notice by q low, determined growI
hat he would spring on me and tear
ne into fragments if | approached near.
,r; it was evident that he did not recos.
lize me. in the least, without my clothes.
Tow, Tow, Tow, Tow, Tow, said
|, pleasantly, good old Tow, you re-
member me; but the brute, like the
riend whom we have known in bet
er day, and appeal to when in indiffer-
mt apparel, only shook his head in a men
lcing manner and showed his teeth the
more, 'Towser, be quiet, sir; how
lare you-Tow, Tow, Tow-Towser-
here he nearly had bit of my calf Off
you nasty, brutal dog; 50 away, sir,
go; amt you ashamed of yourself?
Drops of foam oozed through the teeth
If the ferocious monster as he stood up
With tail erect at these reproving words,
'ut he manifested no sign of remorse or
orrow, My situation became serious
n the extreme what if he chose to sit
here, on my personal apparel, until?
At this ilea, too terrible to be eonclud
ID, proflse pcrspiration broke out all
,ver me, Presently, feeling a little
,old. went back into the lake AGAIN