Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1870-12-08
WHOLE NO. H463

was chivalrous fellow, and he knew
how such a remark must wound per-
son who had never learned that domestic
service had anything dugrading in it. And
the result was just the opposite of what
his sister had hoped. John paid more
attention than ever to Huldah Manners
because she was the victim ofoppression.
The evening before Thanksgiving
Day the ladies' were going to make a
visit. 1t was not at all incumbent on
John to 20, but he was seeking an OPP
portunity to carry off the brilliant Miss
Dunton, who would adorn his parors
when ho became rich ard distinguished,
and who would make so nice head
piece for his table. And so he had de-
tcrmined to 90 with them, trusting to
some fortunate chance for his oppor-
tunity.
But sitting in the old "best room,"
in the dark, while the ladies were get
ting ready, and trying 10 devise way
by which he might get an opportunity
to speak with Miss Dunton alone, ii oc-
curred to him that she was at that time
in the siting-room waiting for his sis
ter TO step out Of where | was, and
present the case in few words, would
not be difficult, and it might all be set
tied before his sister came downstairs.
The fates are against him however.
For Just as he is about to act on his
he heard Amanda Holiness
abundant dresses sweebing down the
stairway. He could not help hearing
the conversation that followed -
"You see, Janet, do up this trip to-
night to keep John from spending the
evening in the kitchen. He hasn't a
bit Of dignity, and would spend the
evening ronping with the children and
talking to Huldah if he took it into
his head"
"Well,' said Janet, Zone can over.
look everything in man of your broth
er's culture. But what queer way
your country servants have of pushing
Wouldn't | make them
know their places y
And all this was said with the kliCh-
en- door open, and with the intention of
woundiug IIuldah.
Johu's castles tumbled. The erudite
wife alongside the silver tea.urn faded
out Of sight rapidly. If knowledge
could not give touch Of humane re-
gard for the feelings of poor girl toll
Ing dutifully and sclf.deuyngly to sup
port her family, of what account was it?
Two minutes before he was about to
give his life to Janet Dunton. Now
there was a gulf wider than the world
between them. He slipped out of the
best room door and came in through
the kitchen. The neighbor's sleigh
that was to call for them was already
at the door and John begged them to
excuse him. He had set his heart on
helping HuIdah make miuce-pies, as he
used to help his mother when boy.
His sister was in despair but she did
not say much. She told John that it
was time he was getting over his queer
freaks. And the sleigh drove off.
For an hour afterwards John romped
with his sisters children and told stories
to the boys and talked to his father.
When a man has barely escaped going.
over a precipice he does not like to think
too much about it. John did not
At last the little children went to bed
the old gentleman grew sleepy, aud re
tired. The boys went iuto the sitting
loom and went to sleep, one on the
lounge AID one on the floor. Huldah
was Just ready to begin her pies. She
was deeply hurt, but John succeeded in
making her more cheerful, He rolled
up his sleeves and went to rolling out
the pastry. He thought he had never
seen sweeter pictureI than the young
girl in clean dress and apron, with her
sleeves rolled above her elbows. There
was a statuesque perfection in her we'll
rounded arms. The heat of the fire had
flushed her face a little, and she was
laughing merrily at johns awkward
blunders in pie-making. John was de-
lighted, he hardly knew why. In fix
ing a pic.crut his fingers touched hers,
and he started as if he had touched
galyanic battery. He looked at Huldah,
and saw a half-painful expression on
her flushed face. For the first time it
occurred to him that Huldah Manners
had excited in him feeling thousand
times deeper than anything he had felt
toward Janet, who seemed to be now II
another world. For the first time he
realized that he'd been more in love with
Huldah than with Janet all the time
Why not marry her? Aud then he re-
membered what the Governor had said
about marrying woman's heart and
not the head.
He put on his hat and walked out
out, out, into the darkness, and driz-
zline rain, and the slush of melting
snow, fighting fierce battle. All his
pride and all his cowardly vanity were