Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1870-11-03
WHOLE NO. 1458

;, otockDurn. DuC Netty Dlake, Dluc
2 eyed little blonde, received a much
e larger share Of his attention than Lucy
e MalcCm did although Lucy in her
a scarlet spencer and black skirt, below
which peeped the trimmest of ankles
| and tidiest of buckskin shoes, was
certainly very charming She was al.
ways with Enoch, laughing and spar
2 ring and flinging back her bright saucy
wit. Enoch had Just whispered to her
7 that if he found the red ear she would
have to suffer, when some one scream
ed that Mr. Allen had found it. The
= dove cote was ruffled, and the girls
, scampered over the piles of corn and
hid in the horse-stalls, trying to avoid
the penalty of a kiss. At last the
young man took after Lucy and the
light-tooted little mink gave him q
chase round the barn, and then dash
ed away through the door into the
moonlight, and he after her, and the
ring OF her silver laugh was the last
that was heard OF Lucy,
In the confusion, nobody missed
them. The whole company went to
supper pretty soon, aud more than
half an hoar had passed, when Enoch
came and took hold of Jobs coa'-sceve.
They steped outside the kitchen door
together, and then Enoch said, in an
agitated whisper:
For Heavens sake, where is cousin
Lucy That fellow Allen has disap-
peared, too. Can it be she is playing
one of her pranks ? Father has gone to
bed. Don't speak to mother yet. Get
a light and come up to her room with
me.
The two brothers slipped up the
staircase, into Lucy's chamber where
the moonlight was lying quietly upon
the carpet. Every thing seemed just
as usual, only a note lay upon the
bureau, addressed to Uncle Dorset, in
Lucy's pretty, girlish handwriting.
Enoch snatched it and tore it open.
1t ran as follows:
Don't be cross and scold me that's
a dear. am going to marry Charles
Farnsworth. He isn't Mr.. Allen at all.
| think pa has been very cruel towards
Charley. He wouldn't let him cone to
the house, because he was little wild
once. But now Charley has reformed
and don't drink . drop; and if he
couldn't oct into business, | am sure it
wasn't his fault poor fellow. The only
business he had in Middletown was
seeing me. Maybe you will think |
am to blame but | do love Charley to
distraction, and we mean to get mar
ried this very night. Nobody need
follow us, for it will be too late.
Perhaps Enoch uttered an oath at
any rate, he crushed the note in his
hand. Go down stairs, Job, said he,
and try and keep the folks agoing,-
Get up dance if you can, Don't tell
mother quite yet. will put Zeke on
one of the farm horses and we can bring
the crazy girl to her senses. The fel
low looked to me like sneak, and |
dare say he is after Uncle Horaces
money. Won't the old gentleman
fume, though.
Enoch ten minutes later was spur
ring along the the moonlit road, when
he caught sight of a huttering garment
among the trees by the way.
who is there, he called out sharply.
AS no answer came, he alighted took
the bride over his arm, and pushed in
to the shadows.
Its me, Nancy Raynor,' said faint
voice
You, Nancy, out alone this time of
night Did you see anybody pass
here half an hour back I? he asked, hur-
riedly. L am afraid my cousin, Lucy
Malcom, has made fool Of herself and
gone off with scamp who has been
hanging round here ever since she
came.
Nancy had often thought in just what
scornfu tones she would speak to
Enoch Dorset, if he ever CHANGED to be
in her presence but now
the opportunity had come, aud all her
had vanished.
And do you care so much about her?
she asked in taltering voice
Il don't care in the way you think |
10, Nancy And Enoch's better ma
.ure asserted itself The only girl |
ever really cared for was you ; and |
vas fool and a coxcomb. | thought
[ could play with you and when l
wanted to come back, you were like
ce toward me. OF course, | deserved
t. | deserve that you should never
peak to me again.
'Oh, Enoch how miserable | have
,een, sobbed Nancy as her head went
lown. Enoch found moment in
which to comfort her before he leaped
gain on his horse and darted away
fter the fugitives. But they were not
ound that night The next day Lucy
anne, with her graceless husband, and
hrew herself at Uncle Dorset's feet,
nd begged him to intercede with her
ather He could not help promising