Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-08-10
When Edwin Galpin disclosed his feel

restrain the joy he felt at the happy termi-
nation of his wishes and when the father
and mother of Edwin wrote, testifying
their approval, Stephens delight was COM
plete.
A round fortune had been amassed by
Farmer Abbott, and as the Galpins were
well provided with the worlds goods,
Stephen rejoiced in the knowledge that his
daughter would be properly settled in life
Edwin Galpin at last left for his home,
to return again in month. True to his
promise, he came back to Amy and to love.
1t would be difficult to describe the exact
state of Amy Abbott's feelings. She could
not deny that she felt great respect for
Edwin Galpin's learning, aud she almost at
times fancied she loved him. Perhaps the
remembrance of the handsome young jour
nalist still fingered in her mind, for of all
Amy's lovers this was the one who made
the most lasting impression on her heart.
But time sottens if not obliterates the
recollection of those halcyon days of our
youth, and Amy Abbott after awhile con-
fessed to herself that Edwin Galpin was
worthy of her hearts best affection.
There was a reunion of the Galpin and
Abbott families. Mr.. and Mrs. Galpin
came to visit Stephen and his daughter
Amy. 1t was the first time Mary Galpin
had seen her former lover since her mar
riagc, and as consequence their converse
ton, during the early portion or her visit
chiefly related to olden times. 1t was
arranged between them that they should
jointly set the young folks up in business
Stephen therefore purchased fine farm,
situated between his own place and the
village, while Mr.. Galpin furnished the
house and supplied the stock and farming
implements, besides giving Edwin the con-
troll of large sum in bank.
The wedding took place early in the
Spring, and the young couple Immediately
moved to their own home. Edwin Galpin's
energy and judgment soon made his farm
the wonder and admiration of all who saw
it. He was very happy man, rejoicing
in the best cultivated place and handsomest
wife in the neighborhood. He also had
become so popular that he was elected
to fill several positions of responsibility in
the county. Thus far matters went along
very prosperously with Edwin Galpin and
wife.
They had been married about year
when business called Edwin from home for
several weeks. 1t was shortly after his
return that he one day remarked to his
wife: 81 forgot to tell you, Amy, that
met one of your old friends while away
and gave him an invitation to visit us dur
ing the coming Summer"
"One of my old friends ?"inquired Amy
eyes, one Of yours as well as mine. We
were school fellows. Now, can you guess
his name ?"
"Indeed can't" replied his wife: "Whc
was it, pray tell me 2"
"George Weir" responded berhusband
with laugh at her confusion, for she
turned very red.
81 had ceased to remember him at all, ,
she replied; "ndeed he had quite passed
from my memory"
"Never mind, ANY," returned her hus-
band, patting her cheek, 'you need not be
ashamed to acknowledge George Weir as
one Of your suitors, for he has risen to be a
very important man, and yields great
deal of influence He told me all about
the times he knew you He is good iel-
low and is appreciated well by all who
know him."
That day Amy Galpin pondered more
deeply upon the past than she had done
since she became wife. She called to
mind the hours that George Weir and
herself had passed together, and wondered
if he really had forgotten them. Poor
Amy, she was treading upon dangerous
ground but it was pleasant, nevertheless
to call up these old fancies, and invest
them with some Of the glories of the past
George Weir was still single. She would
rather have heard that he was married
not that she doubted any latent weakness,
that might still linger in her mind but
then it would be safer, for if the matrimo.
NAL bond is not always a barrier, it at
least serves as vail, and that is protec-
ton, albeit poor one in time of tcmpta-
ton.
As the days and weeks passed away,
Amy grew familiar with the expected
visit, and her heart no longer tluttered
when she thought of it. So, when George
Weir did really appear at the farm, Amy
mcnt than she would have experienced at
an earlier date.
He was somewhat changed he had
grown stouter, and contact with the world
had brushed off something of youthful
eXuberance; but in all else he was the
same. He still preserved the same fervid
glow of enthusiasm, the same hopeful and
sanguine temperament, and the old look OF
the eyes was still there. Perhaps Amy
Galpn recognized the last more surely
than the rest, when he gazed fxedIy into
her face.
once heard of student who so care
fully studied the face Of the heavens that
he was able to give correct reply regard
ing the state of the weather without ris-
ing from his pillow, no matter what hour he
was awakened 1t may have been that
knowledge akin to this enabled Edwin
Galpin to determine the gradual decay,
hour by hour, of the affection she had so
recently pledged to himself. He could
trace its waning as surely as he could mark
the furrow his plswshare had upturned.
He was of proud and sensitive nature,
and never could bring himself to confess to
his wife that there was shadow on his
heart Had he done so there might have
been fewer regrets in after days. But he
permitted things to take their own course
and patiently waited for Amy to give him
the opportunity to have an explanation,
which of course she never did.