Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-09-07

own sweet WILL Inc instant JnoJ senJl-
ment of boredom commences to creep over
you your anchor is weighed and the scene
is changed. Hotels may charge prohibitory
prices, clearinghouse keepers may drive
their inmates to distraction; what care
you? All that hotels, and all that lodg-
ings could supply you have close at hand
ready to your beck and call,
Sir Hedworth's party were on board the
"Petrel," and the yacht was just about to
slip her moorings.
"Where's Kate, Edith ~ inquired the
baronet, not seeing his youngest daughter
on deck.
ooh, down in the cabin, papa-I sup
pose"
These last two words were added in a
somewhat lower tone, and as she said them
Edith rather blushed. She sat down, how
ever, presently, next to Mr., bloomington,
and was soon making the running at a
speed not less than that of the good yacht
" Petrel."
"Tcll Kate to come up" said Sir He'd
worth, after he had leisure to think Of
other things than certain matters Of purely
nautical Importance land Edith Dare called
Tor her sister down the companion-ladder.
Receiving no answer, she descended into
the cabin.
"Papa," she said, on returning, {" | don't
see Kate at all. | suppose at the last
minute she made up her mind not to
come"
This was not exactly the truth. Edith
Dare had determined from the first that
Kate should not bcamongst the party, and
to this end she had managed to divert her
attention to something else at the moment
they were leaving the house, Sir He'd
worth was not satisfied with the explana-
ton, and knit his brow. His younger
daughter was his favorite, and, not being
blind to the character of the elder, he did,
in plain truth, suspect something Of the
ruse that had been executed; but he said
nothing, and the "Petrel" went on.
Some person else had selected the present
morning as a favorable one for sail, and
that was Jim Lawlesse. He had taken no
companion, and was talking abstractedly
to the master Of the " Sea-Fan" The
regulation telescope was suspended from
his neck, and something impelled him to
look through it in the direction of what
seemed black speck. He examined it
again,
"Looks uncommonly like boat; and so
far as can make out, whoever, is inside
her is in distress, for it appears to me-"
said Jim, Gas if they were making signs"
The master of the "Sea Fan" was of the
same opinion, and the pair decided that
they would "stand about" and try to get
at the object.
"By Jovem cried Jim, as they drew a
little nearer, "it's a woman, | declared"
And a woman it certanly was-eyident-
ly exhausted with the severity of her
efforts to make Roadway against the waves.
They were within two or three hundred
yards of the boat and Jim ordered the
yachts pinnace to be let down, and said he
would hlmselfrm up this female Columbus,
miss Dare" cried jim, as the pinnace
touched the boat, lis that you? What
on earth brought you here-three miles
from the shore ?"
"Oh Mr.. Lawlesse, | am so glad to see
you, or some one. ! was about getting eX-
hausted and thought"
But Kate Dare was unable TO say more,
for she fell back in dead faint.
jim Lawlesse transferred himself into
her boat, and rowcd to the yacht; and
when Kate Dare next became sensible she
found herself lying in the ladies' cabin of
the "Sea Fam" with Mr., Lawlesse by her
side.
How very kind p were her first words
and GLOW very tortunaten
alt was certainly fortunate that | should
have seen you; but there is no Kindness"
said Jim, " Don't speak till you have quite
recovered"
The recovery was not long delayed and
Kate Dare commenced to tell jim Law
Jesse exactly what had occurred.
You know" she said, that we-that
is, papa, and Edith, and Mr.. bloomington,
were to have gone out for sail in the
Petrol this morning. Well, | was dress
ing, and thought | had plenty of time,
when on looking out Of the window saw
the yacht starting. | was determined not
to be robbed of my cruise, so | hurried
and went down to the water, and got into
the little boat You see, they were close
to me. The 'PetreI didn't seem to be
more than a hundred yards ahead, and |
thought that | could easily attract their
notice. Besides, / had imagined, naturally,
that they would discover | was left behind;
and | thought, most likely, they would
put back for me. However, | couldn't
manage it; and | rowed on and on; and
when | looked back, the shore was ever so
far behind, and | didn't know what to do
and | only hoped some person would pick
me up-and at last you did; and | am
really more obliged than | can say"
Jim blurted out some disclaimer, in
reply, which does not materially affect the
course of this narrative.
1t was decided that the best plan would
be to steer for home Immediately, and to
land as near Sea View as possible-where
Sir Hedworth Dare's house was situated.
"People talk so absurdly in Ryde,''
added Miss Kate Dare, as an argument to
clench the plan.
When the shore was reached, there was
scarcely a person visible; two persons,
however, had noticed the Decentralization
from the "Sea Fan"-one was Edith Dare,
and another, Mr.. bloomington.
eff that does not convince him nothing
else will" thought Miss Dare.
Miss Dare's wish was accomplished and
before the house was reached the heir of
the earldom of bloomington had declared
himself.
"Where on earth is Katew said Sir
Hedworth, as lie met Mr.. bloomington and
his newly gained .foncce.
eve have just seen her, papa, landing
from Mr., Lawlesse's yacht was the sis
terly reply.
"The devil you havc~ replied the
baronet, soto UOce.