Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-12-12

Gently, and their eyes met
The red blood flew all over poor Fan
nys face; she felt hot to the crown or
her head-and yet why should she?
"That's pretty question to ask I?
she exclaimed, nearly angry,
"Well, dear, but how am I to know
who that man is?" queried Olive, with
a conscious look.
"You know it is Mr.. Wolcott," said
Fanny, nearly crying.
"Well, he is a good man and a rich
one" was the answer. 81 know girls
who would jump at the chance, as the
saying is. | would either marry him
or send him off.
'Pshaw!' said Fanny, biting her
red lips, and a few moments after she
left the room, conscious Of new, q
painful, and at the same time strangely
delightful experience. No use to try
to conceal it to herself, not the slight
est-shc loved Mathew Dom, sisters
hired man.
How she paced the room half dis
tracted, sobbing without tears, forming
wild resolves and then throwing her.
self down with a sense Of her utter
helplessncss I shall not describe. How
could she ever meet him again Could
she keep her almost painful secret, and
did Olive guess it? What would Olive
think-what counsel if she knew?
Only the next time that Mr.. Eben.
Wolcott came out she quietly dismiss
ed him, and then made up her mind
that she must go home. If she could
only fly to the ends Of the earth!
But Fanny did not go, for Olive
would not hear to it. A slight cold
confined Olive to her room, but one
evening she sent Fanny out and bade
her peremptorily to take Harry out for
a walk. Then she summoned her hus-
band to give him orders, but when he
came down stairs Fanny was gone, and
Mathew, with a wicked little smile,
was taking down his hat.
"That's right Dom" said Harry,
breaking into laugh, "she ought to
know better than to go alone, Blythe
way, happen to know that she has
dismissed the old alderman"
Dom smiled again and went out,
closing the door behind him. There
was a bright moon, displaying flower,
leaf and bud. Supposing that Fanny
would only make the round of the
place, he ran swiftly down to the back
gate, and met her just as she had reach
ed the great elm that stood guarding
the lane.
She started at sight of him.
"You will allow me to walk with
you?" he said. "There is a squad of
gypsies in the neighborhood, and some
one might molest you"
Fanny could not say no, could not
talk, even, for with ready tact he took
all the conversation on himself What
did he not touch? Opera, art, nature,
city, comtry-all derived new beauty
from the glamour of his tongue. Was
it strange that Fanny found herself
leaning on his arm and listening with
rapt attention to the eloquence of his
speech From that time there was a
tact understanding between them and
all went smoothly till the morning he
kissed her. For that Fanny was angry
at herself, but she was angrier with
him. All day long she was full of
moods, changing from grave to gay,
from fits of reflection to the widest of
nerriment.
Fanny" said Harry, coming up to
lis wife's room after tea, "NIr Dom
wishes to speak with you down stairs"
All the lovely color faded out of her
ace at this announcement. She long
I'd to assert herself, but might they not
'ead the truth in her eyes if she refus-
I'd?
Slowly she went down stairs.
Dom was in the parlor, walking
pack and forth. He came to meet her
With out-streched hand.
81 want you to forgive my rudeness
If this morning." he said 'In my as
umed character l had no right to take
uch a liberty, or, in my own.'
"Your assumed character ri" she ex-
claimed, trembling, as she seated her
elf.
eyes. My friend Harry met me a
'ear ago when we were both travelling.
was a good deal alrun down in health,
md the doctors said were | u laboring
nan | might overcome the disease that
vas wasting me. So / contracted with |
larry to work for him, like any COM
non farmer, and he was to keep my
cal name and position a secret"
He saw the change in her beautiful
yes. "My real name is Dom Math-
ws," he added, smiling, ''and there is
% need of my working for a living,
nut really think l shall go into part
ership with my friend Harry, and turn
lrmer But you have not told me
7hether you forgive me"
'G-I don't know" retorted Fanny"
alf laughing, half crying.
'Fanny, Fanny! if you knew how l
oved you he cried, suddenly, stop
ing in front Of her, 81 think you
yould." .....
'G-I am so glad"
1t was not polite, perhaps, this con
,ssion, but it was very natural.
"And think can match your alder
lans house." he added, taking her
ands in his, dear, dear Fanny
"And his horses?" laughed Fanny,