Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-12-12
WOODSTOCK, W., THURSDAY, DEC. 10, 1872.

feet high and proportionately majestic
he seemed like Apollo and Hercules in
one.
"Can this be the hired man ?" thought
Fanny; and then she looked at his
dress. Not a trace Of servitude about
him. but he treated her with extreme
Difference, said but little, drove with
the precision of a man accustomed to
horses and drew up before the cottage
in grand style.
Fanny was in her sisters arms and
after her the baby came in for full
share of the kisses.
"WelI. is that your hired man p
queried Fanny, after her comfortable
installment in one Of the luxurious
easy chairs.
Eyes, dear, that is Mathew Dom.
How did you like him ?"
ole looks like gentleman" said
Fanny, after a little pause.
Gle is a gentleman, dear, in the best
sense of the word | told you that"
"And does he speak English well? ?"
"Why, child, he isn't foreigner"
laughed Olive.
81 Tmean grammatically," said Fanny.
ooh, yes; / presume he has com
mon school education,' replied Olive,
and something better. | know there
are certain classical books in his room.
Whether he ever reads them Or not |
cannot say"
"Why in the world doeshe hire out?"
cried Fanny, with dismay in her voice.
"Why shouldn't he ?" asked Olive,
laughing heartily again. ''IIe likes
the country, is used to horses, and, |
suppose he can't get anything better
to do.
"But man like him might-be
somebody" circulated Fanny, with
vehcmence, "My patience! has he no
ambition? Tn afraid | shall despise
him."
"Perhaps, dear, he wouldn't mind if
you did," said Olive hiding her face in
the white neck of her baby. "1e is
very Independent"
"Surely, why should he care what
she thought of him ?" soliloquized Fan
ny, her cheeks flushing.
The next day she met him at the Ia
BILE. 1t seemed strange enough to sit
down with the hired help, but she was
forced to confess that in nothing did
he give the impression Of being
menial.
"Shall we take hold of that five acre
lot this moming?" he asked, respect
fully, of Mr.. Maynard, Olives husband
"No, | prefer you should look to the
drainage Of that patch east Of the hill,
was the answer. "There will be no
rain yet awhile, and l want to prepare
that land for potatoes"
Fanny watched Mathew Dom out
on the sly, and Olive caught her at it.
II wanted to see what kind Of a
dress he works in," said Fanny, with
telling checks.
Don't you think him little hand
somer in his blouse and heavy field
boots?" asked Olive.
Gle is certainly very handsome
said Fanny, frankly; "but why in the
world-however," she said, stopping
short, cts none of my business; but
such man as that should surely work
his own land"
"That's true" said Olive quietly.
Time passed on. Fanny became ac-
customed to eat, sit and even talk with
the hired man. On one day Olive took
her up into his room. Fanny stood
aghast. 1t was exquisite in it's way as
a lady's boudoir.
"He furnished it HIMSELF said Olive
in reply to Fanny's look Of surprise.
"a Wilton carpet" murmured Fan
ny IA marble top set ; that Psyche
those flowers and what is this ?" She |
lifted u lovely little miniature from the
table, one of the most beautiful and
refined faces she had ever seen.
ooh, one of his friends, | suppose"
said Olive in her undemonstrative way.
"And see how perfectly neat everything
is kept. Always in this beautiful order.
Do YOU wonder that Harry calls him a
rara avis 7"
Tndeed, | cannot said Fanny, slow
ly, "but he must spend every cent he
earns to furnish himself in this extraor-
dinary manner"
Gle has nothing else to do with his
DEAR" said Olive; che don't
even buy cigars. For my part think
he is perfectly elegant"
Fanny said nothing, but she found
herself wishing she knew who was the
original of that lovely miniature and
dying to reconcile the tastes and sur
of the man himself with his
servile occupation. Not but what the
work was good enough, and honorable
for any man but why was he not lab
oring for himself instead of another
For days she thought of the minia-
ture. Every time she met him, heard
him talk or sing-he had fine voice,
and was not averse to using it-up pop
ed that mysterious face with the Span
ish eyes and the clustering curls.
Mr.. Eben. Wolcott, meantime, had
taken advantage of her reluctant per-
mission and brought his dashing team
to Winnibut. Poor Fanny, at the sight
Of his respectable aldermanic person,
MS gold bowed spectacles and thick
gray whiskers, felt strange sinking
1T the heart. Why would the six-foot-
az rise ND in her IMAGINATION and cause