Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-06-27

J
were left to struggle on alone, and | saw
your white face before me, and was al
most crazy. But after year or two, it
seemed to me, might begin to hope |
though how could take you and the
children home, and keep trouble and want
away, and just live and breathe to make
you happy, until felt sure you could save
me from selflshness and make me new
creature"
Aleck saw little flicker in Hetty's
face, and it induced him to 60 on in
more impassioned strain of pleading.
"You make light of serious things"
said Hetty, very gravely, taking up the
hem of her apron, and putting it together
in little folds. Then she happened to
glance out of the window at the yellow
wheeled sulky, which was ahominable in
her eyes. Alexis sorrel horse was back
ing in the fills, impatient for the appear
ance of his master. We don't think
alike, Aleck," she continued, looking
down at red stripe in the carpet; "and
| fear we shall never agree on the most
important things. know how large and
generous your heart is, and prize its
worth but | can not feel it is right for us
to marry.
Hetty's voice faltered, and Aleck got up
and broke abruptly into the middle of her
sentence. "Don't think Pm going to take
this for your final answer, Hetty. There's
hope as long as there's life. | do believe
YOU love me q little, way down deep in
your heart; and if l was miserable
wretch Just fit for the hospital or poor
house, you would think it your duty to
marry me, and take up your cross and
earn my support, for your souls good.
But here l am, great, strong man with
enough and to spare, ready to lift you out
of life of drudgery, and give you every
comfort, and educate the children, and
love you with my whole heart and soul
and strength, and you will persist in turn
ing me off.
lie strobe to the door, and slammed it
as he went out and Hetty, whose nerves
were little shaly from watching the
previous night, sat down in the rocking
chair and buried her burning face in her
hands. Aleck had treated her outrage
ously. lie was positively brutal. How
dared he say he believed she loved him a
little, down deep in her heart! The
thought of the insult she had received
made the tears flow and trickle through
her fingers. Aleck had widened the
breach between them, and as she was sure
she didn't love him, there was no apparent
need of grieving over it. She knew she
had been wonderfully helped, for she al
ways was, and yet somehow she felt very
low-spirted and miserable. There was q
great pile of vests to stitch for her en-
ployer at Buxton, and the work must be
, done in time, even though her head did
, ache and eyes blur with WEAKNESS.
l Aleck, for his part, threw himself into
: the yellow sulky, and gave the sorrel
5 horse his head. As he turned away from
the little red farmhouse, where such &
| patient sweet life was being lived, he fell
g heartily ashamed of himself because he
r was so prosperous and well off, with 6
! great stock farm clear from debt, the best
stone house in the township, and money ii
the bank. lie was disguised with his stout
4 limbs and excellent digestion. If he ha(
s been born halt or blind, Hetty might have
4 taken him home to her heart. She hat
: married Will Henderson, he felt sure, be-
: cause he was the best and unluckiest fellow
t in the world.
t The hay harvest was over, and the field
t were smoothly shorn. Elms by the way
b side seemed to drip with golden light. Th'
e cardinal-fio looked at its splendid
d image in the lazy little brook that flowed
:, along coquetting with alders and reeds
e There were good farms on either side thu
n way Aleck crossed the covered bridgO
; over wide, shallow stream, and came on
h on q bit of smooth road and an old BROW
|, barn with doors wide open abutting almos
c upon the track. Two or three farmers haC
gathered to inspect horse which tn
n owner of the place-a tall, black-whisk
y cred man-in his shirt sleeves, had brough
e out from the stable. A passer-by in
n light democrat wagon slued his vehicl
round off the road, and stopped to observ
IS what was going on. Aleck did the sam
II with his yellow-wheeled sulky, for his in
!. stinct scented trade The animal on ex
= hbiton was a tall chestnut, clean-lmbed
y with a shiny satin coat, and a PECULIAR
It wicked eye.
" "What will you take for that horse
r Bates ?" inquired Aleck, after he had ex
7, changed mods with the neighbors.
r. "Wa'al, I don't know Just what woul
:, take l vally him purity high. He's
g nice horse, but he amt just the beast t
work on a farm. Now if you want t
= swap off that there sorrel of yours,
wouldn't mind giving little boot.
6 "Come, now, out with it, Bates, wha
s. ais him2 Is he spawned, or broken
IL winded?"
Is "No," said one of the farmers, who's
y face looked like carved walnut, at tn
.e same time eecting a liberal shower {
he tobacco juice, "he's as sound as a nu'
10 not five years old, but you see he's got
lie leetle touch of the devil in him. Mebb
for week he'll go along as steady as a
E. old COW, and then he'll take notion t
r kick and stiffcn his hind,legs like ste,
crow-bars, and you'd better believe, any
h, thing that's behind him is pretty likely
d. be sent to kingdom come. When he take
to it into his head to run, chain of lightnil
~ wouldn't hold him; and every now an
er then he breaks his headstall all to finder
l and chaws up the grain-bin."
Vi "You needn't make it out worse tina
40 it is" said Bates, in grieved tone.
. don't kalkerlate to deceive anybody abol
10 this here animal, and | amt a-going
!, IL have a neighbor, after he's got his nee
M ~ broke, and been sot on by crowner ar
~ twelve men, come and prosecute me f,
~ ~, damages; but if he's willing to trad
W knowing all the facts, why, that's his ow
10 look -out"
n nJ How much boot will you give6" i
W. quired Aleck, aconically.