Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-05-23

myself, | stood amazed, terrified, not at
him, but at the wild beating of my own
heart. He took my hand and led me with
out word to the summit of tho cliff; we
walked silently to the chaise; he placed
me in quietly and carefully; united the
pony's head, and drove otfin silence. .
sat in dream; neither spoke until
we entered the wood we go through, q
dark three miles from home. As ii the
trees gave him courage, he said, "Forgive
me, have behaved like-like black
guard. can't forgive myself, say you
don't hate me-"
81 hate mySclf" / cried, passionately
and with the hand on which glittered the
fatal opal, struck my lips, that-that bad
been kissed" 49,,
"For Gods sake, don't my girl, don't,
he said, taking my hand, "be sensible and
trust to my knowing what is best for us
both. Take the ring of, pus it into the
box, give it to your sister, and keep youl
own counsel, as / shall" He added, 81
treated you as a child, and you are an Of
Tended indignant woman, and deserve
all you can say to me; but am ordered
of next week; you will never see me
again; and when you are older, will be less
hard on fellow"
At this moment George galloped up.
"What time you have been, Trevel.
van! | have been round the covers, and
home and out again to meet you. Why
Mabel, what is the matter? what scar
let face, and red eyes, too"
"Hold your tongue, George. Your sis
ter has been alarmed at your absence, and
the rising tide; let her be-"
"She is not my sister, old boy, but my
little coz, who will one day be Mrs. Evans
Eth, Mabel 7"
This was Georges favorite piece ofteas,
ing; he knew did not like to blush, and
always got red when he spoke like that
Mr. Treyelyan whistlod.
"Indeed, George, you should not say
such things shall never marry any one,
| murmured.
well, you need not be cross, Mabel
what did you get for Mary, after all 2"
The question came at last, came like
thunder-clap. Icohd not answer. Mr.
rrevelyan drew the box out of his pocket
and said "Miss Evans entrusted it to my
care going home is it not elegant ?"
"By Joye! it's not half bad ring
cried George. "Let me see, opals are not
luck, are they? All, yes" he went on
ait don't matter from woman to woman
but from man to a girl it brings all sorts
OF bad luck, don't it May? Death and
misery, and broken hearts, what is it, eh
Mabel? You are superstitious, you know
all about that sort Of things"
81 don't believe in luck" said Trevely
an, softly. 81 believe in love at first
sight"
Mamma appeared on the steps as We
drove up, anxious at our absence, anc
rather cross at seeing a stranger. She re
coiyed Georges explanations, hurried away
to give fresh orders for dinner; but she
need not have troubled herself, for Mr.
Trevelyan rode away, after inspecting the
horses, and George returned with him.
| escaped with slight lecture, and
with the fatal ring, was at last left alone
alone with the ring should | ever fee
alone again No man, and but few women
could realize the suilerings Of that night
| had been brought up in strict seclusion
educated by lady, with Mary for my sol
companion, had never heard but Purtani
sentiments on the subject of marriage, ant
held the first of every woman's hear
as a holy thing to be sought out and VOL
as in the oldcn days. And |, who rever
cnced this love, and thought of demigod
hero, as the 'not impossible he" VIII
would make my life glorious with his love
and crown it with the honor Of wlehood
/ had suffered my lips, the portals of m.
heart, to be desccrated by mere mann
hero, 10 demigod--a brother officer of m
cousins, with whom chance had cause
me to be left alone for few hour;
| felt as if | were an outcast, Pariah, o
the earth. And beside this fatal kis
which had destroyed my LIES happiness
actually owed this man money. My rim
had cost near thirty pounds; this horrlbl
, ring looked worth double that sum, an
how was ever to repay the money, ho'
COulu lCll lldl!llu SIOuIu IVilSoo III
{ wckedness, my fault to Mary ? | coui
tell all but for that kiss. Never, nevc
could | allow any human being to CUES
, my shame.
Toward morning | fell into a trouble
, slumbcr, and dreamt of falling from cliff
! and, worst of all, dreamt that la
found the ring, and woke to the stern r,
atty of my loss and consequences. Nj
chanically | opened the box which COZ
tainei the fatal opal, and examined i
On the inside of the ring was engraved
old characters
:" In Christie and thee,
The truse shall bee"
The ring looked old-fashioned, and ii
box was worn and had number attache
to it, which had been partly torn off.
quickly changed it into the green be
, belonging to my lost ring, and put ii
! | r,,nl Morr