Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-12-05
ONLY A MECHANIC.

UVLf ~ WEOIHNlO.
The snow was falling like a myriaC
flight Of tiny white-winged birds. The
December blast howled mournfully
through the twilight streets, where the
lights were beginning to shine out, here
and there like solitary beacons Of fire
when Grace and Myra Payne were sit
ting before the crate in their cosy,
well-used sitting-room, talking.
Grace had been darning stockings, {
piece of domestic finger craft not par
ticularly ornamental, but nevertheless
most essential, and Myra was dottine
the edge Of a shirt collar with stitches
like seed perls, but it had grown toe
dark to work now, and they sat in the
rudy shine Of the CRATE fire, enjoying
the season commonly known as the
"blind mans holiday"
"Now, Grace, I'm sure you'll think
better Of it." said Myra, coaxingly.
"Don't think there's the least pros,
pect in life of any such a thing" return
ed Grace.
Stay, though. We have not photo
graphed our heroines for the eye of the
readers fancy, Well, they were two
very pretty girls, although in somewhat
different styles. Myra, the elder, by a
year, was tall and slender, with dark,
languid eyes, and oval face, and jet
black hair, slightly rippled, while Grace
was small and sprightly, rather inclin-
ed to be plump than otherwise, with
big brown eyes, full Of liquid laughter,
skin like rose-colored satin, and
brown curls which could no more have
been coaxed to lie straight than 50
many grapevine tendrils.
You are really going to marry a
common mechanic!" persisted Myra,
remonstratiyely.
well, | think he's a rather uncom-
mon one myself"
"But our papa is gentleman"
"Our papa is Il lawyer by profession,
Myra, but | don't think he is any more
Of gentleman than Walter Genlis."
"Mechanics are not gentlemen" !"
Eyes they are if they behave them
selves. Now, look here, Myra," and
the big brown eyes became resolute.
II am very glad that you are engaged
to a Wall street broker, who lives in a
brown stone house, but l don't think
that gives you the privilege Of CRITICS
ing my lover"
"But he is 50 poor, Grace"
"He has health and strength, and
his own strong right arm to help him."
"And you will have to work"
"Well, what then? My goodness
gracious T. and Grace elevated two
plump little hands, "what do you sup
pose these were given to me for? TO
wear kid gloves aud diamond rings
only, and to gather roses? No, indeed
| can find a better use for them than
that"
"Grace, you are really incorrigble! +
eyes, | am; so you may just as well
leave off lecturing me-" said Grace,
saucily. 81 plead guilty to all your
accusations. an going to marry
nothing but a mechanic. I shall live
in half a house; can't go out in a
carriage, nor give parties, and | think
it very likely that | shall not unfre-
quently wash dishes, sweep rooms and
iron my husbands shirts. And through
it all expect to be very happy"
Myra sighed and Abandoned the use.
less argument. What was to be done
with so very unreasonable damsel as
this.
A bright little hearth stone-a ket-
tie singing on the hob; the crimson
carpet, not Brussels, nor velvet, but
simple ingram, and the plain neat fur
niture, with Grace smiling at the ready
spread table-this was a pleasant home
for Walter Genlis to come to after his
days work, in the great machine shop
was over
upon my word," he said gaily, 81
think we're happier than Myra in her
big house, with her parties and her Wis
iting list, and her swarm of servants.
Do you know, Oracle, I almost felt at
one time that was doing wrong in
marrying you?"
"Myra seemed to think you were
such victim"
"Do look like victim ?" demurely
asked Grace.
"Why, no l can't say think you
do, but | wish | could have brought
you to a house all of your own, my
pet. Never mind F; some day you shall
reign in palace worthy of YOU"
"Nonsence, Walter; could l be hap
pier anywhere than l am with you?"
care you happy, love?"
She rose from her seat and come over
to her husbands side, looking full into
his face with eyes so eloquent that all
dictionaries in creation could not have
spoken more plainly.