Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-08-21
cinatine! But / don't know what to

They were closing the piano.
Louise was trihe flushed. Charlie
invited her on the porch for prone
pade, but she declined gracefully and
soon retired. Next day, by tacit
agreement, Louise stood on different
footing. Beautiful, accomplished,
educated, why should she not be treat
ed as our equal? But who was she q?
That was the only thing we were in
doubt about Something restrained
me from asking anything about her
past life. In the twilight | saw Will
ie ask her to take a ride. She said
she would 60 if | went. So it was
decided to take double carriage, and
invite Charlie to accompany us. What
a delightful ride Down by the beauti-
full little falls in the river we stopped,
and Louise, leaning out little from
the front seat of the carriage sang al
merry water song full of ripples and
trills and cascades Of melody. SO the
summer passed along. One day in
September, Louise received a letter.
the first since she had been with us.
She came and told me she must leave
us.
"No, no." said I, "we can never do
without you. Who said you must
go?"
"Fate and my guardian" she an
swered sadly, 81 am sorry, for I've
been very happy here"
Even then | dared not ask her a
single question about herself. Anoth-
ther week and she must go to South
ing, she told me, little town about
hundred miles distant. "That is
something definite at last" thought 7.
The boys and Louise got along splen-
didly, and l never could imagine
which one she preferred. She seem
ed so impartial and sistery toward
them both, that no one would imagine
she had any particular feeling for eth
er, but Sour folks saw with some
misgiving, that both the boys were
wonderfully attracted by the hired
girl. The last night | saw Charlie
ask Louise for one promenade in the
garden. AS they passed into little
side arbor, | saw his arm encircle her
waist, Just then Willie came up the
walk looking quite white. He had
seen them. Poor brother Willie
Late in the evening they came in.
| heard them come up the stairs
heard Charlie pass into his own room.
Louise came to my door and knocked.
I rose and admitted her. A deep,
bright color, was in her checks, and
her eyes showed new, strange feel
ing. waited her to speak.
"Flora, you can perhaps guess tie
cause when I tell you I'm happier to
night than I've ever been before"
Is't Charlie q said l. ''Yes,' said
she; "and since you will not ask me
| will volunteer to tell you why | have
been here this summer.
"Mr. harrington (my guardian) and
l did not agree perfectly as to my
mode of spending my time. He OBJ
ijected to four hours daily at the piano,
two or three in dress and promenade,
and the remainder in eating, sleeping
and reading. He told me | was a
'good-for-nothing, and that he'd never
let me travel (that was the chief desire
of my life) until l new all about
house work. asked permission to
have six months time to go any where
/ pleased within one hundred miles
with one hundred dollars in my pocket,
and he to make no inquiries concern
ing me. He finally gave permission.
| went to the house Of an old school
mate and learned to do housework,
and one day seeing your advertise
ment took a wild notion to answer,
and you know the rest. Mr.. Earring
ton ferreted me out or | should not be
leaving tomorrow just as the threshers
are upon YOU"
Long, long we talked that night, of
past, present and the bright dawning
future. Next day MIR. Harrington
came and we persuaded him to let
Louise stay and be married here at
Christmas. SO we got Ellen to come
back and be ''bossed" while Louise
and held high carnival among the
dry goods. Dear little Belle Ray
mond came and helped us, and Willie,
seemed to find her wonderfully attrac-
tive. The wedding occurred at Christ
mas, and Charlie took our SHRED girl
away to New York, and I've not seen
her since.