Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-10-30
WOODSTOCK, VT., THURSDAY, 0CT 30 1878.

company on the way.
That same evening, as | was smo-
king at my window, | heard Miss
Knowles voice from the next room,
Miss Morrel's. She had apparently
inst approached the window, which
must have been open, for | heard every
word distinctly. "No, Rosa, l GER
tainly do not like him. l distrust his
face, it is cruel and cowardly. Ifthe
choice were really between the two,
1 should say a thousand times sooner
Mr.. Deblay than Mr.. Webster, for at
least -"
But when it came to names |
thought it time to make some sign of
existence. | gave a slight cough f;
the window was instantly closed, and
| heard no more.
1t appeared, however, that I had
not been the only uninvited listener to
this fragmentary scene. The next
minute Webster came out of the
farthest corner Of the balcony, where
he had been sitting, too deep IN shadow
to be perceived until he moved. His
face, as it came into the light, wore an
expression that certainly justified Miss
Knowles opinion.
$50 that's her little game y he NUT
tered. "But if don't manage to get
the odd trick of her, by -" and
with an oath he brought down his
hand on the railing as he disappeared.
hesitated at first ifI ought not to
put Miss Knowles on her guard, by
informing her of what had passed -
But | felt ashamed to disquiet, no
doubt needlessly, by repeating that
vague sort of buster, and as, for the
next few days, Webster seemed quiet
er than usual, | ended by myself for
getting his words.
But somewhat more than a week
later his manner suddenly changed.
1t was one morning that he had a
friend with him, whom he had brought
home the night before and kept to
breakfast. This fellow, Mosely l think
was his name, was one of Websters
own sort, and the two were in OPP
pressively high spirits, Webster, in
particular, making great number of
small jokes, pointless, as it struck me,
but which appeared to afford him
much satisfaction, and which he ac-
companied, as fancied, by sly glances
at Miss Knowles for which should
have been delighted to fling the con-
tents of my coffee-cup in his face.
Toward the end of the meal, Mosely
reminded Webster of some letter
which the latter was to show him. -
Webster took out his pocket-book,
and began turning over the papers in
side.
"This it, Gus p said Mosely, taking
hold of the nearest, square white
envelope directed in what looked, so
far as | could see across the table, a
very peculiar hand. But Webster
drew it back hastily.
"No, no, that's private letter. he
answered, and this time ! could not
mistake that he gave one of those odd
looks across at Miss Knowles, a very
peculiarly private letter, that | would
not let out of my hands for double
X"
swell, you needn't be afraid of my
making a bid for it," replied Mosely ;
'Ive use enough for my double X s
without buying up old paper. Now,
then I! have you found the right thing
this time, or shall l call again next
Christmas o
Webster, it appeared, had found the
right thing, and the two witty gentle
men presently deprived us of their
company.
81 don't remember ever to have seeA
Mr.. Webster in such an agreeable flow
of spirits said | to Miss Knowles,
who, with myself, happened to be the
last left at table, II wonder what ii
betokens 2
"No good to somebody" answered
Miss Knowles contemptuously, the
first word she had ever said to me
against Webster. | was about to re.
ply, when my foot touched something
under the table, and STOPPING town l
picked up paper.
"Mr. Webster has dropped one Of
his letters-the peculiarly private
one, perhaps" l said, laughing, and,
turning it over, recognized, in fact,
the marked handwriting. AT the
same moment Miss Knowles eyes fell
on the superscription, and her face
| rrrou, ,,b;ta to tho yory line