Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-05-01
WOODSTOCK, W., THURSDAY, MAY l, 1878.

hair and whiskers, and a bluff, nncom-
promising manner. He had a habit,
on which he prided himself of always
"speaking his mind'-that is, Of saying
everything and anything which came
into his head-a habit which did not
cause him to be beloved by his ac-
quaintance. He and Uncle McFar-
lane had once been partners, and they
still kept up kind ofintimacy, at
which many people wondered.
"Well Bonsall, how goes the world
with you?" asked my uncle, leisurely
taking off his coat and overshoes.
"Oh, well enough. If it don't go
to suit me, | make it, that's all y an
swered Mr.. Bonsall. "But, see here,
McFarlane, didn't come here to
handy compliments. | want to talk
to you about serious matter"
"Well, what is it," asked my uncle,
preparing to listen, not without long
ing glance at his foreign letters and
papers.
'I'm going to speak my mind, as |
always dol" said Mr.. Bonsall. 81 want
to know what you mean to do about
Nancy?"
"About Nancy = repeated my uncle,
with little start. "What about
Nancy?'
"Aye, what about her?-that's just
it. Of course you can't 60 on as you
do now. 1t was well enough when
the old lady was alive; but her death
changes all that, and folks will talk.
Nancy's an old maid, to be sure
forty if she's an hour-'
'Thirty-fve" said my uncle, cor
recting him.
swell, five years don't matter much
She's an old maid, as I said. Still
folks will and do talk, and you ough,
to Get rid of her. The truth is, Nc
Farlane, you ought to marry again
and Of course you can't with Nancy in
the house"
"You think so?'
"Why. of course, not. There's
Miss Regina Schuyler, now. Shed
jump at the chance of marrying you
but you don't suppose she would sci
up housekeeping with Nancy Howard
do you?"
81 must beg, Bonsall, that you vii
not bring Miss Schuyler's name into
question:" said my uncle, "Such liber
ties are not to be taken with respec-
table young ladies"
"Liberty Or not, she would have
you in minute. And there's ano-
ther thing about it. Nancy Howard
is dead in love with you, herself, and
of course you can't marry her-that is
out of the question"
"Nancy Howard!' repeated my un
Gle, in a tone of bewilderment
''To be sure, man. Any one but
you would have seen it, though Nan
cy is not the woman to throw herself
at any mans head, I'll say that for her.
My wife has known it this long time
and | can see it, too. OF course you
can't marry her. She is old, and poor
and plain, and in delicate health be
sides. So, of course, all you can do is
to get rid Of her. Send her home tc
her native place with pension, marry
Regina Schuyler, and begin life anew
"Does Mrs. Bonsall really think
that-that Miss Howard entertain.
such sentiments ?" asked my uncle, as
Mr. Bonsall paused a moment: "Wo
men see such things more clearly thar
men,"
"Of course she does. She was talk
ing of it last night. Nancy ought
to have a change says she, 'if sht
don't she'll 90 off like her sister. She's
a quiet, patient creature says she
but it is easy to see what ails her.
Now, you see, her being consumptiv'
is another reason why you can't marry
her. So there! I've spoken my mind
as I always do; and hope you vii
have sense enough to act upon it."
81 shall certainly act upon it!" sale
my uncle, calmly.
"And soon, l hope !" said Mr.. Bon
sail, rising. "The sooner the better.
"The sooner the better!" echoed my
uncle. 81 quite agree with you.-
Thank you, Bonsall thank you" !"
81 think I did a good piece of worl
this morning!' said Mr.. Bonsall tC
his wife, as he was preparing to g
out : 81 spoke to McFarlane abou
| No,oyn A,J bo ronootod +bo ,,,h