Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-01-02

One evening as approached heI room
intending to sit with her a while, |
heard her voice, at first thought in
prayer, but after second | stood
spell bound; as she recited i'll tones
| shall never forget, the following:
~ think we are too ready with complaint
! In this fair world of oura. Had we no hope,
Indeed. beyond the zenith and the slope
OF yonder grey, blank sky we might grow faint
To muse upon cternitys constrant
Round our aspirant souls but since the scope
Must widen early, is it well to droop
For few days consumed in loss and taint!
O pusillanimous heart. be comforted,
And like a cheerful traveller tuke the road.
Singing beside the hedge. What if the bread
Be bitter in thine inn, and thou unshod
To meet the fiints? At least it may be said,
Because the way is short. thank thee, God"
went back to my room and had a
good cry.
Before | had half finished servant
entered, saying,
"NIr. John wants to see you in the
library" So down | went, and pre-
sented myself to my astonished broth
er with face swollen and red with
weeping.
"Why, Kate, my dear child what is
the matter?"
"Do you really want me to tell you?"
I sobbed.
why, Of course | dc"
"You never let me speak of her. |
continued, burying my head in his
neck.
"Who i: hcr?' he asked wonder
ingly.
My dress-maker, you know. l."
And | was going on, when he inter
rupted me with,
II knew you would have trouble
with her sooner or later. You were
bound to. Any body with that name
-" And as true as | live my broth
er shudered 50 that | felt myslf grow
chilly too from mere sympathy.
"Oh, it isn't at all what you think, "
managed to say and after a good
many attempts made him understand
the situation. What was my aston
ishment to here him say,
Poor little dress maker! She has
probably had some great trouble. |
am glad yon have been so kind to her.
If my life is spared till to morrow
morning | will let YOU introduce me
at breakfast.
What was the reason, do you think
that | never loved my brother in all
my life as | did at that moment? and
the great, bic, shaggy fellow knew it
too for he kissed me over and over
again, telling me all the while what a
good little woman | was, and that he
was lust AS ashamed Of himself as he
could be. After while he cot at the
business about which he wished to
consult me. He wanted me to look
over a big box Of his papers, selecting
all those bearing certain name and
date. There is nothing private about
them," he said "but cannot bear
to touch them, and it will help me.
| shall be so relieved.
Ny answer was to order the box
sent to my room Immediately After
this | ventured to call upon Mrs. And
rewS.
Just come here" said |, by way Of
introduction.S''and see what ajob my
brother has given me = and | led her
to the box. Il believe / will let you
help me tomorrow"
"Why not to night ?" she asked.
"Perhaps he is in hurry for them.
Truly | do not feel in the least sleepy
Neither did /; so at it we went.
And is this man your brother ?"
she inquired, holding up a bill, and
giving me a look shall never forget
to my dying day" JOIN BIrrINGER i?
"That's his name" | answered,
frightened half ont ofmy wits. But
why do you ask 2
The name is very familiar" she
explained, in quiet voice, and then
bent over her task, determined upon
guarding her secret with her life if
necessary.
Such a pale, set, earnest wretched
face | never looked upon before or
since. I took no notice, for, you see,
a glimmering Of the truth had dawned
upon me, and although eager to know,
I could afford to wait.
Fifteen minutes, [ think, passed in
perfect silence, our hands busy all the
time unfolding and sorting anew.
"What in the world is this, do you
suppose? Here is a letter. a love letter
it can't be that John Bittinger ever
wrote a loveletter - directed to Miss
Maudc Tanning. Isn't this funny?
Here is the way it begins: My own
darling Oh, isn't this fun"
Stop, Mrs. Sinclair!" said my
companion, taking the letter from my
hands and holding it close to her
heart. "That is my letter, and l
claim the right to read it alone" And
without waiting for another word, she
turned away and walked like a queen
into her own apartment.
| sat like one spell-bound until she
returned to my room.
"Where is your brother?" she said.
"Down stairs in the hbray," | an
swered.
"Take me to him. was the next
sentence she uttered.
John lay just where l had left him
on the lounge. With sigh, which
was almost groan, she walked to his
side, and said, John have just re-
|