Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-08-13

in way that attested its sincerity.
Rachel trembled. The little hand
that lay upon her lap was by some
means clasped in Edwin's large brown
one. Her throat was still convulsed
with sobs, a damp handkerchief was
pressed to her eyes but there was a
little tract of cheek uncovered, down
which strayed small silky curl.
The supreme moment had COME
Edwin's lips were approaching this en-
chanting spot, but had not won the
perfect ecstacy of a first kiss, when a
pair Of feet came skipping down the
path. Rachel pulled the broad brim-
med hat over her face, aud darted like
a frightened bird in the opposite di-
rection among some trees. In an in
slant Janet the irrepressible, who
always appeared where she was not
wanted, had turned the corner. She
wore a tapping, starchless sun bonnet
over her fuzzy hair, that had habit of
arranging itself every which way, and
was carrying a basin of chicken feed
down to the barn-yard. Edwin stalk.
ed off to the mill intensely disgusted
at the ending of his adventure
Things had come to a crisis that
morning most unexpectedly. For some
weeks the tall young miller had look
cd forward to the time when he might
himself make love to Rachel by slow
and gradual approaches, when he re-
hearsed his fancy as he sat in his den
in the mill, with the hair tumbled
{; about his forehead, and book before
him-probably upside down. 1t had
TUNED out exactly contrary to his an
ticipations. He had forgotten his
hard headed prudence and discretion
and rushed upon his fate. There were
ecstatic thrills mixed up with conflict
inc emotions. AT one moment he was
fatuously spoony, and most unreason-
ably happy in the assurance that
Rachel loved him, an awkward, red
faced, blunt fellow there were other
t moments when, spite Of all he could
, do, mist Of doubt stole over his
+ heart. Edwin had not superstitious
| hair in his head, but he could not help
asking himself what it was that had
stolen with such. blighting influence
, over the life of this young girl, who,
| come what might was to be his wife.
t The men at the mill remarked that
<; young boss was not himself that
f morning. He made mistakes in his
G accounts, and ordered new brand OF
l flour put into the wrong barrels, and
1 then relieved himself by berating the
l. hands soundly for their Stupidity
y Before noon he had sent word up tc
+ the house that he was going to ride tc
e Bray ford on business, and need not
>, be looked for until q late hour in the
;; evening.
!. Mrs. Huntly stood before Huldah,
who sat by the window, where 6
: blooming spirea made pretty snow
s drift, altering her old brown silk into
e a new-fashioned polonaise. Huldaf
y was fresh and youthful copy of he7
mother at the age of the deacon''
G widow she would have the same ami
able puter-pigeon expression
: She won't come down to..tea,' sale
0 the good woman with a triangle o
t perplexity in the middle other fore
t head, 'and she's crying her eyes out
/ and trying to starve herself, expect
l Isn't it enough to have things walk
\ out of the house without hands OF
feet /? I've been housekeeper going
. on 80 years, and never felt called up.
= on to keep stitch of anything under
i lock and key. But it will teach me q
!, lesson, and l shall think twice another
y time before l take stranger into my
y family
=, Mother said Huldah, looking up
'it might not be the end if Rache
d went away. DO you know, think
n tha t Edwin has taken great fancy.
'Well, what if he has I? cooed Mrs.
v Huntly, with charming Inconsistency
u q could fall in love with the little
l thing myself if it wasn't for this
e Edwin isn't fool he has got YOU
L fathers good hard sense
+ Edwin was riding home along the
: creek after midnight, and the moor
was shining down full and large. L
G was bright as day. Dew lay on th'
st still flowers, and whifs of fragrance
t. and freshness came from the grass.
d fields. Edwin was thinking of Rachel
IS so that she seemed everywhere presen