Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-07-23

"Ha ha ! well that is good, am
| suppose you think this can be
brought about as easily as we ca
plan it.
'No, | don't expect to carry ou
this thing without some trouble, an,
l don't expect to do it alone, either
But the thing shall be done, or l an
greatly mistaken
"Your courage is good, Fred, bu
now what do you propose to do anc
how do you propose to do it,"
L" one sopIaou We must 60 up tc
D. and see if we cannot find Miss
Edith out alone or entice her out, SC
we can get hold Of her. Then the
thing will be pretty easy, tor l shall
give her into your hands to bring hel
to B. while 60 on ahead to re-
ceive my bride elect. Then you must
assume your clergyman's toggery, tic
the knot and / will take Mrs. Ray
mond back to D. to see her dear
old father, provided he stands the
shock. What do you say, Dick.
Come, what ails you, man, why do
you sit there SO glum 2"
"Perhaps if l could see where the
good was to come to me, might feel
more interested, but as far as | can see
its all one sided"
"Well, Dick, perhaps l have been a
little selfish in the matter, but | tell
you what III do-if you help me
through all right, and the old man
comes down with the stamps Gas he
will have to do if he is my tather-in-
law | will give you one thousand dol
lars, and my hand on lasting friend
ship. How does that please you?'
"Oh! that will do for an offer, but
now I'll tell you what think will be
right. AS long as you are going to
have such nice wife, and so much of
the dosh, say you make it two thou
sand and leave out the hand of friend
ship, which don't amount to much
now. a-days."
''Two thousand it is, then, but mind
you are to do as tell you. No keep
way work."
Never tear W hatever Dick Gar
land undertakes he carries out. When
shall we start Oh this job?"
"Well start for D. tonight,
and when once there we can lay our
plans, and go to work. | want to
get the thing off my hands, as soon as
possible, for tell you, Dick, it isn't
a very nice thing to do, to kidnap
and worry young lady all in days
time Well see how near can come
to it."
eff you are bound to start tonight
| must be stirring for l have a few
things to attend to before | leave the
old wig must be brushed up and the
spectacles brought out, &c, but III
meet you at the Depot before train
time. Now let us drink TO the health
of the fair Edith, and your own future
happiness, and Call the thing settled.
Oh don't you think we had better
take Scotty along? If we need help.
er he is just the man we want for
you know he is true blue every time
and no preaching
Eyes, take him along, Dick. am
glad you spoke of him for he is just
the man we want. See him by all
means, and don't fail to bring him a
long"
Can it be possible that young man
whose early associations were so pure,
who was nurtured in the midst of at
tection and all that would tend to ELI
vate, has fallen so low that he receives
as familiars the vilest and basest of
thieves and blackeyes, and uses them
as his tools to tear happy and beau
tiful girl from all she loves, her home
her father and her lover, and does not
hesitate to stain with blood the hand
he scorns to soil and harden in lowest
toll, no wonder Edith chooses the hard
handed Charlie with his honest heart
before the soft handed black hearted
But let us return to Mr. Yields,
Edith and her father are sitting in
heir favorite places, side by side, and
she is telling him of the plans she
and Charlie have drawn for the fu- {
lure.
eyes papa, Charlie has asked me
% name the day when he can call me
1is. He says his business is such ,
now, that he fells he can well offer to !
support wife, and l think we ought |