Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-29

Her friend held up tiny envelope,
the seals of which was unbroken, and
the one word, "Julia," was written up
on it.
Miss Carey's face was white, and
her hand trembled as she opened it.
"How in the world came that note
here! exclaimed Mrs. Blake.
Julia handed it to her without a
word.
Mrs. Blake glanced at 1t, and cried,
"Oh Julia! Julia! 1t was all my
fault You can never, never forgive
me! The impulsive woman threw
her arms around JuliaS neck, and
burst into tears.
at was no ones fault" said Miss
Carey gently, as she lifted her face,
which was ''liko the face Of an angel.
I think, in the heavenly life, it is per-
feet love which will give to earthly
faces the perfect beauty to the di-
vine.
IL remember it all now. sad Mrs.
Blake. Gas he went off the stage,
he handed me the note to you; l
slipped it between the leaves of my
essay, and folded it up, and have nev-
er thought of it since. Oh, Julia !!
Julia y and the tears came again
The story was just this. The young
Professor whom Julia had learned to
love in those delightful days, so long
ago, had loved her in return, and on
tie last afternoon of school had writ
ten the note, telling her he had a few
last words to say to her, if she cared
to hear them and had asked her to
be in the library at seven, and 90 TO
the parlor with him.
They had parted then without a
word, he believing she had taken that
way to tell him that she could not
listen to the story of his love for her
the story each act of his, for months
had told her. She had gone home,
wondering that there could be so lit
tie gladness in it, and had felt The
sorrowful wonder that everything
should go on, day after day, month
after month, when there was no soul
in it all.
"Oh, Louise y she said, when she
could speak, show distinctly | remem-
Der everything about that night,
dressed early and came down to the
hall | didn't know why / came, but
an irresistible influence seemed tc
draw me there. | think now that
perhaps | expected to see him, but ]
didn't say then to myself that that
was possible. thought would &C
into the library for one little minute
and take a good-by look at things-1
had been so happy there. | ever
took the door knob in my hand, but
it did not turn easily and some one
called me, and I stood on the stair;
when he came out of the library. ]
have never forgotten the look he gave
me; it was one Of surprise and hope
lessness Don't you remember how
you wondered he did not come to say
good-by to us, and scolded me because
| didn't seem to care at leaving
school ?"
"To think" said Mrs. Blake, ''that
it should have been my fault; that ]
should have been the cause of YOU
seperation!"
Dear Louise" said julia, "we can
not believe that Gods plans fail. He
could not have meant us for each 9th
er."
With these words she went to he
room, taking the note with her
Who shall say what pictures rose
before her of all that her life nigh
have held, as she knelt by the window
sill, looking out into the sunlit after
noon. The leaves came slowly hut
tering down, like yellow snow flakes
so slowly, so gently they fell, she
couldn't help thinking for a momen
that death was easier than life; any
thing was easier tEan to live on anG
be woman. A sentence in one OF
George Elliot's books came back to
her, God was cruel when he made
women" She believed it for mo
ment, then making an alter of he
broad window sill, she bowed he
head upon it, and sought and foun'
comfort where alone it is freely given
The next day Mr.. and Mrs. BLAKE
and Miss Carey started on their trip
and all through it her companions
noticed new beauty on Julia's swee
and expressive face. On her part