Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-03-12

tJ luSJ Sic lOOheu W luc carly o'"ip
shone through the dusky twilight, the
young moon was but streak in the
western sky, and Ambrose Yewick's
carriage was gone. She arose and
walked slowly towards the house and
entered it, but neither her uncle nor
aunt said word to her for some time,
then Mr.. Perry said:
"Mr. Yerrick didn't want to see me
it seems, after all. AT least he didn't
come to see me"
"Ie didn't Isay who he came to
see but / supposed it to be you" an
swered Dell.
"You might treat that man decent,
anyhow" snapped Aunt Jeanette.
Dell felt the hot blood rise to her
face but did not answer.
Another awkward silence, then Mr..
Perry broke it again: "lIe wants
you, LarSie, wants you for his wife"
"The vagabond! What did you
tell him?"
Il told him you was free to do as
you liked. want goin' to influence
you one way nor the other That you
could stay here as long as you would,
and that's Gods truth, Dell"
"Thank you uncle" answered the
girl; "Mr. Yerrick had my answer
some time ago. That he should come
to you, after that, only confirms my
opinion of the man" and Dell rose,
kissed her uncle and aunt, and went
to her room.
1t was some weeks after this that
Mrs. Perry made misstep and fell
down the cellarstairs. ''lm killed!
| know | am, and them garden seeds
amt gathered yit!" said the old lady.
Mr.. Perry and Dell lifted her to her
feet, but she could no more use them
than could a newborn babe. "Why
don't you go for somebody, Nathan?
Go for Doctor Troop"
The old man would have started
then and there, but Dell said the first
thing to be done was to get their pa
tient up. stairs, andhe must help. Then
she herself wonld ride ovnr for Dr.
Troop. Il can go so much quicker
on Gyp than you can on Peg, and you
know you cannot ride Gyp."
The old man suffered himself to be
directed by Dell; indeed, any one
might have commanded and he would
have obcyed, so passive was he in
that hour of trouble. 1t is probable
Mrs. Perry herself would have objec'
ted to the plan from sheer obstinacy
had she known of it, but she had fam
ted.
Fleet as the wind flew Dell over
the prairie. The neighbors, as they
saw her, wondered what possessed
that girl to always ride as though the
Old Nick was after her. They Won
dered still more when they saw her
returning with Dr. Troop at her side.
"a bad fall, Mrs. Perry, very bad
fall, but nothing serious, | hope" was
the doctors verdict. You must lie
here and let the rest wait on you.
You narrowly escaped breaking your
back"
1t was many weeks ere she was
able to be around again Meantime
Dell and Mr. Perry had hard time
of it, for the old lady grew discourag
ed over her slow recovery and often
bera.ed the doctor and Dell-and in.
deed, every one who came about her
because she did not improve faster
One day when Mrs. Perry had
been more than usually trettul, and
Dell's patience was quite exhausted,
she capped the climax by telling the
doctor that Dell was the ''carelessest
crittcr in the world" That individual
looked incredulous, and turned, or
tried to turn, the conversation but
the old lady kept on until Dell with
her own indignation reused, replied
In nasty way, then new 10 the Kltch'
en-. Once there, she fell to thinking.
If she only had not said those few
hasty words. What would Doctor
Troopthink ? Would he believe all her
aunt had said, or would he be willing
to make allowance for sick woman's
fancies, ora tired girls patience {?
After all, what did she care what he
thought? In the midst of these per-
picking thoughts DR.. Troop entered
the kitchen. Dell turned suddenly,
half-soberly, "Dr Troop, what will
you think of me after this days
events ?"
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