Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-06-25
WHOLE NO. 1865

But it was no longer there. The
driver, evidently afraid of beng inden-
titled, had driven away, and, finding
no assistance at hand, Vivian Wallace,
with muttered curse, lifted his cane
as if to strike the object and cause of
his disappointment, when blow from
a third party caused him to flee for
his life, and the arms of Lincoln Patten
and the sobbing Rose Harrington re-
ceived the fainting form of Ariel
Raymond.
That was sad, sad walk back to
the farmhouse, where they found the
good farmer and his wife in greet
state of excitement as to the cause of
Ariels absence, and weeping bitter
tears over the little blotted note they
had found on Rosa's bureau, when
wailing cry from the baby Jessie had
aroused them from their sleep.
Poor Rosa Safe in the sheltcring
arms of her parents, she no longer
sneIred at her humble home at the
society of the village lads and lassies;
while the good farmer walked the
floor in thankfulness, and prayed as he
had never prayed before.
That night Ariel Raymond pledged
herself to Lincoln Patten for life; and
after urging Rose to accept from her
a check for some five thousand dollars
as farewell gift, she and her child
departed for their city home, leaving'
thankful hearts behind her, and carry
ing untold blessings with her
Three weeks afterward, Ariel Ray
mond received call from the lover of
her girlhood, Manning Percival. He
had come he said, to win her for his
wife. His heart was lionel y without
her; his home waited to receive her.
Would she come and be safe from
every harm?
To all this Ariel returned a decided
answer. No, she loved another. The
love once his now was dead. She
would be true to herself. SO he was
forced to leave, and after him came
Lincoln Patten, who once again held
her in his arms. But there was some
thing in his pleasant eye-that name
less something which she had noticed
meeting-whlch reminded her of Man
mining. She looked at him closely,
and, as she looked, she discovered
dark brown locks escaping meath the
golden curls of her lover. The sits
whlskers also had vanished, and when
the golden'wig fell with them to the
floor, Ariel found herself clasped in
the arms of her girlhood's lover,
Manning Percival, with his handsome
face touching hers.
'Ariel, Ariel" he was saying. "Oh,
still give to Manning Percival the love
you had bestowed upon Lincoln Pat
ten, and forgive my cruel deception.
| came back from Europe the moment
| heard Of your husbands death, which
was late news to me, and learned that
YOU were visiting at the old farm
house. Eager to learn more ofyour
true character, disguised myself, and
went also, thereby learning to love
you and your child with a greater fer
vency than | had ever before known.
But | did not realize the state of that
affection until the night | followed to
save you from the supposed snare of
Wallace. | never dreamed that Rosa
was the intended victim, and when |
overlook her, and forced her to look
on while you faced the enemy in her
stead, | could have taken you at once
to my heart, and blessed you. And,
Ariel, | am rich now. | can afford to
beg for your hand. Before, | was
poor; but the knowledge that you
had given your child portion Of my
name encouraged me, and has led me
back. Ariel, tell me now, that you
will reject Lincoln Patten, and accept
Manning Percival?'
What her answer was, or what for.
giyness she begged for past pride, we
know not but we do know that in
course of time, a wedding took place,
and Ariel took upon herself the name
of Percival for life while Rose danced
with a new lover, aud the old farmer
romped with blue-eyed Jessie.
Vivian Wallace never troubled
them again, for he met with a timely
fate, leaving his wife free from her
burden, and thankful that it was at
last lifted from her,
-Danburian, who was in New
York SlturdaN came I'M with the