Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-03-03
WOODSTOCK, W., TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1926

~
started to find Charlie and Cousin
Joy, but could see nothing Of them
about the house or grounds. Finally
n servant told me in answer to my in
quiry, that she thought they were
strolling up the road, so | followed in
that direction. About a quarter Of
mile from the house | heard their
voices, little off the road, and turn.
ing into the wood in the direction of
the sound | came upon them sudden
E. They made pretty picture-I
will say that for them.
Charlie was lying lazily at the foot
Of a great tree, reading Owen Mere
dith aloud, and Joy, resting one hand
upon his shoulder, over which she
glanced, now at the book, now at his
handsome eyes, seemed hardly to be
certain whether she was most interest
ed in the author or the reader. |
gave low Hem u after withdraw
ing little and when | loitered slow
ly toward them she was seated quite
a distance from him, and evidently
quite absorbed iii his rendering OF
"Lucille.'
| confess / was q bit disheartened
at this little scene 4; but | dld not
think much OF it particularly as Char
lie was to leave us in few days.
He had been with lls a week, which
was all the time that could be spared
him and though Joy begged harder
than did for a few extra days, he
was not one to let pleasure, however
sweet, interfere with his real inter
est
| was however, to receive a shock
before his departure which should
teach me how little one can rely upon
that which is not actually in ones pos
session. The lesson was q severe one.
but | fancy I have benefited by it, af
ter ALL ~
The morning Charlie was to leave
us | rose early, as the wagon would
call for him at eight o'clock to take
him to the station. But, early as
piazza as | went to my window. l
never was listener, and I don't think
| should ever be one, after what ]
heard there. The morning was SC
still that I heard every word, and this
is what Joy was saying: "No, Mr.
Cartwright, | shall not accept you.
Not because ! do not like you, for
do very much but really could moi
give myself away after such y shor'
courtship." And here | heard he
clear, ringing laugh, which always ha(
something Of the artificial in it. 8
will make the courtship as long as yo'
like, Joy, but have you | will some
time" This was Charles answer
delivered in the intense accents kney
so we'll and l knew, too, that h
would have her after that, If he ha'
to move heaven and earth to get hel
She laughed again, still more con
STRANGELY, thought and then | LEI
the window and presently went dow
and joined them.
I am quite sure there was no sig
in my face or manner which coul
have told anything ofwhat l knew
, for possessed considerable power
| self-restraint, being practical llttl
, lady. But the truth was my hea
) was lust broken, and that's the who
Q truth of it. When l joined them the
were talking about the fire in tt
woods-we had seen the distant ligl
. for week now, and the smell Of Il
e smoke was this morning very perez
G tible. Charlie hadto hurry, howev'
d and after snatching.a cup Of coffee "
It a roll, the wagon arrived, and he sa
n "G0Od-bye y hastily jumped in al
: was gomez r&
Joy and I stottslent for nome
. and then-what possessed me | cal
;. think-I said 'Let's have out t
>, ponies and go for ride up the Mou
tain !!
~ Joy assented, and the ponies we
p saadled, and we started.
Y We set off at a sharp canter, a
t. about two miles from the house tu
re ed into wood-road, and, | shot
ht think, rode about five or six miles
OF fore we hardly spoke a word or not
ed anything, I was immersed in
al own thoughts, and | suppose Joy "
hit in hers.
ch Suddenly / pulled up short, with
of, sense of suAocation, and then i disc
10. cred that we were in the midst OF