Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-11-10

were few.
A week passed, when one morning
delivering some goods at one Of the
most fashionable stores on Broadway,
as he went out, Raymond saw Bertha
Haines opening the door Of her low
carriage. An impulse made him start
forward to hand her out, only to draw
back, crimson with confusion, and
dropping the hand he was raising to
lift his hat. The sweet musical voice
he loved spoke at once:
"Please, Mr.. Thurston, help me
with this obstinate door. 1t will
stick"
He went forward, then, with all the
easy grace Of manner that had ever
marked his intercourse with ladies'
The little gloved hand was extended
to meet his, as she thanked him.
'1t is too bad you are engaged" ="
she said, 81 should like to borrow
your artist eye to aid me in selecting
a dress for my reception on Thursday
evening. But you will come and tell
me how succeeded alone, will you
not p
She said the last words very earnest
ly, raising her dark eyes to his face.
"Do you really wish me to come
no,c ?" he asked.
Il do
"Then viii come | must say
good morning. and he left her with
most courteous bow.
But while the great express-wagon
ratified down the street, Miss Haines
turned away from the store she had
been entering and re,entered her car
riage.
"To my fathers" she said to the
driver, and in a few moments later the
merchant looked up from his ledger to
see his only child in n faultless walk
ing dress entering the counting-house.
Another check y he said, moving
a chair to her. "How much this
time ?"
"Nothing . | want to talk to you.
Shut the door, so those horrid men
can't hear me-
The door closed, and privacy in the
'anctum secured, Bertha astonished
ner paternal relative by bursting into
passion of weeping.
"Wby, Bertha !" he cried.
"Never mind, papa. 1t is all over
low, DO you remember what you
'aid to me when Raymond Thurstcn
'sked for some employment here ?"
"Not exactly
81 do You said that q man brought |
lp as he had been would want a sine
,ure that he never would come
lown to real work, and that you had |
70 position for fine gentlemen that
lis offer to take subordinate position
vas simply y farce.
"Did / say all that, Bertha @
ITO me you did. l suppose you
dismissed him politely enough. But,
'apa, if you thought he was really in
really meant to work Tor a
ivirg would you give him a chance
lere p
Eyes he has capacity, brains and
splendid address. But he has been
n idler all his life"
"He is no ider now. lie is driv-
ng an express cart
"Bertha !"
"He is. | met him not more than
n hour ago. He thought l was 60
lg to cut him. AS if" she added
18th magnificent scorn, 81 would
light an old friend in adversity.'
"Bess my soul Driving an ex-
ress wagon ! Ned Thurstons boy
.ducated at Harvard. Dear me -
lid you notice whose wagon it was,
'crtha ?"
Bertha had not noticed, and the old
entleman hustled into his coat and
arted for the office. At dinner he
formed Bertha that Raymond had
,cepted situation in his own large
with frank confession i,
his profound ignorance of all r
lsiness affairs, but an earnest resolu- ;
on to learn we'll and speedily what !
'er appertained to the duties entrust- i
| to him. !;
1t was not many weeks before Mr.. c
aines congratulated himself upon Il
e acquisition Of his new clerk. He |,
Id Bertha marvellous stories of Ray D
ond's rapid progress and the strides c
} was. ..makingin his new lite,not know I
g Of the long nights spent in poring fl