Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-03-01

O down and kissed the rough board wher
d her hand had often rested. If tear fel
[ now and then, and broke the image Of tn
star which shone TRANQUILITY in the waite
/ below, it was only known to me, and t.
< that star, and to Him who made us both !!
5 The few days she had mentioned fe,
} like SO many moments, and after tha
z evening of moonlight and music, she wa
| to leave us. I stood with her in the par
t lor of her unclc's house, about ten mo
= ments before the arrival of the stage
| There were curtains OF some Transparent
: rose -colored material at the windows, anc
she was festooning them back with some
waxen-white flowers, with green leaves
5 the last clippings of her auft's conserva
= tory-and the warm light fell upon hcl
, face as she made a graceful courtesy tc
, me.
, ''There! Is not that pretty? When you
come to see us in the city this winter, |
shall arrange our parlors in the same way
| to make you remember Woodstock and
n-Eden."
} 81 am not likely to forget either of
them,"I said, looking fondy down at her,
and in another moment it would have all
been said, if she had not laid her hand up
on my arm, and whispered:
"Dear old James, should SO like to
tell you secret"
"Well?"
"But you must never let my aunt know
l told you, or she would give me terrible
lecture. | suppose it is very improper and
all that-but l should so like to tell you
myself. want you to come to US on the
second week Of January, and stay till after
the twenty fourth"
"And why till them"
She blushed and looked anywhere and
everywhere but at me.
because, on the twenty fourth am to
be married"
With strong effort, mastered myself,
and turning my face frcm the light, pre-
pared to hear and answer her next ques-
ton, which soon came.
care you angry?"
"Not l." l answered steadily. "But
does your aunt know this?"
She opened her large eyes with inno-
cent wonder.
"Of course. How stupid you are get
ting my dear old james. Why she made
the match!"
"Ah"
edward is scarcely older than am,
but his father wishes him to marry, to
make him steady believe or some such
nonsense-as if such 4 fy-about as am
would not unscttle him still more! How
ever, we are very fond of each other"
"But how comes it, Luc y, that after all
our familiar friendship, this is
the first time l have even heard
his name!"
She shook her curls about her face, and
laughed.
"Oh, I didn't like-I was afraid you
would think it was silly. You are so grave
and wise, and indeed never should have
had the courage now, only that am 60
ing away. But you would like to see his
picture?"
eyes"
She took pretty little case of blue
velvet from her pocket, and, unfastcning
the golden clasps, laid it open in my hand.
l looked upon my rival A dashing, hand
some, audaclous boy OF twenty, with a
mid .shipman's uniform, a pair Of bright
eyes, aud an incipient moustache-that
was all! He looked merry and happy
enough, but he seemed more likely to be
in love with himself than with the pretty
child they were going to give him for his
wife. She needed training as well
as loving, constancy as well as fervor.
l could have been all to her, husband,
father and friend.
"IIark there comes the stage" she ex-
snatching the picture from my
hand, and running away to call her aunt.
Before she returned to me was calm, at
least outwardly.
"You will be sure and come and see us
when you get back to the city, the very
day you come," she pleaded, standing on
the steps, and holding my cold hand in
both hers.
''Yes, Lucy"
''And remember what told you is a Sc
cret," she added, dropping her voice a
little. "You must not even speak fit in
your letters, for aunt will always see
hem"
II shall write then?"
"What a question! Why l depend on I
you for all the news Of Gan-Elen, and all
gossip of the town. You must 60 up to
The old place now and then, James, for
NY sake, and feed my poor little squirrels.
Dear old Gan Eden"
"You have been so good, so kind - she q
"Oh, what shall do with {
)ut you?" +
God bless her! lfthey had but left her .
with me for those autumn months, and
lad felt it not dishonorable to make the !
Ittempt, she would have loved me, l am {
ure.
When had seated her In the coach be-
de her aunt, she leaned from the Win
low, and put back her veil.
"James?" y
l turned back when / heard my name,
nd went up to her. As stood beside /
er, she put her hand upon my shoulder,
nd whispered I'm nv ear, ''Do not forget h