Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-02-02

| sIioN WIZ ~ Was lhae ONucd ~.
never knew of but one specimen
brought to this country"
Miss Arburthnot's cheeks took on q
deeper flush as a great fear stole into
her heart. Miss Armory spoke of il
as link from her past life--migh1
not her past by some mysteri JUS
chance be connected with. Philip
Aylesbury
"She shall not see him. she
thought Then in a low, sweet voice
she responded. "You force me to a
confession. a poor old lady brought
ito me yesterday, and | gave hel
fifty dollars for it.
did she say where she got it 7" he
asked.
yes, in casual way she mention.
ed that it h1d once been the property
young girl who bearded with her,
but Sickened and died."
The color left Philip Aylesbury's
face, and she could see that his nerves
were shaken by the intelligence.
Il am glad was quick witted
enough to throw him off the scent, "
she thought to herself "Ihere has
been something serious in the matter. "
II will not 60 home with you at
present, thank you" said Mr. Ayles.
bury, handing Miss Arburthnot into
her carriage. 81 may call round this
evening""
Miss ArDurthnot smiled sweetly,
and then waved her hand to him as
the coach rolled away. AT that in
stant her eye fell upon Kate Armory
stealing into the church.
"Good Heavens ! The Fates de-
fend them from meeting y she ejacu-
lated.
The little sewing girl stole into the
church, and advanced timidly down
the aisle. She wished once more to
look upon her plant, for some subtle
instinct told her that Miss Arburth-
not was not sincere in her promise to
return it.
The crowd was leaving the church
there was onl y one OF two within, and
10 one paid attention to Kate Armory
bending over the plant.
They all left but her, and the sexton
stood waiting at the door impatensly
for her to pass ont, when Philip Ayles-
bury returned.
''Who is that within ?" he question
ed.
81 do not know, sir"
Philip strobe past the sexton, up
the aisle, and his eyes fell upon the
profile of the young girl there his
color fickered, and he trembled. He
stepped up to her quickly one
glance at the beautiful face, and he
was assured that the supposed dead
stood before him.
Katie, my wife !" he cried, in u
thrilling tone.
"PhilIp."
He drew her to his bosom, and
there amidst the sweetness and per-
fume Of the Easter blossoms, these
two, SO long separated, were reunited.
81 thought you were dead,' he
whispered.
"And believed you had forgotten
me" she returned.
Forgotten you! My darling you
little knew how we'll | loved you, to
deem me capable OF such a thing
lie recalled his carriage, and to-
gether they went to his homo, the
handsomest residence in the city.
There she told him how his father
had failed, and all her wealth had
gone with his.
Philip Aylesbury bowed his head in
shame. Kate had been his fathers
ward, and Philip had loved her from
boyhood but his father objected to
their union. He sent him to India, as
soon as he left college, and when Phil
ip returned he brought this very plant
which decked the Easter altar to
Kate. He importuned his father to
give his consent to their marriage
then, but the old man was obdurate,
and soon procured another errand
abroad as pretext for sending Philip
of. Before he left, however, he and
Kate were married secretly. Six
months later Philip heard that his
father had failed. He hurried home
to find him dead, and Kate missing.
His fathers failure had not affected
him, for his mothers wealth had
come to him in such a manner that
his father could not touch it. In vain
ha .,oorrhoI for h;o ,y;fo ,,ot;l l.. bn