Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-05-31


GUS reflections, he was firm in the faith
that his gushing affection would yet
find return. And why not in Miss
Patience? Was she not clone wo
man." timid and feeble, needing mas
culine support7 But, alas this very
reasoning made him pause; for how
could he and Patience both live on
what was just enough for him! 1t
was all very we'll in poetry to speak Of
sharing ones crust with another; but
in the prose of everyday life Daniel
knew that a whole slice of bread was
not too much for his digestion. And
then there were the medicines, the
pills and powders, the camphor and
ammonia, which were part Of Miss
Patience's daily diet, and surrounded
her with an atmosphere peculiar to
herself. Strong, CHEEKY man that he
was, her weakness and melancholy
made her very attractive to him; but
how could he afford the luxury of a
sick wife, or even Of a we'll one, now
that his father had cut him off with
out even the traditional shilling?
These thoughts possessed him one
evening as he unwound Miss Pa
tience's yarn upon the porch, She
was toeing off the second stocking as
he reeled the last thread into her lap,
and smoothed out the wrinkled paper
on which it had been wound.
:'Jerusalem !" said he, after inspect
ing it moment. Miss Patience i'm
paled her finished stockings ON the
four needles, and rose with offended
dignity:
"Moses in the bulrushes! Beg par
don, Miss Hitchins, but as true as my
name is Daniel Kilgore this is my
fathers handwriting. Just listen:
"I, Ebenezer Kilgore, OF sound
mind, do, on my death-bed, bequeath
to my only son Daniel, all the proper
ty whereof l may die possessed, pro,
vided that said Daniel does not marry
Hester Ann Rogers.
"Should he marry the bonnet-girl
at,erward, this will shall be null and
void, otherwise it shall remain in full
force"
Sand here are witnesses, and there
is the date, three months later than
that of the other will. Jerusalem !!
and, pausing tor want of breath, Dan
iel turned toward Miss Hitchins, who
stood trembling behind her needles
like a thorn-bush agitated by the
wind.
'Of all things she gasped, sinking
down upon the doorstep. Sand that
is what came out of those rags in the
attic which Mrs. Getchell said hadn't
been picked over since she moved In
to the house. Oh I'm all OF flut
ter y
Cant kind O steady youe' said
Daniel, tenderly, crooking his elbow
into an awkward resemblance to a
photographers head rester. But the
prudish Patience moved away, anc
leaned her bewildered head against
the senseless door-post.
"You ought to have tie best righ
to your own fathers property, In
sure, and I am glad you've got wha
: belongs to you; but dear, dear, dear
: what'll Mrs. Getchell think I've az
good as taken the bread out OF he
mouth, and she was like an aunt tt
me !"
''That's pleasant. Do let her b'
your aunt pleaded Daniel, smooth
ing Miss Patience's sleek locks 81
clumsily that her back comb fell, ant
with it the neat little knob Of hair i
fastened.
"Oh, my head! my head!' crie'
Miss Hitchins, starting up in franti
haste. 81 must goin. I'm going t.
have one of my spells!
"Don't yet" urged Daniel securin!
y her hands in his--a measure suggest
J ed by prudence as well as sentiment
r for the needles seemed fairly aliv
0 with eXcitement-"l want TO know
t one thing first. Are you at liberty
disposed, and will you-'
"Oh, my heart! Oh, I've such
palp,tation!.. gasped Miss Patience.
g "Thark Fortune!" cried Daniel
s ecsta,ically, disentombing her face
, which she had buried in the blac1
o stockings. 81 was coming to tha
e directly It's just what want yo
v to have I've suffered with it all m
life y
Coming into the kitchen few mil