Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-12-13

ana whlrled IN the galop like some
bright tropical bird. She danced
divinely, and loved the waltz with
girlish fervor Therefore she did no
refuse Mr.. Farnham "the pleasure
when he came toward her early in the
evening and begged the honor of hel
hand. She discovered at a glance
that he waltzed like god )" and, as
she often declared, she "would dance
with chimney-sweep if he could
glide with her step" she did not re-
fuse him once after.
Somehow, it must have heen for the
same reason of course, Phil Farnham
waltzed oftener with her than with
any other lady in the room and in
spite of his prediction for blondes,
brunettes appeared in the ascendant
that evening, and the lair debptapt,
Miss Merton, paled and languished
with jealousy as she noticed the at
tention-nay, devotion-that 'little,
dark Miss Brent was receiving from
her prcux chevalier of last winter.
Il never thought Phil Farnham any
thing Of ilirt before ~ said Mrs.
Sherwood, the next morning, as the
girls sat in the room, talking over the
hop; but / must confess he disap-
pointed me. He isn't the kind of a
man | took him to 4e. Now last
winter he was devotion itself to Milly
Merton-and last night he scarcely
noticed her. There was no reason for
his marked non. attention either, for |
could see that she was chagrined at
his neglect. Somehow, l don't like
Phil as well as I used to. He is
changed" and Mrs. Sherwood shook
her head and sighed,
"Perhaps it is his taste only that has
changed, and he prefers brunette to
blondes now," answered Rhoda, smil-
ing to herself sIyly, as she recalled
Rob's words, and contrasted them with
Pills manner the night before.
"No, not that altogether. l know
he don't admire dark women. | mean
his whole character seems to have
changed. He is reserved-not as
agreeable or as pleasant as he used to
be-critical and satirical and Bob
says he Is growing into sort of wo-
Observation-Disclosures he will never
marry, because he can never love one
of the women of to-day So don t
fall in love with him, Rhoda.
"Won't marry because he couldn't
love one of the women of to-day r
I suppose any one of them stand ready
to tall into his arms at his asking! Rob
needn't warn me, auntle / dislike the
man," was Rhoda's sharp retort.
"Well, Tn sure Phil is nice enough
fellow, but l never should want to
marry him. I'm like you, Rhoda l
couldn't stand pair of red whiskers
and moustache close to my lips and
Maud shuddered very much as Rhoda
had done few days before.
"Mr. Farnham's wbiskers are not
really-red. Do you think so, Maud ?
/ should cali them blonde brown" re-
piled Rhoda, not noticing the sly|
glances Maud exchanged with her
mother at this change ofopinion in one
who colored the red whiskers and
moustache herself not ten days ago.
"Farnham's an odd fellow ex-
claimed Rob, who had come into the
room just as Rhoda had pronounced
Mr.. Farnham's whiskers "brown.
"Ive been trying to get him enthusi-
astic over our masquerade, and he
won't even say he will stay until The
night of the ball He's tired of the
beach. Now, Rhoda, if you were only
4 blonde, you might have smitteu him
with your charm IS and, through you,
might have persuaded him to re-
main. I don't know, however, that l
wish he liked you, for
"For what 2" interrupted Rhoda,
quickly.
"Oh, you'd never suit one another,
hats all. But / Needn't bother my.
elf. He doesn't like squaws, and you
,ate red whiskers so there isn't the
east danger Of your fancying one
mother"
"Well, Miss Merton is here. She's
! pale face I'm sure. Can't you per.
uade Mr.. Farnham to stay through
ler, pray? ?"
"No; he's tired of the beach, and
everybody here he says. So l sup.
'ose he will go"
But Mr.. Farnham did stay to the