Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-08-07

with leaden feet, lilo longed to se'
Mary Norris III her new character O
his ahlanced bride, That she would
be gentle aud sweet with him, now
that they were engaged, he did mol
doubt, aud he felt he should like hen
better when q lrlac toned down, SO
the early shadows Of tho evening found
him at tho dooroi the Norris mansion
Mary was at the piano, llc could
distinguish her voice IN some pecu
lar strain, No doubt only q ruse Il
cover her natural, confusion, Asci-
want showed Inn In, aud he instantly
discovered that Mary was not alone,
a masculine friend from n noighbor-
Ing village was devoted by leaning
over her and ttrnIng the music, The
closing Of tho door announced him,
Mary started up from tho instrument,
aud without tho slightest deepening
Of the checks, and as simply aud
naturally a. ever came forward, greet
ed him, aud introduced her friend,
Mr., Cummings,
Tho hot blood surgcd into the
checks Of the DOCTOR and he attempt
cd to express his disappointment and
ardor with one eloquent glance ;
but 1t fell entirely short Of its mark
No answering expression came back
to him. As if unconscious Of then
new aud dear relation to each other,
Mary Norris ran on a merry jest and
railcry, until he became throughly
out oi humor, and espoused tho con-
trAry side Of every question, and at
an early hour took his departure.
When in the hall, where the girl ac-
compauicd him, he turned upon hcl
with worus Of rcproach,
IIow could you admit that fellow
tonight when you expected me-?
u beg your pardon, DR.. Collins,
she replied, with her saucy black eyes
dancing. You are very much mis-
taken. | did not expect you tonight,
and that fellow is one Of my dearest
friends.
Mary you are trihing with me,
Have you forgotten what transplred
/" ,ho -..~""d" ."'.- Loot ";eht -
What yeranda ?
That of Mrs. Goodwin, to be sure.
You must be insane, doctor, or arc
laboring under some ballucination,
was not in Mrs. Goodwin's veranda
with you for single moment last
night and if you made any engage
ment with any young lady at tha
time and place, it was not with you'
humble servant.
Not with you he gasped pale te
the lips. who the deuce was it, then
I should like to know ?
Il can't say. You should not be Sc
careless, doctor. No doubt some fail
Brownsville girl is at this moment
looking hereyes out while you are vast
ing time with me. But l must 60 back
or Charley will be jealous. Yet stay
l have one tritliug bit of confidence
for you. We are engaged
Certainly. Don't l know it {? hi
exclaimed, seizing her hand with
radiant face.
Know it, and had the audacity tt
call my Challey, "a fellow ! and to bt
angry because | did not deny mysel
to him on account of your stupidit,
in thinking that under Mrs. Goodwin''
porch you had informed me of YOU
intended visit. O! goodness, what :
coquette you must believe me to be-
His hands fell away from hers sud
denly, and his voice was husky, as h,
answered
i congratulate you. Good night
Out in the silent and dull village
street he ground his teeth, and usec
some very intricate and harsh words
against himself the worst of whicl
perhaps was that he might be con-
sidered 'an ass He went directly to
his Office, and DR.. Peters noticed the
change in his manner, and kindly In
uuired what was the matter.
'Auy bad news, my boy {? he aske(
.iocosely. You look as though yo'
had been having case OF double con
niptions, and did not know what t.
do with them
4 am an unmitigated fool, that's all
I've gone and engaged myself.
TO be married ? Not that, hey L"
Yes, just that, old fellow, and h
sank into the chair with most dis
gushing air.
DIR. Peters looked at him for mo
ment, and then burst into an uncon
trollable fit of laughter.
why, the deuce take It, he said
as soon as he could get hi