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

city, she was unpFepared to permit
such liberties, Her extremely delicate
nature shrunk from becoming public
property, Her lips was reserved for
him who should win her love, and
were not to be desecrated, But that
she also cast longing eyes upon the
handsome young physician was not
to be denied, Yet, even tho most
| careful observer had not been able TO
detect tho iaet-a higher color or
sudden bounding OF the heart at the
sound Of his voice, when hC addressed
her in tones always dofereutlol aud
polite, rs if he was awcd by her man
ncr
AlIrlh relgped fast aud furious rs
the evening waaod Chairs were over
turned in the boisterous game OF blind.
mans buff while dresses and sashcs
suffered sadly, The doctor, seeing
Mary Norris dash out OF tho front
door, following her resolving (upon
tho spur Of the momcnD to seize the
time 10 disclose his love, such an
event had been one oi tho future, II at
all. Until now he had not given
much thought TO it, but her saucy
black cycs, aud sweet, warm kisses
completed his enthralmcn'. Ont under
the yine.covercd porch Of The Good
win cottage, where he could distinctly
trace the soft outlines Of his love in
her hcecy white dress, he followed
and gained her side wh'Spcred'
MARY, | must leave now. | have u
patient to visit yet tonight, but l can
no, tear myself away without telling
you how much | love YOU
One little hand was clinging to the
trelhs as no spoke, and dimly tracing
the coveted member, he iorcibly pos
sessed himself of 1t, while his other arm
stole around her slender waist. With
an air of timid surprise, all unlike the
usual spontaneous demonstrativcness
of Mary Norris, the young girl drop
ped her head and murmured:
I-l-did not think
You did not think l loved you !!
Is tina, it my sweet girl ? Well, | do
most sincerely. Bnt m"n ! ""' nc
adept at lovemakipg, and not very
brusquo. Yet, viii you be my wiieY
Surely you cannot mean it. You
have never shown me the slightest pre-.
ference, was whispered back. as her
head dropped still lower.
Never shown the slightest pre-
/ ference ! Is it possible that under my
careless and light exterior you did
not detect the slightest meaning? But
am awaiting my answer, and he
bent down to catch the yes.
The night was moonless and dark
so much that the doctor could not
see, as he louged to do, the blushlng
face of his Mary. lie asked at random
and being determined to leave the seal
of betrothal on her lip, kissed first
her forehead and then her cheek, and
at last settled upon her sweet lips,
which were turned temptingly upward
God bless your he whispered.
Tomorrow evening | may come and
see you. and then we can adjust our
happy future !?
Just then the shouts Of some lasses
who had been chased out the back
door and around the graveled walks
bv their rustic admirers, startling the
lovers. Dr. Collins kissed his atfianc.
ed again, and dashed away before he
was discovered. Of course he walked
upon air. and it is quite likely his pre-
scription for the invalid was a little
mixed. But after he had gained the
quiet of his own room he lay awake
for long time rejecting upon the
stupendous step he had taken. Some.
how he half regretted that he had
been so hasty, as he communed with
himself. .~
4 am afraid, he thought that my
mother and sisters will think her a
bit hoydenish. But it cannot be
denied that she is beautiful and shrewd
and If transplanted into more:.reiined
soil will improve. l love her and
how changed were her manner. L
confess expected her to except my
wooing with her old-time, halt-dehant
saucy flash. But 10 ! she became
sweetly womanly, tender and gentle.
I could feel her plant form tremble
and thrift in my arms, and hF timid
yes was given almost with sob.
By Joye /! l had no idea the child
loved me so much, and shall always
be good to the sweet girl. She shall
be the apple Of my eye
With this resolve Doctor Collins
a.l ;,to dr.omlonI IN rahparSQ