Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-01-01
"A Hard Old Case"
Little New Year sketch.

be true"
Then. didn't he refuse 10 give good
Mr. Doodlum q single cent for the pur'
chase of damask curtains and velvet
cushions for u South Sea island churchi
aud didn'd he tell MwSniiile he had u
better use for his money than wasting
1t on the society for the prevention Of
cruelty TO sea serpentsf
Mrs. Sniflc, kind, thoughtful crea-
ure, says she "prays every p'ght for
that poor hardened sinners soul
Once, when the minister referred TO
the hard of heart, tho last person in
church knew he meant Stephen Somer.
vile, They say he makes slots" OF
money, and hides it away-the mis-
erly fellowl they say he's awiully stingy
and as unsocial as a turtle IN its shell.
"Thcy say'-how simple the words,
yet what cruel sears they carve on
many fair name! To how many bit
tet aud unkind thrusts are those two
cowardly little words u prelude /
They say he is n perfect Tacklcton in
grufhess, but somehow, all little child
rem seem to love him. You see, they
haven't learned to reason themselves
into likes and dislikes, but rush blind
ly ITO friendships and hates. Poor
little innocents But some persons be
lieve the little ones are blessed with
a God.given intuition that makes them
know tho pure and the true from the
false.
There is an almost imperceptible
soft light in Stephen Somerville's
grave eyes, and nameless something
" inning in the lines around his
mouth: but what are those insignificant
li,tt' cleans and curves compared with
tbe ~ y says Of society,"
Anatomists say we all have such a
thing as heart, but no one imagined
that the old hard case owned such
,r'ece of property, until he fell in love
heylfpretty Kate Lawrence. But she
was too we'll aware of his reputation
for being penurious, cold and selfish,
to trust her life to his care. Still, at
times, she could not conceal from her.
self the fact that one word from quiet
Stephen Somervile interested her
more than all the brilliant words
showercd upon her, from other lips,
and that one OF his rare smiles haunted
her for days. But she didu't love him,
of course not The Lawrences are
matterof fact, sensible people, and not
likely to indulge in such a weakness as
falling in love with marble statues.
Her most devoted admirer was Mr..
Legay, a vivacious, courtley, captivat-
ing, carpet knight, as elegant and dem.
onstratve as poor Stephen was blum
dering and reserved. His tact and
winning ways soon rendered him the
honored favorite of St. Mary's best
society in general, and of Miss Kate
Lawrence i'll particular so said
Dame Rumor, and she knows every
thing.
Among the passengers on very un-
comfortable public vehicle, advertised
as an elegant, luxurious COACH wind
ing and humping and jostlius its way
to St. Mary's late in December, 1878,
was Kate Lawrence, returning home
from little visit. A gleam Of sur
prised delight overspread the counte-
nance Of Mr.. Legay when, on entering
the stage, he beheld his "heart's tond
idol" And, after an tour's travel,
WHO should appear but Stephen Som
erville. As general thing the reserve
of this hard old case was a safe fortress
behind which to hide his feelings but
at this unexpected meeting with some
body on the stage, either Mr. Legay or
-one of the other passengers, smile
and glow Of pleasure played traitor
and crept forth from the citadel. And
after the usual greetings, he even ven'
tured on some original observation
about the weather being cold. But
Kate replied rather indiferently to
this overture, and the hard old case
retired, repuIsed, TO his shell.
Mr.. Legay improved this opportunl'
ty to display his conversational pow
ers, and his bright witty nothlngs
were in such marked contrast to poor
Stephens meteorological remark that
Kate soon became an eager listener.
Presently he spoke of the Difference