Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-06-25
either to eyes, hair, teeth, or dress,

ty women In Now York.
hut when Mr., simpkins reached
Tenth street, there descended iron
q Twenty-thlrd street stage
vision Of such perfect female lovelines'
~ made the heart Of Mr.. Simpklns
fairly leap into hls throat Glad
Ia what seemed TO be the most elegant
and bewltching Of summer costumes,
and wearing the most plqaant Of hats
tied beneath tho chin with bow OF
cherry cOlored ribbons, the long ends
OF which iloated saucily over her
shoulders. this celestial being tripped
across the street TO Stewards, raising
her snowy skirts as she went, and dis
playin en- pas'ant an ankle sufficiently
bewitching to cause Hiram Powers in
despair to smash to intinilesimal atoms
all the craven images he had ever At
tempted to make, Mr. Slmpkins
stopped short and gazcd after her lie
was no longer young man, but the
fires Of youth still amoldered within
his breast, and seemed now TO burn
with nm ardor as fierce as that OF twcn-
ty years ago
"By Jupiter!' he exclaimed, "could
anything be more lovelyf"
Without q moments hesitation he
crossed the street and entered Stewards
in pursuit. AT that moment he would
have given the price Of fifty bonnets
for another single glance at that one
with cherry ribbons. But his search
was in vain. The lady had disappear
ed. Up stairs aud down, in the elc-
vator, around the rotunda, through
every department, went Mr. Simpkins
so many times that the clerks began
to eye him with curiosity, not unmix.
ed with suspicion. AT last in despair,
Mr.. Simpktns gave up the search,
and sadly wended his way home
ward.
at was a Dream" he said to him
self, softly. "An infatuating. beauti-
fal dream. might have known it
would not last.
AT the supper table that night Mr..
was unusually grave and
reserved. Bewildering kid button
boots stared at him from the sugar
bowl, cherry colored bonnet ribbons
flcated IN his tea. the very napkins re-
solved themselves into white petit
coats with the snowiest of frills.
"My DEAR" said Mrs. S. "what
makes you so meaicholy?'
"Eh p said Mr.. Simpkins. start.
ing from his revery. "Oh nothing.
Docid tired. Hard day at the office
"Poor OLD hubby said Mrs. S.
soothingly. I'll got that bonnet
to-day dear"
Mr.. Simpkins grunted.
"Would you like to see it?"
queried his wife doubtfully.
At any other time Mr. Slmpkins might
have said 'Yes,' but now the reccolec-
ton OF those cherry ribbons upper
most in his mind, the inspection of
any other bonnet would have been a
torture.
"No,' he replied shortly. 81 don't
know anything about such gewgaws.
If it suits you it will suit me-"
Mrs. Simpkins was silent.
'H'll go to Grace Church next Sun
lay," she thought "and have my :e.
Mr.. Simpkins that night dreamed
that he was in heaven, and was being |
driven in the streets of New Jerusalem
n a Twenty.third street stage by a
swift, winged angel, robed in cherry
,olored silk.
He went to his place of business
'ext day, still in a thoughtful and
effective mood. Why the reccolec-
ion of that beautiful vision should
'emaln with him SO persistently he did
not know. 1t gazed up at him from
he pages Of his ledger, and fioated
before him in the smoke from his cigar
When at last he left the Office and
started home again it accompanied
1im up Broadway. He had turned
nto Union square and nearly reached
University place when he suddenly
,ame to a halt. BY all the Gods OF
Greece it was she !
She stood with her back toward
lin waiting for Broadway car.
Those Hebe-lile shoulders cher
y ribbons. He could not be mistaken.
Mr.. Simpkius stood still dozen yards
behind. The car came and stopped.
The lady picked her way dainty tow
.rd it over the muddy crossing. Again
he snowy ruffles and that enhancing