Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-08-20
.@'... WOODSTOCK, vT. WEDNESDAY, AUG, CO. 1870

actions, It's well the laws OF our lano
are not strictly enforced In that region
else some folks would hnd them
selves arralgned ioI rather queer often
ces. Al any rate Charles Wentworth
thanked his stars he was not accountable
fbr the iJudleious acts he knew him
sell TO be guilty pl while within It's
limits. What the particular crimes
were Is not my province TO relate II
culprlt don't confess, the world must q
90 anenlighlcned, The sharer 10 h's
midnight wanderings fortunately lost
all consciousness 6f them long before
daj light even II they ever knew at all
and were quite TOO busy with their
own affairs o meddle with other pco'
Pies. Smiths Philosophy Of Dreams,
with his descriptions OF remarkable
hallucina,ions, were for once thrown
into the shade by the tancled lights
OF the sleeper In question that night
III not answer Tor the half Of them
and will he bound they could not
either.
The next morning Charles Went
worth was an carly visitor. Miss Ga-
hari was engaged but her friend Anna
helped to pcguile the tedium of tho
morning, In fact No interested did
they become, that they forgot Miss
Graham was absent until she apollo
giscd In person. That day Wentworth
forgot TO 90 for his dinner having by
the bye, hespokcn the same with
the ladies he was visiting. The
errand which hs had jonrncyei so far
to perform was again forgotten. And
that night found him more enamorcd
than before with the merry pretty
Anna. She on her part congregulated
herself that she was not obliged TO
receive his attentions rs a consequent
of the unlucky clause in her uncle's
will. BY the deceit practised she
could learn more of his real character
and judge his moral worth without
the drawback Of constantly rejecting
that she was after all but a consider
alton in the trade.
Day after day passed without bring
ing matters much nearer TO a concu.
sion. Riding, walking, singing and
dancing, lent their aid, in the way Of
pleasant variety, till Wentworth found
himself quite domesticated.
At length as if for the first time
aware OF the improperly Of his course
he resolved on making the effort to
broach matters to Miss Graham. His
request for private interview was
followed by speedy arrangement
to that effect. He began by briet
allusion to the circumstances OF her
uncle's decease, and the motive which
prompted him to seek her society. He
regretted the dilemma in which both
were placed, and begged that she
would forgive him, If ought he had
to say gave her offence. Under different
and more favorable auspices, he could
not say what his feelings might have
been as it was the whole matter saw
ored too much Of mere business
to suit the taste Of either.
From the agreeable acquaintance he
had formed he, was led to cherish high
respect for her as a lady, and would
ever be proud to acknowledge her as
a highly-esteemed friend. But in the
holy relationship proposed by the de-
ceased he must in all candor confess he
had no wish to urge her to enter.
The generous fortune connected with
the gift of her hand under such Cir
was no consideration,
and he cheerfally relinquIshed all to
her.
He could not bear that the share of
his fortune should be sort Of dow
~ y-neither could she, he was sure,
be pleased with proffers of attachment
from him, under circumstances that
must necessarily make him appear
whatever his true motive
might be. lie was perfectly aware
Of the almost ungentlem anly conduct
he must seem to be guilty ofin thus
up Il clam upon her, for love
Or anything else ere he had ascertain
I'd whether he had rendered himself
agreeable. II she would pardon HIM
for all he would assume the respon-
,ibility of the rejection, and bear the
obloquy, il there were such in the
ayes of the world. His agitation OF
manner, together with his respectful
md feeling tone Of voice, convinced
lis listener of his perfect sincerity and
while she keenly felt the almost un'
L. L. L.