Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-06-18

further right 10 inifinitlea that hchcv
. forth II was bis bounded duty to b'
' as young as he could, The reflection
weared him the clutchlng pair
> wearled him, Mrs, Dubbs afterwards
, said she had never seen him 80 nearly
. out of sorts as on the evening wher
, she took in his mail, Among the lot
ters was one that caught his eye al
r once.
DEAR FRESp Gt ran)-My pool
tried father Is at rest. IIo was seized
with paralysis the morning after you
lett rs, and passed away painless in "A
few hours, How little ] expected
this event when wc talked together
My hands were full then now they
are empty. My work here is done,
If you still believe that could make
happy the kind friend who has al.
ways been our bcneiactor, should be
glad sec you. Your sincerely,
OLIVE WAYNE.
Mr.. PhGnix read this missve, re-
read it, shut it into tho book OF Job
safe from prying Mrs. Dabbs, and
drummcd uneasily on the closed Bible.
What q prcdicament! Must he thrust
back upon Olive the gift for which he
had lately sued ? Must he thus hum
bio her? lie writhed at the thought! !
Must he thus humble himself 7 Bit
terer than all, must he relinquish this
tried friend of lifetime I? Having
reached lfe's autumn must he reject
its mature and appropriate fruits for
the rhubarb and greens of spring
time ? Alas yes he must fulfill hia
engagement, for was he not an "hon-
orable man p He would write at once
to Olive candid statement of the
case.
But while ho idled at his desk on
the morrow Mr.. Torrey camo to ask
the loan of horse until his own was
in running order, and the deacon laid
down his pen with sigh of relief.
Feeling that he ought to tell his
brotEer.in law of his contemplated
marriage, at dinner he led the CONVEX
sation back to the Conference and Mrs
Vance.
"By the way I met the widow this
morning, riding with John Vance,
remarked Mr.. Torrey, casually. "You
him-the brotherr next to
Charles ? He's just come home from
California with his pockets full.
"Ah @
eyes. Shouldn't wonder if he took
the widow. Some say they're engag-
I'd already"
OF course the deacon knew better
han that nevertheless, he delayed
lis tender confession. And did not
write the letter. Time enough for that
'fter hc had paid Mrs. Vance the
visit. The latter lady had
the first claim upon his atten-
ion.
unfortunately several days Of tor
nenting pain ensued, during which the I
eacon's patience was put to pretty
evere test, but he was at last able to 9
eek the object of his hasty choice. /
Ie found her in her dooryard playing S
roquet with a tall, well dressed g
entleman. t
$50 happy to SEQ you, Deacon Pho. c
tx p cried she, with voluble embar- t
"and so glad to introduce i,
[r. Vance, dear to Charles's brother. I
10 come in c.
Al hope my tardy coming does not a
'em discourteous, Mrs. Vance," said f;
=, with affable formality, while the r'
ranger fastened to suddenly recall al
engagement. 81 have not" 6
"No-oh no. broke in the wild 81
wv nervously. h
81 have not been well. Otherwise, m
II present interesting relations" OF
.'Oh Mr.. Phenix," interrupted she nj
rowing herself upon cricket at his fir
1t, "do you know l am so afraid dl
4 not the one to make you happy sh
nd my friends think the discrepancy til
our ages too great. "Ought / to kr
,rry against their wishess' Ii,
"You must decide that question, an
ar madam" responded the deacon qu
tn suppressed eagerness. The fin OF
r of Providence was in this. He wi
ID his breath to make sure which bl,
y it pointed. wi
Then ifyou don't mind very much, II
aeon Phoenix, perhaps 1t would be dr.
ter for us to part friends. o dear pl'
ope you'll forgive me if I have ce
,e anything wrong" ce
The deacon hardly heard the clos tn,