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

"V'"'a'oa"' N''''p" W inc gate, u
spied Miss Olive ut the window an
allgh'ed with q youthful sgility nc
altogether prudent In man who ha
twinges oii sciatlca, And yet
strange Inconsistency of human natur
he dallied at the hitching post, an,
afterward with his hand on tho yer
knocker, hc paused to scan the dislan
horizon, as though 10 had como main
y for q view OF the mountains. Mis-
Olive opened Tho door, her cheek
flushed llko late October peaches, She
would not have been q woman had sh,
not OWNED tho deacon's tender mis-
sion' proclaimed by every dctail::of hi'
immaculate toilet, by tho grasp of hi'
hand, by his nervous, expectant mir.
And moreover, Miss Olive was an at,
traciiye woman, not unvcrscd in
lovers ways
"Happy to zee You Mr., PhGrix,
Walk H." said abe hurriedly, usher.
ing him into the sitting room, where
her aged father dozed IN his arm
chair.
"Who is it Olive 2" said the old
gentleman, waking with a bewldered
stare.
"Mr, PhGnix, father. You re-
member Mr.. Phpniy Pm sure.
81 don't know as l do," said he
querulously fumbling with the guests
outstrea,ched hand "Whats he
come for Olive 7"
The deacon looked as if he was
suddenly feeling the hot weather /;
Miss Olive was positively feverish /;
but she deity evaded the troublesome
question by devcrting her fathers at
tention. Hispepermiut tea was ready
would he not drink it? As she
lowered about the invalid, staighter.
ing his footstool, arranging his pillow,
steadying the cup while he drank, Mr..
Phpnix regarded her admiringly. How
young she seemed still Not q gray
thread in her golden hair scarcely a
wrinkle in her face. That was because
Of her excellent disposition. He wait
ed till she had soothed the old man
into sumber, and then in a direct
manly way introduced the subject that
ay next to his heart.
Miss Olive interrupted him by IN
eloquent glance toward her father.
"He is very childish and dependent
he cannot do without me-"
'Let me help you care for him,
Dive; my house is large, my means
ire ample
II couldn't, Mr.. Phenix-it is like
'our generosity to propose such a
hing; but I couldn't have him a
'urdeu on you" :
"Why, bless your soul, Olive, do
'ou suppose l should consider friend
f yours a burden ?" {
"You don't know how trying poor ]
ather would be to anybody but his I
wn daughter, and l think he is likely
, live to a great age, as grandfather t
i'd s
"For that very reason then" i
"Besides it would make him wretch. c
l to take him from the old home il
ead." 4
"But Olive" o
$50 you see I'm engaged, Mr.. b
hanix," said Miss Olive, playfully, "
hile she whisked away a tear. T'm 81
gagged you must marry some lazy b
no isn't. "And l hope you'll be as a
'ppy as you deserve to be-" she h
|ded with little tremor, springing te
} to adjust the curtain. fr
In vain he tried to bend her to his hi
shes; she remained outwardly firm ia
the hearthstone at her feet, till at D,
1gth he arrived at the unwelcome W
nvlction that she had no liking for re
m or she would have listened to his P
'adings. She had interposed the til
! gentleman merely as sort of W
ghion to soften the blow OF her re- to
tion. su
If he took smiling leave, it was he
cause pride tugged at bis facial mus in
8. for to tell the truth he had never of
IN more disappointed or chagrined D,
his life. OF what avail the stylish be
lipage upon which he plumed him
{! Was it not bearing him on to gr
tomb ? And why should he wish sci
prolong this earthly pilgrimage tie
bat further attraction had life for ins
J, a lonely old man nearing seven aw
tht
Hardly conscious Of the reins he ha
driven some miles at an unsancti- the
pace, when he almost ran over Mr. inc