Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-09-22

deal oi hupefhnous dihPefy' y"u
should know
4 do know Il to my deep regret,
he answered seriously, How can ]
preach exercise when see how wo'
men are shackled by their dressf How
advise activity and employment When
AN aware that they arc already worn
out by their silly apparel =
His companion glanced uP In sur
prise, lie replied to her unspoken
thought,
Il am o doctor, 30 ! have right to
lnveigh against the barbarity. There
Ia not q worlhier crnl,ade than any
liberator Of humanity could start at
present than a war against tho fashion
Of women'a gowns
You are not wrong, indeed, said
his companion, such bondage! and
sudh weight in heap of foolish trills
and ornaments about our feet
"A dangerous net Tor our steps aud
Others, he said smiling, Then chang
Ing tho topic, Has i not not been n
lovely day''
Very, but it was near ending disas
lrously to me- lt
Never mind, alPs well that ends
well. Here Is the station; 1t wants
two whole minutes of the time and
your train is not in yet, he said, as he
conducted her TO the waiting room.
She sank on one OF the cushioned
seats that lihcd tho walls.
4 do not think | should have ac-
cep,qd your offer if ! had known how
far was taking YOU she murmured,
that delicate pink again painting her
fair face
"A few yards more or less will not
tell in the days work. he said lightly.
How can express my thanks to
you for the service you have rendered
mel Saying which the girl took
courage to look up in his handsome
face. A very attractive countenance
it vas with lis sharp Gear cut feat
ures, pale brown mous,ache just
shading the mouth, that smiled so
readily to reveal the white teeth.
But the power OF the face lay in the
eyes, which were so dark that it was
not perceptible At first that they were
blue; truthful and inviting OF trust in
their gravity and steadfastness OF re-
gard.
DO not name it, he answcrcd to
her grateful acknowledgement. Good.
evening", and bowing, he was about to
withdraw.
She hesi,ated in shyness for mo-
ment, then frankly extended her hand.
with n softly breathed Goodbye
lie took the small Ahgers and held
them for q moment in his strong, ca.
pable grasp. 'Good.bye,' he said gen
tly. Then he passed through the
door and out Of her sight. She spoke
with him no more, and, in fact, be-
lieved him gone, but when she was
seated alone in n carriage she caught
(slimpse Of her late companion on
the platform, as though he waited to
watch over her safety and comfort to
the last.
Ia enother half hour Marion Holmes
had reached her destination, but it
was a significant fact that she never
narrated the past incident to her
friends. Right merry, aud many q
lest would she, under ordinary circum-
ssances, have the story of the chance
meeting, but some feeling made her
lay the experience up sacred treas
ure in her own heart.
A year went by, aud Miss Marion
Holmes was Miss Marion Holmes
still. Offers In plenty had she; coro-
nets were laid at her feet; men good
and brave knelt for her favor. She
did not spurn them, tor her nature
was gentle and kind and she strove to
bind up with her tender hands the
wounds she had unwiltingly inflicted,
but she would have uought to do with
any one.
Her brother who was her sole
guardian, her parents being dead, said
to her one day roughly:
What do you expect' Are you
waiting for princes
Yes was the unlocked for reply
that Charles Holmes received.
Are you mad, Marion!'
OF course it was only jest she
suid.
Only jest, she repeated to her.
self, as though she was trying to con-
vince her heart. MY prince of chiv-