Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-10-27


, II saw some nice ones up there TIL
, morning when ! was closing the roos
ter aud ] thought mother would llk'
. some Tor supper"
"yery WE'LL" said Hannah "ba
don't stay the whole afternoon, iol
you've all these dish.towels 10 hem
though there's no telling II wen use
'emi since well be In the poorhouS'
after Monday.
The afternoon sun shone full on The
blackberry bushes, aud Katie Sound
picking tho ripe fiult no cool task
but she preferred 1t to sitting in the
house with Hannah, listening to bitter
reproaches tor her refusal to take the
step which could prevent the old
home from passing into the hands Of
Mr., Arle
"Why should have nothing, aud
Squire Davis all the good thingsf"
she said, aloud. "Even the cool
shade Is on his side Of the wall !"
She was interrupted in her rebel
lious reflections by the sudden appear
ance OF Hannah, almost ont OF breath
from running.
"Katic, "comc home at once, Squire
Davis Is waiting to see you"
ooh, Hannah, l can't go! | don't
want 10 see him"
"Katie Derwent, you ought to be
ashamed OF YOURSELF" cried Hannah,
loudly. esquire Davis is rich, q
member Of the church, and man any
woman might be glad to marry"
"But he is so old, Hannah, and |
am ouly seventeen"
"Pshaw! what does that ma,ter7
You will see us thrown on the charity
of our friends, robbed Of our home
and its comforts, rather than make a
trihing sacrifice. You can't have
much love for your poor. sick mother
or little brother. Squire Davis would
pay off the mortgage at once it you
would only promise to marry him.
Come, Katie, don't be so stubborn..'
"I'm not stubborn, Hannah. l
would do almost anything for mother
and Paul, but, oh let me have little
more time. l will think of it-I will
indeed. Tell the squire to come TO-
morrow. and III give him my answer"
"Do you suppose he will submit to
such treatment ? demanded Hannah.
"Told to come and 90 at your
fancy! You promised last Sunday to
give him an answer day"
"But can't Hannah no, | can't TO
day, You can tell him anthing you
like, but l won't see him to day.
"Then III tell him | couldn't find
you" said the willy Hannah. ")f |
should tell him you had refused to
come he would suspect something"
Katie waited until her sisters
gaunt figure had disappeared over the
rising ground, and then, throwing her
self down by the blackberry bushes,
burst into tears.
Il suppose l must do it, she
moaned.
No, you mustn't said very sym.
pathetic voice, and looking up Katie
espied. to her astonishment, her ac-
quaintance of the morning, sitting
above her on the stone. wall. He was
handsomely dressed now in a suit
of gray tweed, and looked undeniably
a gentleman.
"Were you lis:ening7" she demand
ed sitting up, the tears still lingering
on her long, curling eyelashe 5.
"Yes' I.was," was the frank reply.
You see, l grew tired Of work. So l
left the squlres employ, put on my
Sunday clothes and slrolled out. 4
was lying down in the shade of the
wall, doing, and had just become
aware of your presence on the other
side when yonr sister came. OF
course l could not then declare my
proximity without embarrassing you
both, SO ] waited
"You don't seem to think you are
embarrassing me now," said Katie,
wondering why his black eyes spark.
led SO miscnievouslv.
"Am 1 7" very cody. "Well, l am
sorry. Still you don't look very much
overcome with confusion
appearances are deceitful some
safe Katie, rising to her feet.
True you will have cause to re-
member that later. Now, take a
little advice in return fol- that you
gave me this morning. Don't let
your sister persuade you to marry the
squire. You are far too young to