Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-03-24

but for tho first time there was q shad-
ow between herself and her husband
In justice to young Mrs, Amberley
lot me say that she tried to repress
her discomfort, but this only made her
disappointment more apparent 10 her
husband; More aud more II troubled
him, loving his young wife most tend
ery and at last said;
"If you really cannot give up the
little girl Laure, you shall have her
"Algornop," she cried, ut isn't that
| like Nell so much, but don't see
anything to like 10 Ted"
The subject was then dropped They
drove back to the house.
The first person they saw ON their
return to the house was Ted, who came
bashfally out to take tho horse. He
always stared at Laure Certainly
she was tho most beautiful creature he
had ever seen in his life.
Secretely he adored her as she
fingered a moment now. Having de-
scended from the carriage, and being
loath to 60 into tho house, he address,
her:
"Be you going to take me +
NO." said Laure quickly 81 think
l shall take Nell"
She noticed that the boys head
dropped as he turned away, leading
the horse, but she took little notice OF
that.
The next morning her husband was
called to Chicago alone on business.
She endured uncongenial surround
ings rs long as she could, then caught
her shawl and hat and went out to
walk.
She strolled half a mile, found the
fording Of the creek, and still went on.
The emerald of the bush.grass was
magnificent, the May sky arched above
blue as lapis lazuli. Sweet wild birds
flew over her head and no other llv-
ing thing was in sight.
The great stiffness had wonderful
charm for her. Now she looked won
deringly at the green distance sur
rounding her; then wandering about
gathering the flowers which gemmed
the grass like rubies. supphires and
stars Of gold.
The tinted clouds of sunset began
to fall in the west, at last and she
turned toward home.
After walking quite distance she
began to look anxiously for the land
marks of her return. In vain. Round
and round she wandered; but the
changing light gave everythinga new
aspect.
For half an hour she stood, with
throbbing heart, looking valnly to the
right and left-lost!
The roseate light deepened into
gray. A dense tog crept around her.
She had directed her faltering foot
steps to a single cottonwood tree, and
now stood clinging to it, her heart
sinking in her bosom. Oh where was
she and what would become OF her.
She could make no further effort, SO
bewildered had she become that she
knew no longer which direction to
search. Must she stay there all night?
If so she tried to believe that nothing
would harm her.
But it grew dark. The frehies
swarmed around her head. She heard
strange distant, mournful noises which
terrified her.
Suddenly she heard her named call.
ed:
"Aunt Lsure! Aunt Laure !" She
replied, "Here," eagerly, and small
figure came bounding through the
rustliug grass to her side.
1t was Ted.
"Oh Ted, I am lost
81 know it. came to fiud you. l
was watching for you to come back
you did not come. l said nothing to
the others. set off to find you. Come
quick, l think can find the ford
Laure grasped the boys small eager
hand and hurried away win MIN thfo
the dew.wet grass.
"You are all wet Ted"
81 could not wait to find the ford |;
I swan across.
Laure's wide eyes distended still
further with surprise.
They were hurrying-runnipg.
i ii know tie way, but it is so dark,
said Ted. ..I
"Ted won't the others come for ire I
~ don't know"
It was hesitant, panied tone.
! "Your own folks are away, you