Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-03-31

so no closed iih khpos ''HhNp VIZ"
the cape, and took the cream
The little one danced with delight
about tho nervous Jasper She laugh
cd and shook her carls like q little
fairy, until the poor man forgot his
own disaster and sad plight
All OF n sudden the little one trip
ped aud fell toward Jasper Her hand
caught the capt that covered his naked
limb, and oh | shades Of disaster ! The
curtain fell.
Jasper jumped and the ice.eream
slipped from his hands and ran trlnk'
ling, oh so cold and nni'lcndly like
upon his bare knee, and thence into
his boot.
Mrs. Hayner jumped to her feet in
surprise, and Il little scream escaped
her. ~ she ran from the room drag
ging tile little Que after her
John. the servant, heard the scream
and no ran into the parlor, and beheld
the predicament Mr.. Dean was IN.
"IIere, John" said the almost crazy
man, dis ten dollar bill, Listen ln-
stantly. The cat in the chair-sat
down on it-see my garment behind
caught here on the corner OF that
d--d desk. Rip-p.p. Kept cloak
over it-lihle girl pulled it off, Save
me John. Get me n new parrot pants
and you shall have ten dollars more
"All right Mr.. Dean come into the
guests chamber. The late Mr.. Hay
ner's clothes press Il in'l oI
clothes. will help you out OF your
trouble at once. Follow me-
The poor man was quickly ushered
into tho chamber and John rushed in
to the clothes press and brought forth
pair of light colored pants, and the
door gong went claug! clang!
"Get into these as soon rs possible,
and will return as the callers go into
the dining room,' and John was
gone.
AT tho front door was Tom Van
Dusen.
"Where is my sister," he asked.
"Up stairs replied John
"Well l will step into the guests
chamber and wash this sticky cake
and ice Gre am from my fingers. and
you tell Mrs. Hayner to come down.
john"
But John told him to go into the
bath room, and actually got before
Tom and tried to prevent him going
into the chamber where Mr.. Dean
was.
But Tom was determined fellow,
be would go and as he entered the
room, a sight met his eyes which made
him stop and pinch himself to see if
he was awake. There stood Jasper
Dean, leaning against the snow white
bed, putting one foot into a panta-
looms leg. His overcoat laid on the
bed, and Jasper was covered with
bushes, and could not utter n word.
"VilIain," was Tom Van Dusens
first words. "Is this the way you repay
a friend by dishonorng his sister,
You cowrdly wretch to enter the
house and tarnish the fair name OF an
honored family. Explain at once or
l will choke the life from your con
founded carcass! and Tom seized
Jasper by the throat. ...s.5
"Me twas the cat-I-l-' gasped
the poor fellow.
"Jasper Dean you can't play your
Pinafore jokes on me. Here in the
bureau drawer is loaded revolver
Now will give you one minute to re-
pair damages as we'll as you can. Get
on your knees at once, and swear that
you will save my sister by making
her your wife, or the ball that is in
this revolver shall make corpse of
you"
"But Tom hear me. You'll not
murder me in cold blood. Twas an
accident. and your sister,
Swear, l say. Swear !" and Jasper
saw that Toms eyes were full of mis-
chief.
"But, Tom, Mrs. Hayner will not
!-not-marry me-ask her J!
Fifteen seconds! Swear, aud thus
save the honor of our family which
you have sought to destroy. Swear
eight seconds" U =
Poor Jasper. Like Damocles
sword, the pistol hanging over him.
His lite was in danger.
}, "Only FIVE seconds more cried
Tom.
Jasper fell on his knees and raised
his hands toward heaven.