Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-18
WOODSTOCK, vY,, WEDNESDAY, MAY ls, 1881

unable To come, 40 One'of The childre
was III, replIed Henry Maclane.
"Ilow many children are there 7
asked Mrs. Ellis,
"Fiyo," answered Henry Maclane,
Mrs. Ellis proceeded immediatel.
to the business In hand, III will shov
You the upper stories II you like Il
look"
As they left the parlors, a child on
tered from the rear esclalming Nam
ma !
"Come to me, Hal" said the ial
lady, laying OBTAINING hand on tn
child.
Henry Maclane followed his leader
looking back at the tableau Of th'
sweet womauly face against which th'
child's curly head rested, 1t wass preti,
picture ! but II gave him pain, Tor th'
child's name suggested again tha
possibility Of sweet remembrance and
vain regret
Mrs. Ellis enumerated the good
points OF the house with the volability
Of q house agent, aud Henry Maclane
appeared to follow, but his thoughts
were with the fair woman in the
parlor below.
at is strange We never met unit
today he said, somewhat irrelevant
ly, as Mrs. Ellis's last remark was
about communicating rooms.
"You see, we went to Europe when
you went for n soldier" replied Mrs.
Ellis. III was there until the war
was over. Reby remained some
years longer. When we came back
to Baltimore, your family had moved
to New York and we lost sight Of
you all. II was very dismal coming
back to strangers and many changes
| soon found comfort in my engage
ment to Mr.. Ellis, and keby went
back to Europe. She wants to 60
again, but we are trying to keep her
here" ...
SIS her husband here?" asked
Henry Mclanc.
"Husband ?-Reby's husband ech'
oed Mrs. Ellis. "She had never
married. Did you notice your name
sake, my little boy?'
Henry Maclane made'a movement
to descend the stairs.
"Hadn't you better see the rear
room p asked Mrs. Ellis.
mo matter. l will send Mrs Mac.
lane" he replied carelessly.
Truth to tell, be was inclined to go
down the stairs with a bound. His
sister .iu.law's conclusions had not
been wide OF the mark. No woman
had ever been to him what this wo-
man with sunny hair and fair face had
been, but he was shy man, and had
simply lost his chance. He went to
battle with only a request for one
golden lock from the fair head, and
she was too proud woman tc give
more than was asked. Then they
drifted tar apart, as lives often do
that have touched each other with
strong points Of contact. Once Henry
Maclane sent q letter OF reconnaissance
to his old friend. perhaps it may be
like the dove sent out from the ark,
he thought, and may bring me some
oliye.branch of rememberenee; but it
was like the dove that never returned.
He always thought Of her now as
blessing some home with her loving
presence, ard lost to him forever. 10
find her unclaimed and untrammeled
he had hardly dared to hope.
He was soon in the parlor, and by
Reby's side.
"Tell Mrs. Maclane we would like
her decision as soon as possible" said
Mrs. Ellis somewhat sharply. To
herself she was saying" The man
might have married Reby once, but
he shall not firt with her now
81 am glad to find Reby urchang-
ed,' said Henry Maclane in response.
Mrs. Ellis replied, brnsquely: "She
is wonderfully changed to me. The
years have brought great strength and
goodness to .Reby. She is not
woman to tolerate nonsense OF any
kind"
She justified her brus9ue speech
with the mental comment: "a man
with a wife and five children has no
business to stand there with undis-
uuised admiration on his face, and
himself on finding Reby
unchanged. It's trying. ordeal to
her, and l would shorten it if could.
Her remark brought the color to
seby's face, and Henry Maclane look.
ID annoyed.
..v IL. l..,xocl Lo ho<vou