Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-11-16

aud, In spite Of her surprise, could
give her lover her answer without u
moments hesitation,
Mamma, look at Edward aud Mar
ian' Nelly cried, sharply, peeping
through tho deepening gloom at the
two figures coming up the garden walk,
what can II meani'
They came up to the open French
window, against which Nelly and her
mother were sitting, Their tale was
soon told, but Nelly did not stop to
hear IL; she had fled from the room.
Marian found her lying across the
bed in perfect abandonment Of agi-
tation.
20, Marian, how could you-how
could youi' she sobbed. you have
all agreed to deceive me. Who could
have drcmpt 1t of either Of you!'
MY darling, was afraid of this (;
you make mo so unhappy Marian
cried, walking up and down the room
in an agony ofgricf and remorsc. If
only it could have come to you more
gently! To think ! should give you
this pain! o, Nelly, you know l
wouldn't willingly have done it for
worlds
'Why should grudge you your
happiness? ] am sure you deserve it,
Nelly cried, with sudden generosity.
Don't mind me, Minnie, dear, but,
O.! why did you let me be so dccciv-
ed?
Marian d!d not remind Nelly that
she had deceived herself by cxacting
continual attention, that was given
innocently enough-as to child nor
would she remind her of poor Jacks
fate, and the little concern she had
ever felt for his pain, but Marian could
not prevent passing thought of these
things.
In spite of Marian's constant man
Guvering to spare Nelly, the girl droop-
ed, and lost her usual flow of spirits.
Her mother, divining something of her
malady sent her away for the winter to
distant friend, where, removed from
the observation of those who had
known her from her childhood, she
learned to bear the first real sorrow
that had shadowed her young life.
In the following autumn, when
Marian and Edward were married,
Nelly had regained her bloom and
energy. She could tease Edward in the
most sisterly way, and had apparently
recovered from the wound she had
received, yet keen observer could
detect difference in the girls charac-
ter. She was far less selfe-ngrossed
and exacting, and Marian, rejoicing
over the additional attractiveness of her
ever-attractive sister, longed for Jack
to come home and try his fate again.
For he had never been near them since
though they had heard from him from
time to time, the last news being that
he had gone to New York, entrusted
with the charge of branch of the
business in which he was engaged.
Marian wondered if Nelly, as the
years passed on, ever regretted her
hasty decision. Other wooers came,
but Nelly would have none Of them,
and indeed there were none that could
compare with brave, honest Jack. She
believed that he would have had a very
different answer if Edward had not
come in the way at that untoward
moment-when Nelly had once allowed
herself to realize the strangeness of
exchanging Jacks brotherly regard for
a dearer one. Marian perceived that
the fact of Edward being a stranger,
and so many years her senior, made
Nelly like the Importance of his fancied
attentions, and that the girls pride and
self-love had been much more wounded
than her heart. She even suspected
sometimes that Nelly had discovered
her mistake, and would never care for
anyo ne but Jack. Why did he not
come? Could he have forgotten his
old love? IfMarian could only have
known about that, she would have
written to tell him all her surmises, but
it was too delicate matter to interfere
in. His parents had removed to an
other town. He had never written,
and she knew nothing, so she could
only lament in silence that Nelly should
be denied the happiness that was her
own lot.
Six years had changed Nelly into a
woman, quiet and subdued in compare
son with what she had been as girl,
but still boasting of no ordinary beauty.
She was not so changed, however, but
tLa occupont of o anall hoot 1azilv