Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-09-07

anxious eyes, Bllp lpphbi huiiish ah'i
confused, aud nan hack almost imme'
dIately 10 put the blue robe, which she
had thrown on the bed, into the ward
robe, Guy followed her into tho cham
bef
"IIaye you been out, VioletT he ask
ed, making great eiiort TO appear M
concerned ,
"Out' o, mol" she replied' "why
do you askY' al
"Nothing only | raw you putting
away your dress, and you've got baby
dressed out IN her iinery,"
Violet blushed and ayerled her lace
80, yes 1" she said, catching up The
little mass Of embroidery, eve been
fixing the sleeves Of her slip, You know !
but come, let's 20 down and look alter
supper" 81, -
iie followed her down with weary
step and u heavier heart than had ever
lain IN his bosom before, Hut he deter
mined TO say nothing he would not
question her, hut wait aud Ree for HIN,
self what II all meant, Violet hustled
about, making herself unusually pleas
ant hut somehow gloom hung over
tho whilom happy home which oil her
gayety could not dispel, Long alter
she retired with her babe, her young
husband sat IN the porch, with his head
In his hands. and his soul tortured with
q nameleaa fear
The next afternoon he returned home
at the usual hour, and found Violet and
tho babe awaiting him ut the gate, her
face all brightness aud tenderness, His
heart began to Tighten Sho was true TO
him. What fool lc had been ho was
glad he had not lot her know II. Laugh
Ing aud playing with baby they pro,
ceodcd TO tho cottage, aud Guy went
running M stairs for his drossing'gown
with his old buoyant alacrily. On the
topmost step ho picked up o glove.a
gcntloman's gloyc-but not his. A TITLE,
truly, but IL awakened the old jealous
pang with redoublod pain. Still, ho lid
not question his wife, but kept up a
silent, cunning watch on all her move
mcnts.
The next evening, and tho nost, he
came earlier; and In both instances, con
cealing himself In the shrubbcry, hc saw
the tall, fne.looking stranger leaving
his house, and Violet fitting about in
the azure robe she had never worn Tor
him. Suspense became torture; ho
could bear II no longor-ho must know
the worst. Had the wiscacrcs OF Clif'
ton prophcsicd the truth, after allP He
approached his wife, at twilight, ~ she
sat in u low chair, hushing hcr baby To
sleep.
"Violct," hc said gently, but very se'
riously, w'm afraid wo have q skeleton
in our closet
She looked up inquiringly,
"a skeleton, dear how SOP
Haven't you secrets from your hus'
band, Violet" ho asked solemnly.
She blushcd deeply, and dropped her
eyes and hcr voice was faint and irreso
lutte, as slo replied, 90, no Guy What
makes you think ] have"
"Dcuu,isp," iiv answered, e'"'oir, ~
have seen young man-a stranger
leaving my house every evening during
the past week and yet You have not ever
alluded to me such visitor to. Wha
does it mean, Violet"
She avorted her taco ; it wore troub
led, anxious look, yet there was n dane
ing, mischievous sparkle in her blu'
eyes. u,
"Violet," he went on, seeing that sh'
did not reply, "you can't tell how TIM
.oubled me. Can't you trust me, Vic
let-me your husband? Explain it all
entreat you, and end my torturint
doubt"
She looked up, her eyes full of tears
"You doubt me, Guy? she said mourn
fully.
{ "I don't want to doubt you, Violet
! l would sooner die but it is strange t,
+ say the least, that you should have sucl
| visitor every evening, yet never men
, ton it to your husband. But l believ
, you can make it all clear and satisfac
t tory. Do so, Violet, and let lis be hap
py again"
Q Still she said nothing.
l "Violet, won't you speak"
, She shook her head sadly.
, "No, Guy; have nothing to say"
S He started to his feet, white with eS
citement.
, "Nothing to say, Violet? Will 70,
: not tell me who that man is, and wha
he wanted?"
t She shook her head, slowly repeating
81 have nothing to say"
| Then he rushed from her presenc
Y down the stairs, out into the open ali
| Lis head throbbing as if it would burst
D "Ow he moaned, sinking down on tn
3 turf, show shall l ever endure it? NJ
i. wife-my darling wife-my Violet, tina
t 1 loved so much; can it be true?"
Z But no one answered him; only tn
=. little birds chirped and cooed amid tn
4 green leaves, making him envy thei
r happiness. He remained there, wrappe,
s in solemn thought, until the stars cam
t out. He would not be rash; he woul'
t bear with her to the very last. Perhap
9 she would change her mind, and tell hin
+ the whole truth. He was ready an
willing to forgive her and love her al
,. the same, no matter how deeply sh
n might have erred. He arose and re
0 turned to the cottage. Violet looked
s little pale, and was trifle more seriou
: than usual-that was all She did no
: even allude to the matter. The nigh
Q passed-another evening came.
y He dismissed his school at noon, an
e came home, concealing himself in tn
+ shrubbery. Hours went by, and at last
t instead Of seeing the stranger coming
0 as he had expected, he saw him leavin
!, the house. He had been there the er
!, tire afternoon, in his cottage, with hi
9 wife. His face grew white with angel
r and he cleared the hedge at a bound
= He would overtake him-force him int
4 an explanation. But the stranger wa
d too quick for him he had crossed tn
!, lawn, and was out of sight in the WOO
!. beyond before Gay could overtake hin
It He turned back, aggravated and dii
appointed, and made his way to th
!. house. His head burned and throbbe(
r and strange feeling filed his heart
v he had never felt so before, or looked s
}. either; for the little servant girl, chan'
8 ing to meet him in the yard, shrieket
o and ran out of his way. He was de-
!. perate man-almost a dangerous one
= Guy billiard, the good-natured, quie