Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-09-14

acquaintance lhry ultimately inpti ~
sat down TO rest and chat,
"Lizzie-Lizzie there Is youl
friend !"
"What frlendY
"Oh you know-see, they are com
ing this way"
The sisters were presently ~ deeply
engaged in conversation, and appeared
~ totally obliyious Ofadmirers or admir-
ing glances as though they never en-
eouraged tho one or received tho other,
Presently the gentlemen sauntered "a
tho place where the two were seated, and
soon located themselves upon the vacant
end OF tho seat, Lizzie and Gerty had
not noticed that the tide, which was
coming In rapidly, had at length reach,
ed higher level than usual, Agitated
by the wind. the salt water was IN many
places along the promenade, dashlng In
spray over the Sea'wall,
Already tho crowd was thinncd Of
those that had composed II many had
betaken themselves to walks where tho
sea was not quite no spiteiul and heed
less OF spelling gay attire, AT length
came one roll OF the waves more pro-
longed than usual, then back rushed tho
sea upon it, old enemy tho wall, which
proving ~ Of yore, immoyable, the
waters descended beyond and over II In
showers OF spray on the dismaycd crowd,
among which were the sisters and their
new admirers, VIII Carlyon and James
Douglass. A few EXPLANATIONS, u conyul-
siye rush, aud before the shower'bath
could again occur, the spray had lost its
victims the admired and the admirers
had fled tho field, Who does not know
the thawing influence OF little fright 7
They gave comical glance at their
sprinklcd garments, and Will Carlyon
further improved matters by asking Il
anybody was hurt, an inquiry for which
there was no occasion, but II served to
begin conversation composed OF COM
mon place themes, accompanied bysuch
open glanccs OF admiration that tho
foolish girls were ilattered into forget
iulness OF the fact that they were thus
talking TO perfect strangers; but was 1t
not all pour passer 10 temps? Neither
better nor worse than many another
seaside acquaintanceship.
"By the way, Miss Nolan, are you
fond of boatingY" said Will, for they
had already made themselves acquainted
with the names Of the two with whom
they proposed to trihe away few hours
in tina. meaningless yet dangerous pass
time, Irritation.
1--WE can get capital boat, and it
Just holds four" interposed James Doug
lass; "but perhaps you are afraid OF the
waterp'
"Oh," said Gerty, 81 nm not afraid OF
anything or anyone"
'Indeed"- both gentlemen look.
ed at one another, the look signifying
almost as plainly as words-"we shall
have some fun out Of these girls!"
"What IN assertion am sure you
would be afraid of good many things.
You dare not trust yourself in boat
tomorrow !"
"'What man dare, dare,'" quoted
Gertrude.
"But dare you do what some young
ladies' would not dare? You would not
not venture to 60 boating with us to-
morrow without dragon to play prop
riety."
"Yes l should if I thought I would =
insisted Gcrty, although her conscience
told her she scarcely dare or would dc
it.
Lizzie, during this conversation, had
been glancing up and down the parade,
fearing that the friends whom they had
the evening before deceived as to theil
plans might come upon the scene and
reproach them for their duplicity. Sud
denly she rose, saying that they must
return home. Gerty, who guessed that
she had q reason for being in such O
hurry, hastened her adieux.
1--WE have your promise to meet us
tomorrow at two if it be fine," said
James Douglass. eve will have jolly
pull across the bay"
"We promised no such thing" said
both girls, "but perhaps we will. Still,
don't" and they disappeared
amongst the passers-by, leaving the
most important part of their speech I'M
finished.
They made their exit not moment
too speedily either, for in few min.
utes the cause-or rather causes, for
there were two individuals Appeared,
walking leisurely down toward the de-
serted emen-deserted in such an
abrupt manner and with so unsatisfac.
tory promise.
BY the time Harry Harwood and
Ernest Serwin reached the seat, so
quickly vacated by the sisters, mutual
recognition had taken place.
"You here, old fellow? Pom my
word, quite surprise Who would
have thought of your landing here in
stead of at Churlton. Harry and l
might have spared our journey this
morning. At Churlton we only met
with the disappointing news that you
had not arrived. Had we stayed here
in blissful Incidence we might have met
long since. How long do you intend tc
stay, Will?"
"That depends, James, upon the
amount of pleasure we shall be able to
command. wonder what has kept you
both here for such long time How
ever, we are here, and have been since
last night"
In the novelty of meeting old and
congenial acquaintances, Will and his
friend forgot to wonder at tho flight Of
their late companions; and the others
were so taken up with their greetings
that they noticed nothing besides.
After a lengthy chat over past events
and anticipated pleasures, they parted,
agreeing to meet again early in the
afternoon, when, as Ernest affirmed,
they would introduce them to some
charming young ladies. Little imagined
he of the storm impending.
Gas for that" retorted James,
"we've introduced ourselves to some"
Mrs. Clinton had no thought, when
she presided with her usual composed
manner over the noontide meal, how ap-
plcable was the short bomily which she
had delivered in the morning.
"Lizzie," said Gerty, when they wore
seated in the window of their drawing
room, gazing out on the passers.by, as
usual eager to acknowledge friends, and