Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-08-17

she thought. yield watched him look
into Miss llossman's eyes with the lave
that belonged 10 her alone saw him
bend and whisper, even take her hand,
and hold II tightly a. he did hers saw
Miss liOssman tremble anl blush and,
looking, went almost distracted
Charley lad never loved her, she
knew now, lie had married from pity
aud she 10 proud. and everybody would
know II, sle was to decentralization al
we'll as tho loss Il his love, hut sle
would love him no longer, II he could
admire O woman 80 heartless, 10 utterly
unpincipled and bold a. Miss llossman,
he certainly was not worthy OF her love
he might enjoy Miss Roasnans society
-she would not interfere with him any
more aud when Miss Rossman had
gone she would lot him know what she
thought Of his conduct, and then decide
what she should do, Then she batled
her face and dressed herself becominoly,
and came dOwn cold and proud, with q
ieyer,Rre la her eyeA and burning In her
cheeks aud lips, making her look very
we'll. Charlie thought, ~ he came into
tea with Miss Roasman.
''Do You feel better, Mrs, WinteST
asked that lady, with her most sympa'
thetic air,
Mrs. Winters could have sprung At
her with q will, but she answered, very
calmly;
"Ob. yes the afternoons rest las re-
lieyed me OF my headache, quite"
'Don't You feel that You made q goose
Of yourself, to'dayY" asked Charlie, In
~ undertone, -,
"No," she answered, shortly, and
moved away. Charlie started Could
that DO "his timid little girl" M hc was
wont to call herY She was digniiied
enough TO suit any one just then, and he
felt like following her, and soothing her
wounded pride, Bnt that would never
do. She must be taught TO yield. Ho
would try her Just little longer, and
then-he must have felt q little guilty,
or he would not have made even that
concession-hc would smooth matters,
She could not keep II up very long,
anyhow, Such quiet, timid little
creature as she was.
Miss Rossman was going home that
evening, and he was going to the city on
some business, but would return next
morning, As Ambie had been NO proud
he would not say anything to her, and
she might think what she liked until he
came home,
Mrs. Winters babe Miss Rossman
good.by with an aching heart, but n
cold exterior. She did not wonder or
worry ut Charlie going to the train with
her-for she thought II was only that
and besides, there was strange sort OF
feeling stealing over her. She seemed
to bo moving mechanically. She was
taking no interest in what surrounded
her. though thoy all told her she was
looking well, and she felt no pain.
George and Ed came back
"Where is Mr. Winters?" she asked.
"Did he not come back with you"
"No. He has gone to the city with
Miss Rossman." :.
She turned st rtled, bewildered
look on Mrs. King, and read III her
pitying face and kind eyes terrible
truth. Then the strange feeling seemed
to envelop her, and she felt it force
telling her to the ground, and after that
she knew no more.
1t was days after, that Dr. Belcamp,
who had been summoned from the city,
discussed with the medical attendant
the probabilities Of life or death. Both
were friends of Charlie, and understood
the case.
"The prostntion'is terrible and COM
plete," said DR.. Belcamp.
"If you had watched the fever, you
would not wonder. The intensity, the
force, the very storm and tempest OF
passion, that has shaken that little
frame for the past week would have
prostrated strong man beyond re-
covery."
"Ay, always knew it. She is one of
those quiet, self.contained natures that
are so terrible when once reused.
Charlie scarcely understood her depth
of character when he married her; the
soft, appealing interior was so inviting,
he was satisfied. But if she was nothing
more than the mild, quiet little thing
she appears to be. Charlie would soon
have wearied of her. If this illness re-
suits favorably, it will have saved him
years, perhaps, of misunderstanding.
He will know how to appreciate the
prize he has Won"
II think he will. You know the i'm
mediate cause of this was rather des-
perate Irritation he was having here.
He went down to the city the same time
as the lady did, without acquainting his
wife of the fact. There was slight
GOODNESS before, and gossiping tongues
wagged freely. When Charlie returned
his wife lay raging in the fever, and l
never saw man more stricken. HIS
remorse is great, even if he did not, as
he does, love her dearly
81 heard of that. 1t will be sad
lesson to him. I know, of course, that
he did not mean anything; but to a
proud, sensitive, loving nature like his
wife's, every attention given to another,
which she thought Of right belonged to
her, was blow, and l can understand
how the final one must have fallen"
e*
An hour later, and both were watching
the crisis. The slight figure lay almost
motionless on the bed the broad brow
was like marble, the sensitive mouth
twitched nervously, and was almost
the only sign of life-the breath came SO
family.
Ten minutes more and Charlie Win
ters would know whether his folly had
brought him lifelong sorrow, or that
merciful God had accepted his repent
ance and resolution, and granted him
the blessed satisfaction of time to repair
his wong. =,
Mrs. King prayed fervently for both
her friends, for the young life hanging
by thread, and the strong man wrest-
ling with his agony, when suddenly a
soft sigh came from the motionless
figure, and the eyelids closed as if in
death, opened for moment; then, as ii
loath to look longer on life, futtered
| together again.