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

| down lhb hillf 10 atop hpl ilNNlpi
aud both raped energetieally TO attract
her attention, but she gaily nodded aud
passed on,
This apping drew the attention OF q
group Of gentlemen who, unpereeiyed
by the sisters, had been walking to-
ward the house, -Four pairs Of eyes
glaneM upwards, -Four hats were in,
mediately raised In acknowledgment OF
the presence OF the two ladies 30 dis
tincily seen, as they stood cOnsplcu'
ously In tho long-balconied windows
Ifit had only been two-but -four
The ball had quickly sped the arrow
speedily wounded the hand that drew
tho bow, The duped, and those with
whom they had been trihing, engaged IN
conversation apparently on terms ol inli'
mate frlondshipl
Even the heart Of Gerty luailed, ~ In
an instant there glanced through her
mind tho probable result OF this meet
Ing,
"Gerty, Gertyl" exclaimed Lizzie,
who had rotreated from the window with
heavy heart, fearing tho trial she
knew was sure to come, "the CaflyOns
must have landed here yesterday, in
stead OF at Chnrlton ~ expected,
The glorious sky and glistening sea
looked their brightest the little boats
carried their pleasurosceking occupants
on its restless, ripping surface, aud oil
seemed ~ though such things IN "whito
lios,' or black untruths, had mover exist
cd TO break the truth and embitter the
minds OF tho deceived ones for over !
nor left, M they do, their black mark
behind them, distinct as tho course left
by an advancing steamer "A track
stretching far away like serpent, till
time mingle II with the ocean OF etern-
ity in both cases subsiding only as the
one reaches port, the other the grave !
To Ernest Serwin, when no saw the
greeting, and heard what followed, even
the bright sea changed It's hue, Who
but those who have experienced II can
believe tho agony il caused him to know
that the girl he had chosen rs his com
panion, his helpmatc, friend, his all in
all-was what -? A mere worthless, de-
ceitful, frivolous doll
"My compliments, madomoiselles,"
said viii Carlyon, when he heard the
rapping. "Thoso are the girls for me,
Ernest, no nonsense about them no
waiting for introductions, duennas, or
that paraphcrnalia most Of the lovely
creatures consider necessary. Only to
say How do you doY and they'll jump
like fish at u bait. Look as though
they could not say anything but per-
fection, but as jolly set rs ! ever drag
ged into Irritation. They promised to
90 out boating with rs tomorrow, didn't
they, James? Only knew them an hour ;
perfect case of love at first sight"
Harry Harwoods black eyes glowed
strangely, and Ernest Serwin's embodied
suppressed rage; but both had been too
much overwhelmed by the evidence ac-
corded to their eyes and ears to make
an effort TO stop their friends egotistic-
al soliloquy or contradict his rash asser-
tions.
But at length they turned fiercely,
and simultaneously demanded what he
meant.
"Why, what l say, to be sure"
ayes, Ernest" echoed James Douglas,
don't be jealous, if you have not the
good luck to have such fun thrust upon
you. Will is right. We are going out
tomorrow"
For they thought this window salu-
tation betokened assent to their propos.
al, that their companions, in lifting
their hats. were only making what all
gentlemen deem the proper acknow-
ledgement demanded by proper court
esy when meeting acquaintances of those
with whom they are walking, never
dreaming what near ties they were rend-
ing, or what division of paths they
were causing, for what? An hour trihed
away on summers day beneath sum-
mers sky.
"We will introduce you tomorrow, and
you will vow they are two bonny girls,
but nevertheless, 1 should not choose
such vapid Miss Giggles for my wife.
Mono it is all very we'll to vile away
day or two, but fancy being married to
q pretty doll who would bestow beseech-
ing glances from black, yet dove-like
eyes, in Miss Lizzie's style, upon every
fresh and handsome face that presented
itself, for you cannot persuade me this
is their first Irritation"
Harry Harwood's more sedate friend
resolved upon having long, solitary
walk, and mediate upon his trouble.
Could what he had heard be true ?
Might it not be conceived in the minds
of James and Will, and have no exist
ence, except in their conceit? How
could his quiet, guileless and beautiful
Lizzie have encouraged such imperti-
nences? How could she be SO vain as
to forget her own self-respect-so care
less of his love as to risk losing it for
the sake of little admiration? To
think he had loved her so much, i'm
agined her so far, far above such com.
mon place feelings She to be termed
"Miss Giggles," his Lizzie !! There
must be some mistake He would have
taken her out in boat, and Mrs. Clin-
ton too. What more admiration could
she want than that he so willingly gave?
He had no thoughts for anyone else
would have thought it disloyal to her to
let such rest in his mind.
Slight actions, meaningless words,
triAing expressions, forgotten when
noticed, but yet stored unwittingly in
the memory, came like filmy clouds
across his mind - -indistinct, vague, and
shadowy indeed; but when massed to-
gether they suggested the thought, was
Wills verdict correct? Had his "true
woman" been indeed puppet, brain
less counterfeit of the ideal he loved,
swayed by the most dangerous of all
motives, vanity?
Harry did not for moment delay his
visit to the sisters. They saw him cross
the road, and heard his demand for ad.
mittance, though inwardly shrinking
from the encounter, they put brave
face on for the occasion, Gerty being
determined to act up to her principle,
for certainly at the present crisis fib
would be exceedingly convenient-nay,
necessary and Lizzie, as usual let her
sister advance to the front. She shell
tered herself by silence, and though both
we're outwardly calm and careless, they
devoutly wished their morning work un-