Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-11-29

MI, fhmniI read lhih ihlhhlfpi " lpap
II, shut IL into the Book Of job sale
from pFying Ms, Dubbs, aud dnlmmed
uneasily on tho closed bible What Z
predieament Mast he thrust bach
upon Olive this eli. ior which he hal "a
lately huedS Must he thus hnmhlf
himselii Worse than all, must he 70
linquish this tried friend OF y lilellme
Having reached iiie's autumn, must "a
reject its mature aud appropriate iflilh
for tho rhubarb and green's Of spring
timei Alaal yesi he must mllll his en-
gagement for was he not an "hnnolhble
mani" iIe would wfite at Gnee 70 ollVe
q candid statement Of the case,
bnl while he idled Al his desk on the
morrow, Mr., foney came TO ask the
loan OF y morse ,ill bis should be 10 run
Mug order. and the deacon laid down
his pen with sigh Of relief
Feeling that he ought 10 tell ~,
brother In law Of his contemplated
marriage, ho led the Conversation bach
to tho conference and Mrs, Vance,
"By'the,way, met the widow th'S
morning riding with John Vance," TO-
marked Mr. Toney, casually "fou
remember him-the brother next IL
CharleS7 He's Just come homo from
California, with his pockets full
"Ah3'
"Yea. Shouldn't wonder II no took
tho widow. Some SAY they are engaged
already"
OF course the deacon know bettor
than that nevertheless, ho delayed his
tender confession, And hO did not
write tho letter. Time enough lor that
after no had pald Mrs, Vance the pro-
missed visit The latter lady had Ger
tainly the first claim upon his attentions
Unfortunately several daya OF tor
menting pain ousued, during which Tho
deacon'a patience was put to q pretty
severe toSt; but he was at last able to
seck tn, object oi his hasty choice
Ho found her in hcr door'yard, p aging
oroquet with well'dresacd gcnllcmoa'
$50 happy TO SEQ you, Deacon
Ph@aixl' cried she, with yoluble om'
DO rassment, "and no glad to Introduce
Mr.. Vance, dear Chatles's brother Dc
come INT"
~ hope mytardy coming docs not seem
diecourtoous Mrs. Vance, 'faid he, Will,
ailablo formality, while the stranger
lastoned TO suddenly recalled engage
mont. ~ havc not.
"No-oh no." broke in tho widow
nervously.
~ havo not beou we'll, Otherwise,
under our present interesting rcla'
tions.-"
"Oh, Mr.. Phnnix |" interrupted she,
throwing herself upon cricket at his
feet. "Do you know, I am 60 afraid !
am not tho ono to make you happy
And my friends say tho Discrepancy in
our ages is too great. Ought to marry
against their wishesS'
"You must decide that question, doar
madam" responded tho deacon, with
suppressed eagerness. The finger ol
Providence was in this. He held his
breath to make sure which way it
pointed
"Then, II you don't mind very much,
Deacon Phouix, perhaps il would be
better for us to part as friends. Oh
dearl hope you'll forgive me il I've
done wrong"
The deacon hardly heard the closing
sentence for the glad beating OF his
heart. my dear child, you have done
quite right. l do not reproach you,
said he, with smile Of infinite bene-
Violence. ut is natural that youth
should choose to wed with youth"
"And that age should wed with age,
he added, mentally, as with an adieu
almost paternal, he drove away in the
direction of Miss Olives.
Hc and Miss Wayne were married the
following October, but Mr. and Mrs
Vance waited until Christmas.