Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-05-03
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT, MAY 3, 1882.

"A very sad thing, this sudden de-
parture Of yours!'
Mr.. Gregory ! replied, you are
perhaps aware that you are under grave
suspicious Of being In league with the
powers Of darkness, and this Is another
proof! How could you possibly know
oh, i'll news travels fast, he said,
Laughing. But 1t is very hot after
noon what do you say to little read
ingi'
Lily here squeezed my arm vigorous
ly, but ! answered u fear my uncle
will not let us 60 out Of his sight. lie
feels il his duty to keep special guard
over us while we are in such dangerous
company
Never mind, he said, Il will read
to him as well,
We were now in the corner Of tho
drawing-room, near window looking
out on to u covered balcony which
overlooked the garden. My uncle came
up and returned Mr.. Gregory's courtc-
ous greeting in manner, which was,
/ fear, not very gracious.
May l trouble you for the paper
after you, sir!' he said.
Certainly was the answer. But
may we not all enjoy it togcther?-
With your permission will read aloud
to the company
My uncle looked considerably aston
ishcd ut this unusual proposal. Lily
looked up with open eyes and curious
expression, this being not exactly the
kind of reading she had Intended
But the offer was seriously made and
repeated, and my uncle, who dearly
liked being read to, gave dubious
consent.
Miss Lily, with flial affection, made
him particularly comfortable in an arm
chair, and Mr.. Gregory commenced
reading long, prosy article on French
politics. He read with anything but
hiy usual spirit, and in soft, low,
paonotonous voice. The consequence
was--as had possibly been not wholly
unforscen-that my uncle was soon cn-
joying his accustomed afternoon siesta.
The reading, having become gradually
slower and softer, now ceased, and the
reader, looking up, suggested by a
slight gesture an adjournment to the
garden.
Lily and I tried to smother our
laughter and look shocked, but we
adopted the suggestion. A book OF
poetry was soon produced, and / found
that there is difference between hear
ing French politics read in u stutfy
drawing-room to a middle-aged gentle
man, and hearing "Enoch Arden" read
in q cool, shady alcovc, to a pretty,
dark-eyed, lovable maiden, with tender
bosom heaving in sympathy with poor
Enoch's sorrows, especially when the
reader is a handsome young bachelor,
with an exquisitely modulated voice,
able to do full justice to the harmonious
numbers of the laureate.
AT the end of half an hour / was
startled by an exclamation from Lily.
Looking up, saw in the garden below,
sitting on the seat under the trees with
their faces toward us, our dear friends,
Mr.. and Mrs. Grice.
The gentleman was keeping up, ap-
parcntly, desultory conversation with
his wife. They waved their hands on
reaching our eye, and beckoned to us
to come and join them, which we did
not do.
Mr.. Gregory, instead of going on
with his reading, continued to regard
them intently, and asked us whether
we knew them.
we said, NO
But they seem to know you,' he
said.
We explained how they had favored
us with their attentions. To our dis
appointment he could not be induced to
90 on with his reading, but he con-
tinued to stare at the couple before us
and when OF last they strolled off in
different directions he said that he must
apologize for having an engagement,
and he left us abruptly. "A strange
young man, indeed" we thought, and
we were still more surprised when in
an hour he returned and asked my un-
Gle to be allowed short private con-
versation with him. My uncle seemed
startled at this request (and so, by the
way, did Lily, but after short pause
he led the way into an adjoining apart
ment.
Tho conversation which ensued. as |