Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-08-22

"1 hope so. I'm dying for change
thought she.
"Shall | find otrt who he is?" asked
the accommodating Ashland.
Yes, do"
"Well, | will as soon as | can. !
don't for moment imagine that you'll
care to know him, for really he doesn't
appear to be anybody"
True, but it won't hurt you to in
quire."
ooh, certainly not"
That very evening, in the large par
lor Mr.. Ashland edged along to where
Miss Lehman sat talking and whisper
ed:
"Well, l found out little concern
ing that fellow"
$50 on, and tell me about him."
"lIe is nobody at all, Miss Helen. A
poor artist, or something of that kind.
Not worth a cent, Alden told me-"
THANK you for your trouble"
1t was astonishing how Miss Leh-
man, after learning this, could have
made the acquaintance of Philip Grey
son and could treat him with such
marked politeness!
1t quite puzzled poor Ashland, and
he soon found himself in a painful po-
sition. The fellows began to banter
him to excess, and cali him a "fool'
and other pretty names for thus allow
ing Miss Lehman to drive, sail, read
poetry, and wander out upon the beach
with this poor wretch"
1t was all very well to treat him po-
litely, but where was the need of max
ing so much of him? 1t would never
do, and so he resolved to put a stop to
it at once.
"We are not engaged, and so she
thinks it no harm in flirting with Grey
son. But | will settle matters at once
1t was easier said than done. Miss
Lehman was SO cross and strange that
Ashland, confident as he was, never
approached her without feeling timid
and wonderfully "shaky."
But at last, one morning, after see
ing Grevsons head very close to Miss
Lehman's for full hour without any
apparent cause, he resolved to put on a
bold face and propose.
Miss lIelen," he began, as soon as
an opportunity presented itself, 81
have been dying to speak to you for
several days"
"Have you? Well that is rather un-
pleasant"
ooh, no, thank you, not at all"
What have you to say"
"Oh, nothing that is--yes-"
"Well, go on"
",rhe fact is, | an tired of single
life, and want to get married at once.'
"Very wise, indeedv'
II think so. Well, of course, You
understand that ! hay e a great regard
for you, and Think mean, are you
that is-will you have me?'
"Bless your heart, no."
"No."
"Certainly not"
ooh, you're trying to tease me?"
"No, am not"
"But consider-I have been so atten-
tive, and all that, you know. Have
you no reward to make me for all
this?"
"None whatever"
But, Miss Helen"
"My dear Mr.. Ashland, we may as
well come to an understanding first as
last. The truth is, l am already en-
gagged"
Engaged"
"Yes, to Mr., Greyson. We are to
be married in the fall
"Oh"
Mr. Ashlands moustache dropped
perceptibly, and his appearance, as he
dragged himself up to the hotel, was
rather of the sick chicken order.
"PoOr fellow"
Cupid chuckled in fiendish exhulta-
ton over another victim that night.
Ashland did not make his appear
ance until he was fully recovered, and
able to answer one of the many inqui-
ries in the following careless manner:
1--WE men of the world. my boy, get
used to this sort of thing. We get
toughened."
"Yes, dare say; but 1t seems to me
that | should like milder process of
toughening.'"
"It's all the same, I assure you"
perhaps so; but l think l should
really prefer anything to Miss Leh-
mans method" ."--Lottie Gray. g..
Doing too much talking in the