Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-03-14

we were first married.
Had Della been suddenly shifted
from midas coral strand to Green
lands icy mountains the shock could
hardly have been greater "IIis
wife," she thought "then if she is
his wife, what am II" Peculiar
reasoning, perhaps, but Della knew
very well what she meant. All
that evening she sat silently sewing
and answering the doctors remarks
with a primncss of dignity that sur
prised him, But he asked no ques-
tions and took refuge in thoughts of
the old days when Becky sat in that
same chair, sewing too, but with
such bright, loving looks such an
interesting way Of saying things,
And now, what difference! What,
in truth, was this woman TO him?
Not a wife, not even a companion,
only a houSekecper. And he gazed
ut her rcAoctiyely. 1t so happened
that Della, who hal been making
desperate efforts to overcome her
sulky mood, looked up at that mo-
ment and caught the full meaning
of the doctors eyes. Hal he slapped
her face she could not have felt it
more, but she gave no sign. WITH
white fingers that tremblel a li.tlo
she folded her work and said, Il am
tired, l will go to my room"
Della did not sleep much tina.
night. Il must leave him." she Go
cidcl at last. II will not live with
HIM unless am really his wife,
cannot" Leave him; but how? She
would not go back to her mothers
house where questions would be
asked which she was determined not
to answer; and besides it was too
near. Where could she go? A few
hours afterwards that question was
answered. She received a letter post
marked Denver, Colorado" it came
from "dear cousin Mamie" and as
she read ler letter Dcla's face
frightened; sit is just what | want
ed" she said to herself.
One evening, when the doctor
came home, Bridget met him at the
l0or and said, "Missus has gone, sir;
she hal TO 90 a kind OF sudden, but
she said she would write and tell
y0u" CAN right" answered the
doctor. Gone to her mothers" he
explained to himself. 81 suppose
there is some sort Of fanlango
going on there" lie made himself
very comfortable It was a cool
evening, and he smoked his cigar,
and put his feet on the stove, with
mo one nigh to hinder" But what
the doctor really liked was to be
hindered; he enjoyed watching the
mild shallow CT d!sapproyal stealing
over Delia's face; if she lad frankly
and brisllly expressed her opinion,
then taken it back prettily, he might
have fallen in love with her; but
Della always rolapscd into meekness,
and all was lost. AS the days
passed the doctor began to miss his
hous2kcop"r. "Why does she not
write? Cold-bloodod creature"
The coli-hloaGcd creature wrote
Her letter was dated from Denver. II
slid:
DEAR s,"---l thought YOU would be
happier withm;t me, 50 came here.
! an visiting cousin Mamie. With
cs, wishes for your happiness, l re-
main sincerely,
DELLA BRINsLEY.
"A pretty lc.tcr--and dear sir to
ne. Gone to Denver! Who could
haze supposed she Lad spirit enough
for ti!at9 Little goose! Gone to Den
yer, BY Jovc"
The doctor laughed, he blessed him
self, he was delighted, The next
evening he was on his way to Colo
RADIO That same evening, in far-off,
lovely Denver, Della and Cousin
Mamie were comparing notes about
their husbands. Della had been very
cautious and Mamie was enthusiastic
about the doctor "If he was my hus-
band | would tirt with him and make
him fall desperately in love with me-"
she declared.
"Flirt with him" exclaimed Della,
Certainly, it would be all right, and
so interesting! Now, John is SO good
natured and always the same, some
times wish he would be little bit
cross, just for a change"
"What sadly funny world this is"
thought Della when she was alone,
mo one is really conteuted and
happy" Then she became very home
sick; not only did she miss the doctor,
but she also missed herself, she had
always been 50 prudent, so submissive,
and now she had done such a wild,
wicked thing! Had she not promised
"fOr better and for worse?'
One morning there came tremen-
lous ring at the door. Della knew
that ring, she heard it all over her and
turned pale. Bound to get in said
Mamie, as she hurried to the door, sis
Mrs. Brinsley in?" asked a big voice.
Mrs. Brinsley was in. She came
forward smiling, roSy-cheekel, collect
ed and transformed. She held out her