Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-09-26
'good-by,' and druv' off like Jehu in
the opposite direction


folks affairs" said Miss Lorinda,
viciously biting off a piece of soda
biscuit and butter "but l shall never
encourage flirting with any man,
while you're engaged to another. It's
clean ag'in my principles"
And before the next days sun had
set, everybody in Pekasset knew all
about Miss Bourne's engagement to
Squire Rufus Darling.
Don't mind it, Gilbert" said old
Mrs. Dawson. ado not let a girls
silly caprices break your heart"
He lay on the sofa in the pretty
little 'keeping-room," where the floor
was carpeted with blue, because blue
was Lillian Bourne's favorite color
and the walls were papered with
punches of white-and-gold lilies,
because the lily was her name-hower.
Fringes of pale mignonette hung on
the window-b boxes, and a canary chirp-
ed gleefully in the sunshine; for Gilbert
had made his home beautiful because
he wanted Lillian to like 1t.
Mother" said the young man, with
a tremble in his voice, 81 loved her"
"But you were never actually be-
trothed," spoke the old lady, pitifully.
"Not in words, mother but we un-
derstood each other, and No matter;
it's over AMI past now," said Gilbert,
sadly.
Mrs. Dawson pressed his hand with
true maternal sympathy.
"My poor boy" she whispered.
",Iry and forget her"
81 can't do that, mother But with
a sudden resolve, m'll go away from
here. I'll accept my Uncle Raven
burns invitation to 60 with him to
those old Mexican cities, where he is
to sketch and paint. Pm not much of
an artist myself, but | can manage to
while the time away somehow. AT all
events, | can't stay here and see Lillian
married to that pompOus fellow, Dar-
! ling!w
lie had not been gone ten minutes
to the village, after that momentous
conversation, when there came the
tiniest of knocks to the door, and in re-
sponse to Mrs DawsOn's "Come in!
there entered-NIiss Lillian Bourne
herself.
Fresh from the spring woods, with
basket of the pale pink, trailing arbutus
she herself had gathered, in her hand.
But she paused on the threshold as
she saw the hardening lines around the
mouth of Gilbert's mother.
Gam | in the way?' she asked
timidly. "lIave | come at the wrong
imeY
"Pray walk in," said Mrs. Dawson
trying to simulate the cordiality which
her soul refused to offer to the girl who
had broken her sons heart.
81 found these arbutus-stars in the
woods" said she. 81 knew you were
fond of them. May l put them in a
saucer of water for you?'
Mrs. Dawson assented still without
much warmth of manner.
Il am much obliged to you," said
she, coldly.
81 hope Gilbert is WELL" said Lillian,
the color flaming hotly up into her
cheek.
"Quite well, thank your said Mrs.
Dawson. "IIe is going to Mexico with
my brother, Mr. Ravtnburn, next
week, and is consequently very busy,
because Why, what is the matter
Miss Bourne:"
For Lillian had grown deadly pale,
and uttered little cry.
"Its-its my TOOTH" she faltered
at has been filled; and sometimes the
cold air makes it jump so dreadfully,
think I'll go home and put little oil
of peppermint on it,"
And so Lily slipped away, and cried
all the way home, behind her veil
But by the time she reached her own
little room, however, sorrow had given
place to anger.
"What have / done that he should
treat me SOP" she asked herself, with
indignant heart-beats.
And then she gathered up all his
presents-the bunch of withered rose
buds, tied with the faded blue ribbon.
the little agate cross, the copy of
"Aldrich's Poems," the peach-stone
basket that he had carved himself, and
the glittering crystals which he had
brought her from Diamond Island, and
the two or three letters and notes he
had written her at one time and another
81 will send them back!' she declar-
ed. "lIe may take them to Mexico if
he likes. l don't want them any
longer"
BY strange coincidence, however,
as she was setting forth to the village
post office with the neatly-tied packet,
she met Mr.. Dawson himself. He
stopped. She stayed her footsteps
also. They both colored, celestial
rosy-red.
81 am very glad I met you before
you went to Mexico~ said Miss
Bourne, haughtily.
"Are you?" said Gilbert Dawson,
trying his best to appear like a statue
of ice.
81 wish to return YOU these THINGS"