Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-05-23

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|, too, have sometimes lost--even to
my last farthing | have been left
with nothing, absolutely nothing but
my debts, But never lost courage;
nor must you do so now. Beside, if
you will bring back your pretty fugi-
tive daughter and induce her to become
my wife, | will make you free gift of
the property that once was yours"
For moment Hates father regard
ed his interlocutor with fixed and
scathing gaze. The scales had fallen
from those tired and troubled eyes.
"My daughter" at length he enun-
ciated, with dignity that was majes-
tic, "was wiser than I-she could not
be deceived by your pretensions as |
have been. | may be apauper, sir, but
| shall still be honorcd that | have a
child who would prefer death to
marriage with such as YOU
lie turned away haughtily and went
back to the home that was no longer
his. But the shock had been too
sudden, too overwhelming; and an
hour later he lay writhing in mortal
agony at the very gates of death. In
his delirium he rayed piteOusly of his
folly, and of the man whom he had 50
trusted only to be befooled, robbed and
insulted. And to his disordered senses
his bonny Kate was everywhere pres
ent He would listen for her gay
voice and light footsteps; eseemed to
behold her bright and beautiful image
and he would pathetically entreat her
to forgive him for his harshness and
his great mistake.
Meanwhile, Kate was far away and
not altogether unhappy. She felt that
somehow, in blissful time to come,
she would be prOvidentially guided
back to contentment with her beloved
ones.
One morning visitor was an
nounced, and with much surprise she
turned to stand face to face with her
old suitor, Percy Talbot, as
ever, sleek, smiling, insignificant,
"You wish to see me:' she qucried,
coldly, startled by something oddly
assured and eXultant in his aspect.
81 wish to discuss a matter of busi-
ness with YOU" he returned, glibly, as
with great nonchalance he approprlat-
ed cosy chair. "Will you not be seat
ed, too? Where are the roses of your
cheeks, Kate? Are you ill, or has my
coming disquieted you?"
She was pale with anger at his inso-
lence, at his stare of ardent admira-
ton; and she trembled with vague
alarm before his strange look of
triumph; but she stood quite still and
regarded him with calm inquiry.
"You may not be aware of what has
happened at home he pursued, still
with the hcneyed voice and hateful
smile.
"No," was her simple utterancc
"My mission is not particularly
pleasant one" he continued cautiously:
and you make it harder for me, Kate,
you seem so indifferent; and | have
only come to serve you. Your father
is very i'll; he may not recover
Yet she remained silent, watching
him with her scornful, questioning
eyes.
"And beside" her visitor went on,
with a semblance of the sympathetic,
,he has been unfortunate in business,
and everything he possesses will be
sold at once if there be no friendly in
terposition. | alone have power to
aid him, and | will do so if you-oh,
listen, for l love you, Kate. If you
will be my wife, will stop this sale,
and your parents shall still have their
home"
He had arisen and approached her
with outstretched arms; but at that
instant the door opened to admit one
whom he had not anticipated meeting
precisely then and there.
"Ah, Mr. Merle" he articulated,
with extreme politencss. "This is in
deed surprise"
"a mutual surprise" Robert amend
ed drily. "My wife and l had scarcely
expected a visit from YOU"
"Your wife," he stammered, in swift
confusion.
"With mammals approval, Mr..
Merle and | were married the day |
left home" Kate explained, civilly.
"Ah! then have come only to con-
gratulate YOU" he succeeded in saying,
even as he recoiled discomlitted before
the contemptuous scrutiny of Kate's
handsome young husband.
But he had no desire to prolong so
unsatisfactory an interview, and he
speedily departed.
"l'e comforted, my dearest" Robert
cnjoined her when the guest had gone.
al have foreseen this day of trouble
for your father, and providentially l
have been given means to help him.
Would you care to he back in the old
home, Kate?"
Would she care? Had she not
longed every hour for months to behold
the dear old place? And the beloved,
familiar face?
And while the train that bore her
homeward was rattling across the