Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-09-26
A MISUNDERSTANDING,

"Why don't he Gomez" said Lillian
Bourne, peeping earnestly between the
boughs of the monster lilac-bush,
whose purple plumes waved to and fro
III the evening breeze. "Oh, why don't
come? Ican't possibly be mistaken.
He said on Tuesday evening at seven
and it's twenty minutes past, by grand
fathers big clock ; and, oh, dear!" with
a sigh that stirred the bunch of pansies
pinned on her left shoulder, "there
isn't a soul in sight"
by all the signs and symptoms
Lillian's little pink ear should have
burned that evening, for they were all
talking about her at Miss Lorinda
Larkins' tea-party in Dover street.
"Oh, she's born coquette" said Miss
"Lorinda. Two Jumps of sugar did
you say, or one, Betsey Young?
She can't help it. It's in her nature.
Don't you remember, Mrs. PepperIeld,
what tlirt her mother was before her +?
But she'll never play fast and loose
with Gilbert Dawson again - that I'll
60 BALL"
"Oh. do tell us all about it, Miss
/ Larkinsp said the widow Peabody,
with her mouth full of chicken salad
"Well, if you won't repeat it
"Repeat it. We! Never, as long as
we live" was The reply that went
around the tea-table in one accent.
"Of course" added Miss Lorinda,
''it's all quite private and confidential,
between ourselves But it was at the
Medbury's party. What business the
Medbury's have to give parties, with
bought ice cream and two violins and
a harp, don't know. Every one is
perfectly aware that there's mortgage
n the place, and that her dressmaker's
bill amt paid But that amt neither
here nor there. | was there, in my
dyed green gown, trimmed with Aunt
Liddy's old English lace, and l was a.
ookin' at the big orange-tree in the
conservatory that's another of Mrs.
Medbury's sinful extravagances-when
see Lily Bourne, in her white frock,
on the other side of the bank of flowers
a-gigglin' and a-whisperin with Squire
Rufus Darlingl'
"My" calculated the other ladies',
with open mouths.
"And up came Mrs. Medbury, all in
a smile-she smiles twice as often as
before, since she got them new false
teeth-and whispers in her ear. And
says Lily, out loud, says she, 'Oh,
can't! Pm engaged to Mr.. Darlingr''
NO." cried Mrs. Pepperfeld.
81 heard it with these very ears"
solemnly answered Miss Lorinda.
"Engagedr shrieked Mrs. Young,
whose own dimpled neice was even
then laying siege to Mr.. Darling's
adamantine heart.
"Engaged!' repeated Miss Lorinda
Larkins.
"And she keeping company with
Gilbert Dawsonw exclaimed the widow
Peabody, breathlessly.
"But she won't never trihe with him
no more" added Miss Lorinda, with
ill-disguised admiration. "For l met
Gilbert, yesterday afternoon, and
asked him about his mothers rheuma.
tism, and what the New York doctor
said about it and he never took no
notice of my questions. You know
that absent way young men have when
they're in love- Excuse me, Miss
Larkins' says he, but Pm little in a
hurry a-lookin' right over the top of
my head, as if l wasn't there at ALL.
If you're goin to Miss Bourne's,' says
1, there amt no such terrible hurry
Says he, What do you meant? And
he looked at me sharp enough this
time. Hain't you heerd? She's en-
gagged to Squire Darling says l. And
says he, 1T can't be possibie!' Says T.,
4 heerd it from her own lips and all
Pekasset's talkin' about it, says l..
THE idea of a young creeter like that
sellin' herself for money and a fine
house. For everybody knows, says ],
that that's all that Rufe Darling's got
to recommend him; and he's old
enough to be her father into the bar
gain says l. And he just turned his
horse and kerridge around, without
ever having the politeness to say