Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-08-22
Miss Lehman's Method

beach, dotted here and there with dark
piles Of shining sea-weed; a broad ex-
panse of restless, heaying pillows lap
ping with frothy tongues the cleaning
shore, tempted Helen Lehman to pause
and finally to sit down, even though it
was the middle of the summer after.
noon, and the sun was pouring down a
scorching heat upon the unprotected
rocks and glittering sand,
Miss Lehman had broad
hat and sun umbrella, either Of which
was sufficient to protect her fair COM
plexion, and if Harry Ashland was
not thoughtful enough to likewise pro-
vide for his own comfort, he must suf-
fer the consequences.
She had no heart - the world said so.
Had she seen the look of pain and
disgust which, for IL moment, played
upon the gentleman's face it would
have called forth no pity-not the
slightest.
He was not obliged to remain with
her.
There was the hotel, Just above
them, and he could find the coolest
place on the broad, well-shaded pial-
zas, where he could lie undisturbed all
the afternoon.
1t certainly seemed very foolish to
make oneself so uncomfortable for Il
lady; but for Miss Lehman he would
have sat for hours in those thin clothes
on the hot rocks, and undergone tor.
lures innumerable, provided she would
smile upon him occasionally.
But Miss Lehman was very silent
and grave that afternoon, and poor
Ashland hitched about on his warm
seat without drawing from her one
smile or even look of appreciation.
Getting tired of such thankless mar
tyrdom, he burst forth, after several
moments of silence, with:
"What is the matter, Miss Helen ?'
"Matter? Nothing, Can't one think
without having something the matter
with them?" she asked, sharply.
The gentleman started at her ear
nestness, and meekly replied:
"Yes."
"Well, then, Mr.. Ashland, what
are you talking about? l was think
ing, Would you like to hear my
thoughts?"
"Oh, yes, aboveall things
81 was thinking Of that great body
of water before us. 1t 50 reminds me
of the lives of some people whom |
have met - 50 full Of restless yearning
always coming and going-neyer
pausing, never tiring Oh, it is 50
strange, yet so grand and beautiful
"Yes," murmured the martyr, moy-
ing uneasily, and thinking that it was
indeed very strange, very grand, and
very beautiful.
"And yet it ever tells the same,
same, story-the something for which
it yearns never comes. So it is with
life. We spend lifetime with an
aching void in our hearts, and die still
longing"
"Yes."
Helen Lehman turned with an ex-
preston in her dark eyes, which spoke;
"What stupid creature!'
She modified her meaning to:
"Mr Ashland, you have not heard
word"
"Oh, 'pon my honor, Miss Helen.
heard every syllablel Don't you think
that it is hot ?"
"Hot? Very comfortable, | was
thinking
"Bless me, am quite baked"
"Then let us go to the hotel"
The gentleman arose with alacrity,
but as he walked along he felt uneasy,
for he was not quite sure that he had
pleased the lady, and rather than dis
please he would have willingly sat
upon the hot rock for another hour
and suffered without a murmur.
Mr.. Ashland was in love with Miss
Helen Lehman, and had been perfect
slave to her caprice all the summer.
He had met her in the city during
the preceding winter-had seen her
in all the glory of her ballroom dress,