Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-02-07
A DELAYED LETTER,

The broad veranda was shaded by
such wealth ottangled vines and bios
SONS, that the afternoon sun cast only
fickering shadows on the face and form
of the young girl in the rocking-chair.
The name was Helen Ashley; place,
the village of Saybridge; time, four
o'clock of an October afternoon.
She looked with somewhat wistful
eyes at the gay party of half dozen
girls and their respective cavaliers, Just
passing through the broad sunlit street.
And she could not go. Her lot was not
one with that OF the iair-faced girls
passing from her sight. Saybridge had
been her home only few months, but
the mountains around it bounded her
life now, and close beside her was her
work. She had thought herself fortu.
nate when she obtained the situation of
teacher in the select school of the ambi
tious little village, and she now had
fourteen morsels OF humanity under her
care, besides her pupils in music. 1t
was because of lesson to the youngest
and least interesting Of the latter that
Miss Ashley had been obliged to decline
her invitation to Lakevlew. For not a
little to her surprise, she had been in
vited.
Aristocratic as was Mrs. Hoffner, the
presiding genius Of that pleasant coun-
try-house, she had not thought it quite
the thing to exclude Miss Ashley from
her little party; for every one else, with
what the august lady could not but con-
slider questionable taste, so admired the
young girl.
Mrs. Hoffner, despite her name, was
English, and, together with her hand
some self, had brought to her American
home not few ideas concerning me and
thee, decidedly at variance with those
around her. But she folded her jeweled
hands, lamented to her old time friend,
Mrs. Sherwood, the state of society, and
agreed with her that it was of no use
trying to sail against wind and tide.
Alter little longer rest than usual in
the shady porch, Miss Ashley took her
broad -brimmed hat and went to DR..
Hardrop's, where she spent long hour
in conscientiously listening to the
youngest Miss Hardrops one, two,
three, four, and Initiating her into the
mysteries of the scale of B fiat then
back to her cottage home tea, seasoned
with the mild gossip of worthy Mrs.
Winterne; then, correction OF lady
written French exercises, and badly
spelled dictation papers, and she was at
liberty to sit down before her beloved
piano--the sole relic OF better days. A
quiet hour with her music rested and
refreshed Helen Ashley beyond measure.
All the strange aud ha, sh contrasts be-
tween this and her past life, all the wea-
riness and loneliness, dropped away as
her fingers pressed the ivory keys and
when the clear voice rose full and
strong, in the songs she loved, it mat.
tered little to the girl that Mrs. Win,
terne, comfortably nodding in her
rocking chair, was her only auditor.
Some one else heard, however, on this
particular October night-Dr, Cuness,
on his way home from long visit to
little manned sufferer down by the mill.
There was no one passing along the
quiet village street; and who shall
blame the doctorif he paused a moment
by the picket fence that guarded Mrs.
Winterne's small domain, and listened
to the sweet sounds?
Dr. Cluness looked at his watch.
Surely he might be excused if his call
! we're made little later than is custom.
ary. To think was to act, and moment
later the doctor stood before the door,
civilly inquiring of Mrs. Winterne if
Miss Ashley was at home.
The door into the little parlor stood
open, ant Miss Ashley was Just rising
from the piano as the doctor entered.
"Good evening, DR.. Cluness," as she
gave him her hand. What a snowflake
it was! he thought, as, for an instant,
he held it in his strong, brown clasp.
81 had no idea of seeing any one to.
night. | thought you had all gone to
Mrs. Hoffner's."
''Why did you not go?' he asked.
"Oh, II was too lazy. I had a
music lesson after school: and you?"
"The same reason. I had so many
calls to-day that night came upon me
before my work was finished. I was
just coming home from the last place,
down by the mill, when l heard the
sound of music as passed here, and
| could not resist coming in for few
minutes"
81 am very glad you did," was the re.
ply, with suspicious frankness, "for |
have little parcel to send down by the
mill next time you go-that is, if you
will take it,"
The doctor look little surprised, but
he said, Certainly"
With admiring eyes, the doctor
watched her as she carefully wrapped
the book in paper, and tied q string
around it. Even the most commonplace
actions were invested with a charm
when done by those white fingers, and
he almost envied the child for whom
this had been done.
After while, Miss Ashley played and
sang for him, and the doctor was twice
blessed. She was so pure, so perfect,
80 utterly unlike all other women he
had known, that he counted it an honor
TO have met and loved her, even if, as
he feared, she could never be anything
to him. 1t was with smothered sigh
that the honest fellow at leng h took
his leave and went home, mentally con-
trasting himself and his surroundings
with the young heir at Lakeview, Guy
Hoffner.
Handsome Guy, as many called him,
was indeed as great contrast to DR..
Cluness as could we'll be imagined. In
the first place, he had youth, which the
doctor had lost next, he had good
looks, which the doctor had never pos
sessed; besides the extraneous advan-
tages of wealth, position, and all be-
longing to them. But in this case, as
in many others zone touch Of nature"
had made them something more than
hin Thav xyara hoth in lnva with Helan