Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-07-16
the berries, Mr.. Farrar? Shall we go

cold douche, he rallied his politeness
and made show of being very atten
tive to Miss Derringer.
"Certainly, if you have rested sufli
GENTLY" he responded. "Allow me tc
carry your basket"
And on through tho dim, gloom
shadowed path they went; Olive chat
ting gaily and easily, as if quite un,
suspicious Of her escorts heavy heart.
80 much gained!" she thought, tri'
umphantly; "and many a heart is
canght in the rebound, they say.
must make haste slowly, though, and
give bin chance to get over the old
love before he is on with the new. II
everything goes right, / may be Wv )oed
an married, an a. before this season
is over, in spite of Phyllis Trescote'S
airs and graces."
Phyllis was sitting at the door Of
he tent which she and her aunt occu
pied, in preference to taking rooms at
one of the crowded hotels.
at was SO much more romantic, to
say nothing of comfort" said Aunt
Eunice. "At hotel you must do as
the rest do, while in tent you are
free as a lark. You dine when you
please, and not when other folks please;
and when you have company, if the
space is rather limited, it's all the
more cosy. Don't you think so, Mr..
Savage?"
"Certainly l do" responds Mr.. Saw
age, glancing around the commodious
interior of the tent, which was as pref
tily furnished as any city boudoir'
"and, moreover, you have the benefit
of fresh air. Witness Miss Phyllis
cheeks, as blooming as a mountain
daisy"
Phyllis cheeks were flushed, but it
was not the woodland breezes which
had brought the scarlet into them"
She caught sight of Vane Farrar,
scarcely dozen yards distant, with
Olive Derringer clinging to his arm,
her bright face upturned to his, while
he bent his head to hers in very
lover-like attitude.
They were lettering slowly home
from the berrying, the half-empty bas-
ket on Vane's arm betraying that some
thing besides picking blackberries had
occupied his day
Not one glance did he vOuchsafe
toward the tent where Phyllis sat,
with burning cheeks and wistful, dis
appointed eyes.
Three days notwithstanding
days for two at least of the parties con-
cerned-and then Vane Farrar sudden
ly disappeared from the scene, and
Olive Derringers hopes were in their
turn doomed to be nipped in the bud,
lor the time being at least.
But she was not one to give up the
siege without a struggle, and when,
two years later, she met Vane in st.
Louis, her coquetries were once more
called into play to aid her in becoming
mistress of his heart and fortune.
"Blackberries blackberriesv came
in stentorian tones from a fruit-ped-
dler's wagon.
And Nane Farrar, who was saunter-
Ing down the street, felt his nerves
tingle, and his heart beat like a sledge-
hammer, For the moment he was
transported to the moss-cushiOned
bank, with Phyllis Trescote's fair face
half-drooping beneath his gaze.
A few hurried steps, and Vane was
beside the wagon, bargaining for a
box of the purple-ripe fruit.
The Old farmer was good, natured
and garrulous.
Mighty fine berries, them is" he
asserted. "None o yer Lawtons,
growed in garding. Wild black
berries is bettcr-ilavored than all yer
tame ones. Fifty cents gallon,
square. Hev gallon boX?"
"Do you gather them yourself"
asked Vane, his thoughts still wander
ing to that brief episode, when he had
set out to gather wild blackberries
with lighter heart than he had known
in the two years between now and
then.
"Gether 'em myself? You're right,
Squire; me an the old woman an the
youngsters gethered these, 'ceptin' a
few gallons Miss Treskits gal picked"
"AIiss--Trescote?"
Vane was staring eagerly into the
sun-browned face now.
"Yas" returned Farmer Bergamot
Phyllis Treskit she gethered some Of
.em, an begged me to sell 'em fur her.
They air mighty pore, her an her aunt,
an l allus accommodate 'em when
kin. Git up, Ballyp
"Stop.-stopp cried Vane. "Where-
how far is 1t? / have notion to 90
blackherrying myself. would pay
you well, if"
"0h, you could go along with me i.
you're mind to. Never mind the
pay. Pm Almost sold out now, an
will be a-starting home in a hour or
wo. Jump in, squire, if yer mind
ter"
And Vane jumped in without wait
Ing for u second invitation.
4 4 X 4 X
"Two gallons I've picked to-day,
Aunt Eunice-that'n be dollar. A