Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-07-16
BLACKBERRIES,

Tall and slender, with a fair. flower
like face, blonde hair, and eyes as
deeply, darkly blue, as wild forget-me-
nots, Phyllis Trescote was a very pretty
girl, indeed. So, at least, thought
Vane Farrar, as he gaZed admiringly
down at her, seated on a moss
cushioned bank, over which a giant
monarch of the forest waved its leafy
branches in the bright summer sun
light.
A party of the young people, who
were spending the season at Eureka
Springs, had taken II fancy to 60
blackberrying,and as usually happened,
Vane Farrar and Phyllis Trescote
found that their paths lay in the same
direction.
Phyllis had come to Eureka Springs
with her aunt, for the benefit of the
latter's rheumatism. and hither Vane
Farrar had followed her, determined.
ere the summer waned, "to put his for
tune to the test and win or lose it all,
"Fair, fair, with golden hair" mur-
INJURED the young man, as he watched
Phyllis fitting hither and thither
through the gloom-shaded woodpaths;
and long before they had reached the
blackberry patch, in what was known
as the "Old Hart meadow" he had per
suaded her to rest awhile under the
shadowy branches of a magnificent oak
tree.
Phyllis looked very fair, with the
sunlight sitting through the leafy foli-
age, touching her blonde hair, till it
looked like skein of gold; and with
his heart in his mouth, Nane Farrar
opened his lips to speak.
"Miss Trescote," ho began, "or
Phyllis, if | may dare to call you so, |
must speak now and place my fate in
your hands. l."
"Oh, here you are.' cried gay voice,
and thicket of leaves, with tangled
grapeyines and thorn bushes, was thrust
aside, and Olive Derringer appeared in
view. "Oh, Phyllis! your aunt has
sent for you to entertain a visitor-a
very important parsonage, l should
say. She wants you to come immedi-
ately. Oh, dear, Pm so tired I've
hurried over the hills so, to try and
overtakeyou."
And she threw herself half-breath-
less on the messy cushion, from which
Phyllis had hastily arisen.
81 will go back" she exclaimed;
"but you and Mr., Farrar stay-,for the
blackberries."
And she fitted away, before Vane,
too gallant to leave Miss Dcrrlngcr
alone, could find words to protest.
lie had caught glance from her
eyes, however, and n glimpse Of her
radiant, blushing face that filed his
heart with sudden hope-a hope, alos,
which was doomed to wither in the
bud!
~ knew she would rather go alone"
alughed Olive, tanning herself with
her broad straw hat "IIer visitor is
Elmer Savage; and Of course though
two Is company, three is none"
"And who may this Mr.. Elmer Say
nge be2" asked Vane, in as cool voice
as he could assume, while his heart
was beating a furious tattoo in his
bosom.
"Why, don't you lnow?' asked
Olive, raising a pair of coquettish,
duslsy eyes to her companions hand
somo face. Don't you know he's her
Intended? I didn't suppose she had
sept her engagement secret from you
though she does love to hirt, poor
child"
young ladies' do not usually make
me the confdant OF their engage
nents." responded Yane, coolly. "But
why 10 you say roor child?' Surely
An engaged young lady is NOT subject
tor condolences"
"Oh. but you don't know Elmer
Sa5ags Is just as hcmely; and he's old
loo, and as cross as two sticks, Phyllis
sept him on TIE hooks n good while;
but hes rich as cream, you know, and
"A, oaoSyfa1 ht,n D,,t ,,l>,,,t