Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-03-26
"Facts and figures" answered Rufus.

head away, "and l won't-so there
OF course one can't live without money
especially if one goes into society"
Rufus whistled under his breath.
But, Rosamond," said he, "f mans
income is a hundred dollars a month
and he spends two hundred, how are
the accounts to balance at the years
end?"
81 don't know anything about bal
ances and accounts said Rosamond,
with a sweet, sportive laugh. "IIow
do you like this dress, Rufus?' holding
up the cleaning folds of the pink
satin. 81 shall wear it on Thursday
evening"
"Do you think, Rosie" said the
young man, gently, that it is wise for
us to go so much into society on our
slender income?"
"That arrow came from mothers
quiyer, Rufus" said Rosamond, with
another laugh. "She was always
preaching about your income
"And, after all" said Rufus, "what
do we care for the fashionable people
to whose houses we go, and whom we
invite to our parties? They wouldn't
one of them regret if we were to go to
the Rocky Mountains tomorrow"
81 would as soon die at once as live
without society" said Rosamond. "Do
leave off lecturing me, Rufus! Society
is all that makes life worth having for
me-
And, with deep sigh. Rufus held
his peace.
That was long, lonely winter for
Mrs, Mildmay, senior, at The Hemloclls.
Snow set in early; the river froZe
over, as il it were sheeted with iron,
except in the one dismal place down in
the ravine, where restless pool of ink
black water boiled and bubbled, at the
foot of perpendicular mass of gray
rock, under the shadow of gloomy ever
greens; the sunshine glittered with
:'y2len brightness over the hills, and
the old lady was often secretly sad at
| heart as she sat all alone in the crimson
| parIor by the big fireplace, when the
logs blazed in the twilight.
And as the New Year passed, and
the bitter cold of January took posses
sion of the frozen world, vague ap-
prehension crept into her heart.
Something is going to happen." she
said. 81 am not superstitious, but
| there are times when the shadow Of
coming events stretches darkly across
the heart. Something is going to
happen
And one afternoon, as the amber sun.
set blaZed behind the leafess trees,
turning the snowy fields to masses Of
molten pearl, she put on her fur-lined
hood and cloak.
Il will 60 and take walk" said
she. 81 shall certainly become a
hypochondriac if | sit all the time by
the fire and nurse my morbid fancies
like this"
She took a long brisk walk, down by
the ruins Of the old MILL through the
cedar woods, across the frozen swamp,
and then she paused.
81 will come back by the Black Pool
/ she thought, at is wild and pictu
rescue spot in winter, with icicles hang
ing to the trec-boughs, and weird ice
effects over the face of the old gray
rock"
1t was a dark and gloomy place,
runereally shadowed by the hemlocks,
which grew there to giant size; and
when Mrs. Mildmay got beneath their
boughs, she started back.
Was it the illusive glimmer of the
Observation-Disclosures was it really
a man who stood close to the edge of
the Black Pool?
"Rufus, Oh, Rufus, my son.
She was barely in time to catch him
in her arms and drag him back from
the awful death to which he was hurl-
ing himself.
When they reached the cedar vain
scoted parlor, where the blazing logs
cast a ruddy reflection on the red
morcen curtains, Mrs. Mildmay looked
into her stepson's face with loving eyes.
"And now, Rufus" said she, "tell
me all about it. The Lord has been
very good to you for saving you from
a terrible crime"
"NlOther, why did you stop me- he
said, rccklessly. 81 am a ruined man,
shall be dishonOred in the sight of the
world. Death would he preferable, a
thousands times, to disgrace.
"Rufus,' said the old lady, tenderly,
"do you remember when you used to
get into boyish scrapes at school? Do
You remember how you used to conlide
your troubles to me? Let us forget
all the years that have passed. Let us
be child and mother once again"
SO he told her all-of the reckless en-
penditure on Rosamond's part-his own,
also, he confessed-which had woven
itself like fatal web about his feet
of the unpaid bills, the clamoring
tradesfolS, the threats of public expo
sure, which hal driven him at last to
the forgery of his employers signature,
in order to free himself from one or
two of the most pressing of these de-
ma2ds.
"And if my Investment in Erie bonds
! hrI nr.rpl a en,,,g, lao c,i1 L.,