Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-07

mania or other. I will discover hers
and feed it, You will hardly know
me If you should see me at her side, so
full of humanity and decorum shall !
be-"
Lady Chetwynd smiled and sighed at
once. 81 have no idea what she is like
now,' she said, at is a long time since
lhavc seen her--many long year
never since George died, in fact. She
was not pious then; perhaps she is
now. You will find her at the Clair
vile at Seagatc."
T've heard of that establishment"
said the Hon. Herbert thougktfully;
"a queer place for an elderly lady.
However, l dare say she knows no
better. Give me line Of introduc-
ton to her, and I'll run down at once.
| shan't mind going to Seagate just
now; it's superb weather, and lots of
people there"
Lady Chetwynd, looking thoughtful
as she did 50, wrote very brief note
and handed it to her son, who started
Off Immediately. lie was in such an
exceedingly tight place just now
that he would have gone much longer
journey, at equally short notice, If
thereby he might discover an elderly
aunt with money.
Seagate was looking glorious; and
the goyety of the place and people, the
freshness Of the air, and the brilliant
colorlng of the sea and sky, made the
Hon. Herbert feel very "young and
delightful" lie resolved to lunch at
a restaurant take turn on the prom
cnade and smoke cigar on tho pier
before going to the Clairville. lie
fancicd that lie would then be refreshed,
and so better able to enter thoroughly
into the role of dutiful nephew which
he proposed to play.
He lunched well, lit his cigar, and
started in search Of half an hours rec
rcation. He did not 60 far before he
found what he was in search of; he
met with a lady so surprising to look
at that the mere sight Of her recreatcd
him. lie proceeded to stare steadily
at her and to take note of all her"points"
carefully She was little creature,
well formed, with pretty feet and hands;
the feet clad in wondrous high-heeled
boots that were very high, brt did not
meet at all in front; the lacing dis
played crimson openworked stockings.
The little figure. wasp WASTED. was
dressed in tho most eXtravagant Of
French checks-the sort of costume
devised by the Partisan intellect for
English women who are "fond of
dress" A mass of blended and frizzed
hair encircled small face which was
admirably well painted; only the usual
mistake was male-the thing was
oycrdono, and thus the possibility of
deception destroyed. The ladys hat
and paraSol each deserve a page Of de-
scription, they were 50 surprising. The
whole thing astonishcl and delighted
the Hon. Herbert. This young gentle.
man had good deal of the "knight of
the pavement in him; if pretty girl
gave him glance of encouragement
he was capable of walking after her
quite a mile in the hope Of adventure.
The lady he now saw before him had
encouragement" writ in large charac-
ters all over her, thanks 10 her costume,
and her plaintive blue eyes repeated
The word. She stood, quite alone, by
the rail at the edge of the sea walk,
looking at the pass@rs-by. She soon
became as much interested in Herbert
us he was in her. She slowly walked
towards the pier and went on to it.
The Hon. Herbert followed her, passed
and repassed her.
At the end of the pier there were
some sheltered, secluded seats. The
lady walked on to these slowly-for no
one could walk fast in such boots as
hcrs-chose one with much dclibera-
tion, sat down and straightway
dropped her parasol. OF course Her
bert was at hand to pick it up. Then
he sat down by Eer and for half an
hour they looked at the blue sea and
locked. She amused him very much.
She never smiled. but said the most
spicy and piquant things in a small,
high-pitched voice, looking straight at
him the While. Herbert knew very
well how to look admiration, and he
found that she understood the look
perfectly, but also that she appreciated
a little more open nattery. This made
it very plain sailing and Herbert found
himself much less bored than usual
during a Irritation. The little lady
being so excessively pronounced it was
difficult to feel bored until one had
seen all her extravagances.
At last he rose. II must 60" he
said; "it is hard, but l must. Do you
come on the pier in the EVENING""
"Yes," she answered Immediately;
about 10 O'clock
Then shall stay in Seagate till to-
morrow said Herbert gallantly, and
left her.
Then, assuming business-like man
ncr, lie walked OFF to the Clairville
meditating all the way on the mode in
which he should address his aunt.