Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-07-15
TURNED ADRIFT.
ROsamond! Rosamond"
eyes, Uncle Phineas."

lIS nine OcloCk, hOSalnOnu. Inc
clocks just struck"
81 know it, Uncle Phneas."
"Well, take off them logs as hasn't
got fairly to going and pat 'em keerlul
in the chimney-corner, and kiver up
the rest with good coat Of ashes.
Dye hear, Rosamond?'
"Yes, Uncle Phineas" with a sigh.
because you know, Rosamond
nine o'clock's the time folks was abed."
"Yes, Uncle PLineas."
"And be sure you lock the big front
door and bolt both the bolts, and put a
cheer agin the hinges, so't it'll tumble
over eff any one hampers with the fast
enings."
"Ill not forget, Uncle Phineas."
George Hand rose from his seat,
with smile, as Rosamond Eos ter's
troubled eyes met his own.
"Perhaps l had better be going"
said he. "Evidently your uncle thinks
my room will be better than my COM
pany."
"You won't mind him?" said Rosa
mond, family.
"NOt in the least" said George.
"He's quite right. Nine o'clock is
time to 60 home. I'll come some other
time and finish my visit"
lie held RosamOnd's hand in his a
tr0e longer than there was any neces-
sity for, as they parted; and the girl
sighed softly as she bolted the great
door and adjusted the cheer at the
exact burglar-catching angle.
George Hand had been very near
saying the word for which her heart
had longed all these months, just when
Uncle Phineas' cracked voice made
itself audible, over the bend of the
stairway.
1t was rather hard, but RosamOnd's
life had been succession of mute
self.sacrilices, and this only made an
additional one.
But Uncle Phineas renewed the
subject, next day, with some acrimony
81 tell ye what, Rosamond," said he,
the candle box is more'n half-empty"
"Yes, Uncle Phineas, it's the middle
of January you know" said Rosamond,
gently.
81 don't keer eff twas the middle of
April" snarled the old man. "That
amt no excuse for wasting candles.
Arter this. the house has got to be
shut up at half-past eight o'clock at
night, and all the lights out. l amt
goin to end my days in the poor-house,
not to please all the shiftless young
fellers in the place. Ell they ain't got
homes of their own to set up in, |
amt gon' to furnish one for EN-"
Rosamond made no answer. What
comment had she to offer? Did not
Uncle Phineas remind her a dozen
times day that she was apcnniless or
phan, entirely dependent ON him for the
bread she ate, the clothes she wore? To-
be-sure, there had been Il hundred dol
lars for her, when the estate of Elakim
Foster had been divided; but Uncle
Phineas had insisted on her laying
that aside for rainy day.
Some said it was sensible thrift; some
called it an Ot1sh0Ot of the miserliness
that underlay his whole nature. But
the old man deigned no explanation; lie
only shifted great sniff when he heard
that Rosamond's only brother. Jared,
had put his share into an invention of
his own which he was trying to push
through the patent Office. "IIumph!
said he. "Fools and their money are
soon parted"
To-day, however, he had no sooner
settled the candle-question, than he
broached II new topic.
"Giye me that there money O yourn,
Rosamond." said he. M've got q good
chance to invest it, where it'll double
itself in year or two"
Rosamond turned red. then white.
She did not speak. "Don't ye hear
mep" croaked the old man, impatient
ly. "What are We standing there for ?
Get me the money, l sayr'
"Uncle Phineas," gasped Rosamond,
driven to desperation, Ihave'nt got it!
IL lent it to Jaredr'
"Lent it to Jared!" thundered the old
man. "Flung it into the fire, you