Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-08-05

| Uo,hoh, NhOu w Soo my o"h SAS'''N'
to buy, if / marry that bald-headed
scare1crow, as l s'pose l shill A fine
thing for you to come asking for duds,
miss"
"But, aunt" returned Avis, plead
ingly, 81 haven't anything fit to wear
to church"
ooh, indeed So you 60 to church
to show your clothes, hey? You bet
ter stay at home if that's what you 60
fur. An when l marry old HartletOp
why he couldn't have had decent
name l don't see-you won't be no
better off than you are now, if he Is
rich. | shill be as savin' of his money
as l kin, so when he dies I'll have
something fur myself. Aa' now 60
long an milk that cow; she's been a.
bawlin' this half-hour.'
The poor major, half-stupefed by
this astonishing revelation, stumbled
off the steps and got out of the gate
he scarcely knew how.
And now here was q predicamcnt
How was he to marry such IA vira-
go? he reasoned, mopping his head
with a huge red handkerchief. And
yet, how was he to get out of marry
ing her, if she chose to accept him?
lie had serious doubts whether be-
ing called u "bald-headed scare.crow"
would eXoncrate man, in the eyes of
the law and public opinion, in refus-
ing to fulfill his offer of marriage.
And yet, marry her he couldn't-he
wouldn't. Thus he assured himself
over and over again.
Miss Angerona, meanwhile, proceed
ed to write her letter, accepting Major
Ilartletop's proposal. Having writ
ten it, she laid it on a corner of the
table to dry, and with compressed lips
and a look of determination in her
cold, gray eyes, she drew another let
ter from her pocket, and opening it,
read;
"MY DEAR AVIS: have called
twice to see you, but your aunt relus-
ed me admittance to the house. | am
therefore compelled to write what
had meaut to tell you personally. You
must know @Iready that | love you,
Avis, and | want you for my wife.
Will you marry me? Please answer
as soon as possible, as | shall be in
great suspense until hear from you.
Yours forever, RICHMOND ALDER"
"lIum r. muttercd Miss Angerona,
with smile of grim satisfaction.
"lt's well didn't give her the letter.
| shan't allow her to marry very soon.
She's too much help to me. | couldn't
get nobody to take her place an do all
she does fur love nor money. And
now fur your answer, Mr.. Richmond
Alder"
And taking up her pen, she wrote,
slowly and carefully;
81 have received your letter, and
my answer is No. | can never marry
you. a. DILwoRTn.'
"Thatll settle him." she decided.
"An' faint no forgery, either, seein'
"A stands for Angerona as well as
Avis"
And inclOsing the two letters in
envelopes, she directed them, slipped
them in her pocket, and carried them
to the post Office herself.
"Now know they're SAFE" she
commented, with sigh of relief, as
she retraced her steps toward home.
X + X + X 4 X X
Major lIartletop had passed a
wretched night. According to his own
statement, he had not slept wink.
When Jake Soper, the nired hand,
brought in the mornings mail, as
usual, he felt nervous tingle down
to his finger ends
With Il quaking hand he opened
Miss Angerona's letter, and, much to
his relief, read:
81 have received your letter, and my
answer is No. / can never marry
you. A. DILwoRTH."
TO say the major was delighted
would hardly express his feelings. He
almost felt as if he could forgive Miss
Angerona for calling him a "bald-
headed soare-crcY," in consideration
of her having refused him.
Tucking the letter in his pocket, he
went whistling about the house, like
school-bOy.
After dinner, he saddled his riding
mare and rode down to the village, to
see tradorlabout buying some of his
fat cattle for beef.
Tying his nag under shady tree,
he proceeded toward the village store,
and met Miss Angerona face to face
She simpered, smiled and tried to
blush. The major bowed coldly and
passed on.
Astonishcd and chagrined, Miss
Angerona detained him, and demand
ed the cause of such behavior.
"What behavior?" asked the major
coldly.
"ro pass me without speaking, when
when we are engaged to he married."
"Engaged!" cried the major. "Why,
you have refused mel"
81 didn't; accepted you!" contra
dicted the lady, llatly.
81 have your refusal in black and
white; here it iS!' he retOrted.
And taking crumpel note from
In is Dnrl[pt hp road il nut ia hnr