Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-03-03
"She means visiting the poor and seek


ing out cases of destitution," explained
Mrs. Hardy. "Hattie my child, l do
wish you wouldn't talk slang"
Hattie disappeared with little breeze
Of laughter, while Mrs. Prodgitt rescttlcd
her spectaclcs and uttered deep groan.
'Mark my words, Mary Ann," said
she, "that girl will come to no good"
'1Iattic does not mean any harm,
Cousin Prodgitt," mildly pleaded Mrs.
Hardy, as she knitted on.
While Hattie on her crrand of mercy,
went from house to house in the darkling
lanes and crowded tenement districts,
leaving an ounce of green tea here and a
lcct ire there, bottle of beef, wine and
iron by sick bed, a little rosc-sccntcd
snuff in poor old woman's hand, pict-
urc book on the pillow of some little
child, a wooden toy in the delighted
grasp of n skclcton-likc infant, gentle
admonition in the ear of a will(ul facto-
ry-girl, and n word of comfort to cncour-
age dcspairing widow.
She could be gay and flippont enough
when "Cousin Prodigy" tcascd her, but
here she seemed to have assumed per-
sonality of dignity and sweetness.
Old Milo Rcncau's was the last house
on her list. She glanced anxiously at
her watch as she went in.
"Past iivc," she said to herself. 81
must make haste or the dear little man.
my will be frctting,"
The dusk Of the October evening had
already darkcncd the little room, where
lay the patient old sufferer from rhcuma-
tism. 1t was always neat and clean there,
but in Hattic's eyes it seemed more squa-
lid and povcrty.strickcn than usual to-
night. As she came around the corner
of the door she perceived young man
sitting at an uncovered pine tablc-a fig
.urc strongly silhoucttcd against the win
dow.
"Ah." said she, the spirit of righteous
cxasperation rising up in her heart, "Tvc
caught you at last in the very midst Of
your evil practice!"
The young man rose hurriedly to his
feet.
81 beg your pardon---' he began
but the tide of lIattic's indignation was
not thus easily stcmmcd.
Don't beg my pardon" said she; ;
"bcg the pardon of socicty-of public
opinion--of everything else which you
are outraging by this shameful behavior
of yours. Apparently you have neither
pride nor sclf-respcct left-now take my
advice; turn over a new leaf. Give up
your evil practices and set yourself to
earn a decent living. Look me in tho
eyes, young man" she added Severely
"tcll me if you are not ashamed Of your
self"
To all appearances, the culprit was
stricken dumb. Invountarily he raised
a pair of clear, honest eyes to Iattic's
face, according to orders, but he did not
speak word, good, bad or indifferent.
Giles not bad looking" thought Hat
tie; "but | must not neglect the chance
of making an impression. | am surprised
at you!" she added aloud; "a great,
able bodied fellow like you sitting down
as 4 disrcputablc incubus on your friends
and relatives. Don't you know that you
are the talk of tho ncighborhoodl Get
up-go to work. Never let me see you
idlng here again. No; don't answer me.
Incver enter into argument with the pco.
plcin my district. Logic is useless in O
case like this"
She hurried to old Milo, who being
stone deaf, looked smilingly on during
this brief but energetic monolguc, as il
it had been q recitation from Shakespeare
'Heres some extract of beef for you,
Mr.. Rencau," she shouted in his ear
"and tumblcr of lemon Jelly! | hope
your lumbago is better. I'm sorry | cant
stay a little longer to-day, but I'll come
again very soon."
And nodding and smiling good-by tc
him, she hustled away.
She arrived none too soon on the do
nestle tapis.
Betsy had already broken one of the
moss-rose tea cups, and spilled all thu
salad dressing, so that Hattie had to &C
to work to make more.
Cousin Prodgitt had lost her spectacles
and Mrs. Hardy could not find her bes
lace frill.
Consequently she was only half through
arranging her hair when Mrs. Hard!
called up the staircase:
"lIarrict Harriet Mr.. Gray has come =
She hurricdly coicd up the shining
bronze locks, and fastened them with {
she'll pm, tied the Swiss muslin bow a
her throat, and, catching up her pocket
handkerchief, ran downstairs.
Cousin Prodgitt was still adjusting he
capstrings in her own room
Mrs. Hardy had gone down to see i
the tea was properly stepping; and so on
heroine walked directly into the presenc
of Reverend Cecil Gray.
81 am Miss Hardy" said she. 81 be-
your pardon but -----"
Here she stopped, with the syllables o
further speech fairly frozen on her tongue
A cold chill crept through all her vein
MS she recognized the curly brown hair
the clear, honest eyes, the thick mustache
But the Reverend Cecil was equal t
the emergency.
"Don't beg my pardon" said he
gravcly, although there was roguis
sparkle in his eyes. "Bcg the pardon O
socicty-of public opinion. No, Mis-
Hardy" he cried, suddenly dropping hi