Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-07-28

Irudkins brought letter OF recommen-
dation from friend in Packerton, and
he dressed in the latest fashion, and had
a big black moustache that overshadow-
ed his upper lip like penthouse.
ooh, ma, how very gcntcel he isr'
said Abby Jane, all in autter of admir-
alton.
"a very nice young man indeed"
responded the deacon's wife.
And the very next week, Abby Jane
came down to the Leeds farm house.
'Have you heard this news of your
ElizaW she asked of the farmers wife, in
a mysterious whisper.
Eh3" said Mrs. Leeds.
"She's nothing but a play actress"
said Abby Jane, nodding her head until
the stuffed blue bird on her hat quivercd
as if it were alive. "Mr. Alphonso Trud-
kins saw her himself in the Great New
York Combination troupe. She was acting
a woman who was married to Cuban, and
lost her pocket handkerchief, and was
aftcrward chokcd with the pillows off
the best bed. Desdemonia her name was,
/ think"
"Wcll, and suppose she was'" said
Mrs. Leeds, who was too good a general
to let the enemy see what havoc had
been carried into her camp. "What
thenp
"What thcn2" echoed Abby Jane.
"Well, l do declare, Mrs. Leeds, l am
surprised"
81 don't believe word of it." said
Mrs. Leeds, dcfiantly.
"But Mr.. Trudkins saw her with his
own eyes" cried Abby Jane, flushing
scarlet with Indignation. "Hc knew her
the minute he looked at her yesterday in
church. Elizabeth Ellesmcre her name
was, he says, in the advertisements, and
she danced dance, with yellow scarf
and lot of roses, between the pieces,
making herself out to be Spanish man
doline player. It's enough to make ones
hair stand on end to hear Mr.. Trudkins
tell about it"
at don't do to believe all one hears"
said Mrs. Leeds, losing all count of the
eggs she was breaking into china
bowl, in her CONSERVATION. "And
Stapleville docs beat all for gossip"
"Well, you can ask her yourself, and
see if she dares deny l' said Abby Jane,
exultantly. 'Here she comes now. Ask
her-.only ask her!"
And Eliza came into the kitchen, with
the spice box in her hand Mr.. Villars
followed close behind, tanning himself
with straw hat
81 have come from the men in the hay
field" said he. "Thcy want another jug
of cool ginger and water, with plenty of
molasscs stirred in, Aunt Leeds. Good
morning, Miss Clark! Ihope the dea-
con is quite well this morningl"
Abby Jane turned pink, and smiled
her most seductive smile.
"Oh, quite So" she simpcrcd. "I-I
only came ON
as it true, Eliza3" Mrs. Leeds asked,
sharply. 'IIave you been deceiving mc9
Are you play ACTRESS all this time"
Eliza's large eyes turned slowly first to
one, then to another Of the little group.
She did not blush--it was lot her way
but the color cbbcd slowly away from
her cream pale check.
81 have been dccciyng nobody" said
she. 81 am not an actress now. l have
been one. But l did not like the life, so
| left it. If anyone had asked me,
l should have told them long ago."
Mr. Vilars came forward and stood at
the girls side, as he saw his aunt shrink
away.
"Well," he said, ''even taking
it all for granted, "whcro is the
ham2"
Charles Chares!' cried Mrs. Leeds,
putting up her hands with gesture of
warning. Remember poor Avicc!"
at is because remember her that
speak thus" said Mr.. Villars, calmly.
81 had an elder sister once" he added,
turning to Abby Jane Clark, "who ran
away from home and became an actress.
She had talents far above the average,
but my parents were old fashioned peo-
pie, and their ideas ran in narrow grooves.
They disapprovcd of the stage, so Alice
left US. Whether she is dead or living
we know not, but wherever she is, l am
sure that she cannot but be good and
true and pure"
Abby James eyes fell under his calm
glance. She was little sorry now that
she had chosen to come hithcr and bear
the news herself.
Somehow, Mr. Villars had taken it in
different spirit from what she had an-
ticipated, And Eiza's soft, languidly-
modulatcd voice broke on the oonstrain-
ed silence like drops of silver dew.
81 have been an actaess, and perhaps
| should still have been on the stage" she
said, chad it not been for circumstances.
My father dealt in stage properties, and l
was brought up to the business, but still
never liked it. But one cannot easily
step out of the path where ones feet have
been placed, especially if one is a wo-
man.
"However, the turning point came at
la t. Our leading lady fell sick of a
contagious fever, in a lonely village where
we had stopped to play one night. The
manager packed up everything in panic,
and badc us all to be ready to go. told
him l could not leave Mrs. Montague
alone. He said that if left the com
pany thus, | should never return to it.
"Well, what could do2 The stage
was nv liyinp. il was true but our lead |