Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-12-29
ly pulled under that OF tall young man

10 De SllcnJ anu aDStTuC-cu.
"Wcll, what luck have you had at
the printng-hou3o to.day1" asked Miss
Verona.
"Thc best Of luck" he answered.
"Thcy have decided to accept my in
vcntion, aud put it Into immediate use
on every press in the place. am to
have five thousand dollars down, and
three thousand a year royalty on my
patent as long as they use it--which, if
it don't turn out poorer thing than |
believe will be forever and ever"
"oh, Paul" cried Verona, breath
lcsSly.
"iom very glad of this, Mary" he
said. "Do you know why|
~ can guess"
"No, l don't believe you can quite
guess" he said gently. at is because
this has prompted me to speak out what
has long been on my mind-to ask you,
Mary, TO be my wife. You are ono OF the
women, dear who should be a born
princess, instead Of cashier, drudging
all day long behind desk. want to
lut you on your throne again"
Dear Paul ~ she whispered softly
ana just for the fraction OF moment
her little black straw bonnet crushed its
cluster Of scarlet roppies against his
waterproof sh uldcr-- "only put inc on
The throne of your hcalt and keep me
there, and that is all | want. AS for
my kingdom, why, l!ornbIowcr Halt"
what about IIornblowcr Hall ~
"Puhops one day we may be rich
enough to buy it back. Not just yet,
Paul; we arc only bcginnng the world
as yet; but so.Dc day"
"IIornbIowcr Hall then be it," said
Pau, in his drctr.y, far-oIr way. "Su. =
pose, Mary, that you and and the
mother make holiday of tomorrow,
and go up an | see what this imaginary
pace S like"
"But it isn't imaginary, and wouldn't
for the world have the heir suppose that
We are prying abc ut t..o premises that
are lawfully his
'Oh, hang the fcllow!" sid Paul. II
suppose he ca It forbid us the privilege
of looking at IIornblower Hall, can hc3'
Paul Rothcrmel had his way. He al
ways did have his way, in a soft, i'm
pcrturbaLlc fashion, which you never
fully comprchcuded until it had gotten
tlc better Of you past all rec ovcry.
They took the train the next morning,
all three Of them--PAul having sent a
note of apology and explanation to TIL
proprietor of the empty cashiers chair
AMI went up TO Wcstpolt, where a
depot carriage took them to the shore
. of the sound, where the salt waves were
curling in f,amy fringcs to the very
foundations of lIornblowcr Hall.
'Isn't it u sweet oil placel' cried
Miss Verona. "Oh, how l long to be here
once again-to be at home herc!'a
1T isn't bad" said Pau, mcditativcly
surveying its Gray-stonc towers and
easements Of stained glass, the old sun
dial at the south end of the house, and
the group Of opposite the cedar'.
While old Mrs. RothcrmcI boldly
assembled the fl ght of stone steps and
rang the bell.
out came Mr. Peppcrton, the lawyer,
smiling and bowing, like an amablc
Jack n-thc- box
Happy to sec you, Mr.. Rothermcl! ~
said he-'mos happy, | am sure!
Would you be SO kind as to step in
Yourself and these ladics' I've had
fires lighted in all the rooms a stone house
like this is apt TO be damp if it isa't
kent well aircd--and lunch has been sent
up from the hotel in the village. Pray
walk in, Miss Verona, your most obedi
cnt. am exceedingly glad that you
have been able to arrive at salts s'aCtory
arrangement with your cousin, the heir. "
"My cousin, the heir! | think, Mr..
Pcppcrton, that you must have gone out
of your mind r. said Mary, drawing her
self up after most stately manner.
But Paul Rohcrm / turned to hel
with smile.
"lIis mind is all right, Mary" said he
~ am your cousin, two or three time
removed, am l not3 AS for being thu
heir, that isn't my fault, is itl The law
suit was begun before was born"
paul, you have deceived mel" criet
Mary, with flashing eyes.
But the next instant they so.tcncd int
! liquid light; her color rose beneath hi
tender glance.
"IInvc ], dcarest2' lie said. mo
when told you that l loved YOU. Tia
is the main thing, isn't It, dearest? W.
were going to be happy without Horn
bower Hall-cannot we be happier still
whh it2"
And Fanny Tullan and Ella Hay cam
to the wedding and helped the bride re
jOicc.
"Thc story has ended exactly as i
ought to-" said Fanny-"as loretold i
wouldr
"And now we know that povcls aren'
bit more romantic than rcal liie'" an
serted Miss Hay. S tudw Night.