Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-05-12
AT DAGGERS' POINTS.


"You see, I've had considerable expe-
ricnce in these Ancona and Fordwav
shares, said Mr. Leigh, rubbing the bald
spot on the crown of his head. "And l
advise you to go in for 'cm"
"Ihanks," said Richmond Grey, care
lcssly, 'l'll look into the matter"
"And all this time am OBTAINING you
from your dinner" cried Mr. Leigh.
"Proy excuse me; l never thought of
that"
"It's of no consequence" said Grey,
moodiy. 81 don't know but that /
shall step into Dclmonicos."
"And Mrs. Grcy!"
The young husband shrugged his
shoulders.
"Pardon an old friends curiosity--but
| hope you have not quawclcd?" asked
Leigh, with solicitous glance.
"Quancled2 We never do anything
clscm
"Arc you in carncst2'
eyes; Serious sober carnestw
"But-pordon me, once again--yours
was a love match"
unfortunately, ycsw
"And you are not happy"
81 don't know why" said tho young
man, with perturbcd face. "No, we
are not happy. Agnes never meets me
with smile. have done my best to
please her, and in vain-and now have
left off trying!"
And Redmond Grey sauntered off with
his hands in his pockets, and his chin
dropping listlcssly upon his breast, while
old Mr.. Leigh looked after him with a
sigh.
"Therc's a screw loose somewhere"
said he. "Thcrc he goes, into the res
taurant with Archer and Lonsdalc;
there'll be several bottles of gold-scal
damaged and round bill to pay, wind
ing up with an evening at billiards."
And off trottcd Mr.. Leigh to the beef
steak that formed his frugal dinner at a
cheap cating-housc. For Mr.. Leigh be-
longcd to the noble army of old bachelors.
At the same hour tall, beautiful wo-
man was pacing up and down the floor of
a handsomely furnished dining-room in a
brown-stonc house up town, while the
rustling of her rich amethyst colorcd silk
dress made sound like the waves of the
sea-
cts too bad" said Agnes Grey, Bit
ing her full scarlet lip. "Thc. second
time he's been late within week. And
yesterday he forgot all about that box
for the theatre. But I'll show him what
think of his behavior when he comes in"
She rang the bell sharply, a servant
hnsNclCu lHc summons.
'Dinncr Spencer" said she.
'5ut, ma'am, my master has not"
DINNER say! Do you hear mc3"
Miss Tilly Handley, Agnes Grcy's ma.
ture single cousin, shrugged her shoul-
ders as Spencer left the room.
as it worth while to excite yourself
about such trife, Agncs7" she said.
"a trihe!" cried the indignant young |
wife. 81 don't call it a trihc. If the
man had particle of affection left for
me he would not treat me sol"
'If he could see your face just at pres
cnt Agnes, he would be pretty certain
to absent himself" quietly observed
Miss IIandley. 'Do you know, my DEAR
! think you scold him too much1"
"Not enough, you mean"
II mean just what say. A man don't
like the reins held too tight"
But when Richmond Grey himself
sauntercd in later in the evening, cloud
came over her classically beautiful face
"Wcll," said he, "does any one want
to 90 to the opera to-night~
''ro the opcra?" echoed Agnes with an
expressive glance at the ormolu clock, |
which occupied the place of honor on
the mantel. at too late"
"Not bit too late, Who cares for
the overture? Will you go2"
Mrs. Grey coldly shook her head.
81 do not care to 90 now.",
"Vcry well, then shall 90 alone"
"Just as you please" said Mrs. Grey,
haughtily. And Richmond Grey went
out, closing the door not very gently be-
hind him.
Agnes burst into tears. Gle behaves
like a brute" said she.
"And you behave like goose" said
Tilly Handlcy. "Now he will not come
back until the 'wec sma' hours, and l
would not if | were hc."
'Let him stay away thcn," said Agnes.
"Oh dear, how wish | had never left
uncle and aunt Mashamw
81 have no doubt Richmond wishes 50
too" said Tilly, calmly.