Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-09-28

| LaE5sAiH I <,,. sa We were all of III
Co., m YF}ESsH staying in Wickets
EsH .N ,s.sSSS' field, and Seymour
" n ~ A'had fallen victim
~ ~ sT e to the destinations
.'-- ," of Miss Norah Car.
donnel, possibly because Wicketsfeld
is dull little watering place and there
was nothing else to do; possibly be-
cause he knew, or at least suspected,
that she was worshlped by Stephen
Lambsworthy. and Stephen Lambs
worthy was his especial bette noir.
do not want to attribute unworthy
motives to him; as matter of fact, |
liked him very much; SO let us give
him the benefit of the doubt and say
he had grown to adore Miss Cardonnel
because Miss Cardonnel was adorable.
Anyhow, it was plain that he was
hopelessly in love, and though I had
been honored by Lambsworthy's con-
fidences in the matter | personally did
not give much for his chances.
No two fellows could possibly have
been more unlike than Stephen and
Harry Seymour. Harry. dashing,
good-humored, high-spirited and
handsome; Stephen, meek, nervous
and with next to nothing to say for
himself. That both were very young
was their only point of resemblance.
I thought had gagged Miss Carbon,
nel's character sufficiently to prophesy
which of her admirers would be ac-
cepted, presuming they both pro.
posed, and ] confess I was started
when Seymour display such strong IT.
ritation at the news that Lambsworthy
was expected on the scene.
"Confound him!" he said, "what
does he want here? Can't he read in
town just as well?" I'VE were sup
posed to be examining for an exam,
the three of us). "What does he want
to come bothering here for?"
"Well, you forget, l said, Glands
worthy may be said to be the discov-
erer of Wicketsfeld At all events,
neither you nor | would ever have
come down here if 1t had not been
that he was always talking about it.
We should never even have known the
Cardonnels but for him-remember
that"
Seymour growled. 1t was q fact
that Lambsworthy had introduced us
to them, and Harry never cared to be
reminded Of it.
81 don't want him." he said 81
don't get on with him; he is your
friend, not mine, and he bores me-
He is like young lady and he wears
spectacles."
HE wears spectacles because he is
short-sighted," 1 observed; "and as
to being like a young lady, that is all
rot, Seymour! Anyhow, if he is such
a complete duffer, why need you mind
his coming?"
"What do you mean?" asked Harry,
sharply.
"You are annoyed at his arrival be-.
cause you are afraid you may find
your nose out of joint when he ap-
pears. say if he is such duffer why
need you be alarmed?"
ooh! pooh, pooh, rubbish !" said
Seymour. 81 afraid of Stephen
Lambsworthy? That is too rich L..
that is really funny" He made n
loud noise, which understood was
meant to represent laughter. "You
won't beat that if you talk for month.
Ha, ha, hal Why, you don't mean to
tell me you suppose for a single i'll
slant that n girl like Miss Cardonnel
would seriously consider throwing her
self away on a noodle like lambs
worthy! Good Heavens! h.laid
Afraid Of Lambsworthy! Ha, ha,
hal"
"Well, that's all right" I said. 81
am glad, for your sake, you are SO
confident. assume, however, that
you won't deny she encouraged him
when we all came down here? Be-
cause I saw her with you, and I saw
her with him, and | say she did !"
"She hirted with him." said Sey-
mour, tolerantly; "she hirted with
him little, yes! Why not? A girl
must amuse herself. l do not com.
plain of that"
CHATS lucky" 1 replied; "singu.
larly iortunate-for your own peace
of mind. His letter says he will be
with us tomorrow. He wants me to
look out for room for him."
"Cannot our landlady accommodate
the gentleman"
"No," | said, 'she can't-.-not with
n bedroom, that is He will come in
here to meals, of course, but he will
have to sleep out OF the house"
Seymour shrugged his shoulders, as
much as to say he was really Indifferent
rs to the arrangements, and lounged
away in the direction OF the Parade,
/ where, l have no doubt, he expected
to meet the Cardonnels, as was his
daily custom.
I am ashamed to say that ] neglect.
ed to engage shake-down for Lambs.
worthy that afternoon, and rs he ar
rived by al earlier train than the one
he had mentioned on the morrow, it
devolved upon him to so around and
explore for himself after he got IN.
However, he was quite cheerful