Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-04-25

said, with q wave
OF the hand, "the evil consequences
of Boosting. My young friend init
mated that I would be unable to mar
rate the adventures of Jack the Giant
Killer; vanity prompting me, took
up the challenge and succeeded so adj.
mirably as a story teller that, be-
hold, he clingeth to me closer than a
brother"
Zone must pay the penalty for being
attractive" she said.
"You speak with feeling, OBJ.
serve"
She did not answer, but shrugged
her shoulders carelessly, and went on
down the path to the garden; he
watched her light dress fitting
through the trees, until the foliage
hid her from view; then he turned
and set manfully to work to rid him
self of his admirer.
After an extensive outlay of energy
and diplomacy, success crowned his
efforts, and he was free to follow
where his fancy led.
When he reached the cosey nook
where Miss Howcott had established
herself, he found her lying back in her
chair, staring up into the branches
above, but hearing his step, she turned
and greeted him. 81 am glad you
have come" she said, though without
animation. 81 have been trying to
improve myself. don't know why I
try to read imp, owing books; the re-
suit is always the same.
"What made you do t?" he asked
III amazement.
ooh, don't know. I heard Mary
talking the other night about how
people wasted their time and oppor.
tunitieg and as I knew I was doing
both, I thought I would try and re-
form. You see, have even set up a
work basket" and she poin.ed to the
dainty silk and straw arrangement on
her knee.
ut is very pretty" he said vaguely.
eyes, know it is. I tried to make
it look severe and plain, like Mary's,
but it was perfectly hopeless"
"Heaven forbid" he exclaimed.
"She looked at him doubtfully.
II don't believe you like Mary, she
said.
"Even if that were true" he replied
with unwonted humility, "of what
consequence is my humble opinionp"
Everybody like her," she went on.
"She is so correct, 80 altogether every
thing that she ought to be; but per.
haps you want to be original and diff
ferent from other people,"
"Perhaps."
"Jack thinks she Is immensely
clever, and Mr.. Stone seems quite
fascinated.
"Did he tell You sop
''No, but, broke off, not
caring to state that she had only heard
OF the latter's admiration from Mary
herself--"but one can see for ones
SELF" she finished bravely.
"Really? Then I shall begin to
think that lam lacking in penetration,
tor he doesn't strike me at all as love.
sick swain but of course Miss Neither
fon ought to know"
''Did I say Miss Netherton knew"
He professed to be shocked. II beg
your pardon. OF course you did not.
I must have been following out train
OF thought of my ownl"
81 hope" she said, slowly, II do
hope you don't think am the kind of
girl who likes to hear another one
abused, for while I don't pretend to
be perfect by any means, am not like
that"
An expression of tenderness came
into his careless face.
"Rest easy" he assured her moth.
ing is further from my thoughts.
Don't You know that believe you to |
be generous and womanly, and that I |
would never suspect you of anything |
petty"
"Would you not? I wish I de.
served your good opinion, but Mary
says"
who cares what Mary says9"
"Now I am sure you don't like
1er."
"Well, if the truth must be told,
lont."
"Why not? She likes you; she said
'nly yesterday that she thought that
'ou were an estimable young man."
Mr.. Armstead looked intensely dis.
,usted.
"Estimable, indeedi ! Aatter my.
elf" he broke of. II don't believe
he said anything of the kind; I be-
ieve you made that up"
Gam I to understand that my verac.
ty is in doubt?"
"There are some questions that are
letter left unanswered" he replied,
"Well, you can believe it or not
he said it; she has little way Of say.
ng things that fret people; not that I
hInk that she means it."
"How charitable The improving
looks are getting in their work; but
o return to our murtons and answer
our question. My reason for not lik.