Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-08-29

him, "that you didn't care for any.
body, and wouldn't until you had seen
more OF the world, for you are very
young, Kate, in spite of your many
experiences.
''Carl," said Miss Dosne solemnlY,
"the bar has lost q shining mark in
you, but I am proud to claim you as &
relative"
1t was fortnight later; the house
party would dispense on the morrow,
and Miss Doane, to whom Westwood
was dear, wns taking farewell stroll
through the gardens. She was idling
down q path when, catching sight oil
Stewart over the tops of the rose
bushes, she ostentatiously put up her
parasol and turned in the other direc.
ton.
But he was not to be SO easily
thrown off; with curl of the lip (for
he had recognized the maneuvre) he
hurried toward her.
"NIiss Doane!" he cried. twill you
spare me few minutes?'
She turned her head.
81 am not in a pleasant frame of
mind. Uncle forwarded mo my dress
makers bill this morning, with certain
pungent comments of his own APP
pended, and my best manuscripts has
Just been returned to me as 'unavail-
able,' so the atmosphere is not rosy"
"Never mind about that. I will not
detain you long. "and he pulled up a
bench.
For a few moments there was
silence, for now that ne had gained
the coveted interview Stewart did not
seem to know what to say, and Miss
Doane, with the point of her parasol,
sketched triangles and circles and all
sorts of impossible devices in the
sandy path. While looking the pic.
ture of careless inattention, she was
in reality curious to know how long
her companion intended to continue
staring ahead OF him. When he finally
did speak his remark was so different
from what she expected that she al
most started.
II suppose you know you are very
beautiful" he said. doubtless your
mirror has told you that already, so I
need no: weary you with repetitions,
but feel sure that you do not realize
how absolutely charming you are"
She looked at him wonderingly it
was a favorite method OF hers, and
usually worked we'll, but now it failed
to produce the effect she intended.
"Don't look like that" he said, "or
shall think you are not sincere, and
don't want to think that. ! want to
carry away the kindest thoughts OF
you"
"You have changed, she said. "Ten
days ago you told Mary Fair I was
thoroughly heartless."
"Did 1? Well, that only shows I
was fool. I know you better now /;
and what is more, understand you. "
A slight pause.
II heard up at the house that you
we're engaged to your cousin, and
while the news could not but hurt me,
it was in one sense a relief, for knew
at once why you had avoided and al
most ignored me. You wanted to save
me pain. Experience has taught me
that if a man saw much of you he
generally cared for you, and you tried
to ward me off. But you cannot keep
the moth from the candle, and I loved
you in spite Of your colduess. 1t al
most looks as if there was something
in your theory, doesn't it?"
Miss Doane gathered herself to.
gether. Stewart did not know it, but
she was summoning courage to tell
him the truth about herself. She
loved to be we'll thought of, and it
was genuine sacrifice to speak, but
she could not, in common honesty,
allow him to remain under his de.
fusion.
"You must not think too we'll OF
me" she began.
~ could not" he cried. "One
rarely sees so much youth and beauty
and simple goodness united as I find
in you"
Simple goodnessI The words
scorched her.
"You are all wrong" she cried,
with burning cheeks. II am not the
least bit like that. Don't you see ?
Cant you understand 1t vexed me
to have you laugh at my theory, SO I
determined to make you an example
of its truth. It was from no good
motive-not to ward you Off or to
save you PAIN but with the distinct
intention of making you care for me,
that I pretended to be indifferent. ,"
Stewart got slowly to his feet.
"And So" he said, ''in support of q
theory, for the sake Of proving your
self in the right, you could play with
a mans heart and make havoc OF his
life. Fool, fool, that i was, not to
understand +, and he struck one palm
sharply against the other. well, "
with sarcastic courtesy, 1.-THE point is
gained, the poor dupe is at your feet.
l hope you are content.
"Coutentl" che cried. 81 was new
er so sorry in my life. 1t seems
strange I should care. doesn't it? As
you say. I have gained my point-and
yet"
EYES," he said, ''and yet?"
Instead Of replying she turned her
head swiftly away, but not before he
had seen that her eyes we're full OF
tears. He stood irresolute, overcome
by surprise; then he approached her
Don't cry like that" he said,
"You never meant to hurt me; it was
pretty bit Of acting to you, and il
was stupid and overdid my part you
are not to blame. There. look up.