Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-08-15
.ner. The vehicle STONED in front

AAhu ~" INV ~ h"u BfoWus "he ~
SPARED OF getting home in time to
avoid awkward questions; but she was
determined to go through with it now
at all costs. The grocer, who looked
knowing, and seemed qnite used to
this sort of thing. showed her upstairs,
and shouted for his wife. The latter
was an exceeding quiet, mild looking
little woman, not at all resembling the
wild witch Nettie had pictured.
"Please." began the girl, timidly,
feeling somewhat foolish, 81 am in q
great hurry, but should like You to
tell me what you can about the person
who wrote this" and she handed her
the note.
"I'll try. MISS" replied the woman,
"but, to tell the truth, I'm not at my
best just now. You see, folks begin
coming to see me early in the morn
ing, and to. day I've had great many
one alter the other, till I'm tired out. u
Nettie looked blank; this was too
bad, after she had come such long
way.
"But can't You tell me anything?''
she inquired, beseechingly.
The woman smiled at her eagerness.
81 dare say I can tell you something
she said; "but I never invent, as
some clalrvoyants do. It's rather a
peculiar thing about me, that, no mat.
ter how tired am, can always see
and describe places, though can't hit
off people or characters at all unless
I'm feeling absolutely fresh"
"Well, the place will be better than
nothing" said the girl with sigh ;
land, please, be as quick as You can.
Nettie watched the woman curiously
as she stood with the note-that had
been taken out of its envelope, though
1t was still folded up-in one hand
Presently she began:
"Overlooking great park I see a
large red brick building, with clock
tower in the centre, surmounted by a
weathercock. Part of the building is
low and long; there are iron ratings
in front and some sentry boxes with
tall soldiers in red uniforms on guard.
They wear helmets with long, white
tassels. Other soldiers, mounted on
beautiful black horses, are just riding
in pairs through the large iron gate,
their helmets sparkling in the sun.
shine"
The girl listened in amazement the
woman had described the barracks
wherein Captain Tasting was quar-.
tered, and she waited feve:ishly the
answer to her question.
"Oh, please go on!" she cried.
"What do you see next?"
"Outside the ratings in front of the
building" continued the other, after
brief pause, 81 see young women
wheeling children in perambulators
they are looking through the bars at
tho soldiers In the courtyard, and"
Here Nettie gave little stamp of i'm.
patience, and begged her to speak of
the writer of the note.
There was short pause; then the
woman started afresh: 81 see in one
wing of the building a beautifully fur
nished room; there are great many
photographs standing about, nearly
all of different young ladies, and some
are in theatrical costume" Here
Nettie interrupted once more, saying
with remarkable amount of heat for
a girl usually so sweet tempered, that
she did not care about the photo.
graphs.
The clairvoyant protested that such
Interruptions would spoil everything,
but at last she managed to come to the
point. "ln this room see tall, fair
man with dark eyes; he looks strong
and soldier like, and he sits polishing
the hilt OF q sword, as he whistles o
tune"
Nettie's heart beat faster. "Ohl"
she exclaimed, "can't you tell me what
he is thinking about, and whether he
is" she was about to say Gin love-"
but she stopped and merely added
"tell me something about him"
"Just now," continued the woman,
che appears to be in some perplexity;
can't be quite sure what about, but
1t seems that he is deeply attached to
and does not know whether
his love is returned or not. But I
think he is fairly hopeful that it u.s."
At this point the exertion appeared
to be too much for her, and, breaking
off suddenly, she put her hand to her
forehead, exclaiming: 81 can't go ON
any more!'
The girl scarce heard; she repeated
the words deeply attached to some
one" over and over again to herself,
and her eyes sparkled as she exclaimed,
'Please, please take little rest, and
try and SEQ something about the girl
he is attached to, or wait minute
perhaps you could describe where she
livesP That will do quite as well!"
eyes, I will do that if can" an.
swered the woman, "but, indeed,
miss. you mustn't ask me any more"
She seemed to make tremendous eff.
fort to collect herself, and then re.
sumed: "The house connected in some
way with the mans thoughts is good
sized one, painted a dark red, with
,reepers round the lower windows and
up the balcony. 1t is in q
square, near one end, and at the other
there is church with tall spire."
"That's it'll" cried Nettie, wild with
'that's st. Gregory's,
Maccles6eld Squared Go on, go on !"
"There is large figure 81 painted
in gilt on the brown doors and on the
I see large white bird with a
yellow crest on Q stand"
"Ob |" cried Nettie in raptures,
that's quite enough-the old cooka.
200 settles it. I cant tell you how
grateful ami" And in proof she
gave the woman a sovereign; then
hurried back to her cab and drove the
whole way home, where she arrived
ate for lunch. But she was in such
state of bliss that none of the ques-
sionings or seedlings naturally show
cred upon her had the slightest effect,
and this sudden abnormal elevation OF
spirits completely mystified the men,
bers OF her family, who made futile
efforts to divine it's cause.