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

mind indeed, during your whole visit
you have been anything but agree.
able"
"Thank you so much.
81 never was SO disappointed in
anybody. I had been looking forward
to your coming, and welcomed you so
cordially, and here, instead of being
nice and amusing and kind, as you
used to be, You do nothing but frown
at me from morning till night. What
in the world have done? And if you
are so unhappy with us. why did you
come? Nobody made you. This is a
free country, you can do exactly as
you please.
He looked at her steadily.
81 came down with the intention OF
proposing to you," he said.
This reply was SO unexpected that
she was for tho moment disconnected,
but she Immediately rallied and said
lightly:
"Well, you have evidently thought
better Of it; SO that need not worry
you"
EYES," he answe red, slowly, 81 have
thought better OF it.
Now Miss Howcott believed herself,
and not without justice, to be very
sweet-tempered individual. She hated
quarrels and avoided "scenes" as most
people do rattlesnake; but it was
not in flesh and blood to listen calmly
to sworn admirers declaration of in.
dependence, especially when it was so
impertinently worded
"You we're always CLEVER" she said,
endeavoring to keep the anger that
was consuming her out of her voice,
"and can but congratulate you upon
having displayed your usual good
Judgment. Few men, I believe, enjoy
being refused"
ooh, that was not the reason" he
cried.
The blood swept to her cheeks and
her eyes flashed, but she held herself
we'll in hand, for, be it confessed, an
overwhelming curiosity to know why
he had changed his mind had posses.
sion of her, so in response to this
added bit of rudeness, she said Ian
guidly:
"No? Well, my imagination is not
my strong point, SO fear shall have
to remain in the dark"
II should think you would know"
he exclaimed.
EDO you? I am afraid you have
credited me with brighter mental abili-
ties than l possess.
'1f you do not understand it, it is
because you will not.
ooh, of course, there is one solu-
ton, but that is so little fattering to
my self.esteem that refuse to think
of it,"
"Not fattering to your self-esteem
but what do you mean? I do not
follow you"
A very brilliant and crushing retort
suggested itself to her here, but she
thought better of it lit did not do to
be too clever with men), so instead of
dazzling him with her wit she only
sighed and looked at him with the air
of one who had borne all that the
spirit of mortal could be called upon
to endure.
"What construction have you put
upon my words?" he cried, excitedly.
"You have some idea in your mind"
II hope I have" she replied with
spirit.
"Oh, don't jest with me; be in
earnest for once in your life! What
did you think was my reason for not
asking you to marry me?"
And now for the first time Miss
Howcott departed from the strict path
of truth Improving books to the con.
trary). 81 don't think I thought
about it one way or the other" she
said lazily.
He flushed at this, but after mo.
ment's silence said: "Under the cir
cumstances, I suppose, could hardly
expect anything else."
She looked at him hopelessly.
'Under what circumstances? I wish
you would come out openly and say
what you mean, for either I am hope.
lessly dense to-day, or you express
yourself badly, but don't understand
you at ALL"
'And yet it is simple enough. l
mean, that considering your engage
ment, it is not strange that I should
have but little place in your thoughts.
"MY engagement ?"-amazedly.
"Oh, come now, don't deny it to i
me-" he cried almost roughly, "for I
have it on the best authority! Miss
Netherton told me of it the night [
arrived. She said that you did not
admit to it, but that she knew it to be
true"
"Did she, indeed? And did she
state to whom 2''-with ominous calm.
"She didn't tell me his name-a
New York fellow, she said; somebody
you met at the Springs last summer.
"And so that was why you"
"Whv I did not propose to you.
But surely you knew that. I have al
ways cared for vou-ever since that
first night at the Deane's-so you can
imagine my grief and disappointment
when your intimate friend informed
me that ] had come too late, and adj.
vised me to hold my peace. No wonder
haven't been nice and amusing;'
a man doesn't feel like dancing at his
own funeral"
"What an ordinary expression"
she cried gayly. 81 am afraid you
are deteriorating; however, before
We go any further perhaps you
wouldn't mind hearing that I'm not
engaged, and that our excellent Mary
told you a-or, rather-she got things
mixed. That's more chart
liable. I believe"
"Whatl Had she absolutely moth
ing to go on?"
"Oh, of: course" -smiling-"1 have
! good many friends who have been
verY polite to me, and all that, but it
doesn't necessarily follow that I should
De engaged to any OF them"
'Then why did she tell ME SOP"