Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-10-24

"I'm pretty we'll. Sit down o.
that camp stool and let me look a
you, Tom Bradley" she said, as sh
shook hands. 81 suppose you ar
more oonceited than ever after yea
abroad"
"Couldn't be possibly" the youn
man replied calmly. eff this cam
stool goes down with me, and I &c
stains on these duck trousers, I'll SUI
you for damages.
"Your mother must be glad to hav
you back again, said Nan. 81 SHOULD
be il were she."
''Thanks, so kind of you," muir
INJURED Tom. ''Mother and fathe
have taken the Bartlett cottage for tn
summer, so came right out here t,
join them. Thought mother'd eat M
up the day got here"
II suppose you've come back will
trunk full Of photographs to enlight
en- us poor benighted heather with,
sighed Nan, who had ascribed anotho
reason to his sudden appearance OF
the scene; "such as Westminster Alb
hey, the Poets Corner, Parliamen
buildings, and all the cathedrals
I've had friends travelling in Europe
before. Did you climb the Matter
horn9 Or slide down Mount Blanc
Or ride in house boat?"
"Please be sensible, Nan" said Tom
flushing. II won't tell you wore
about Europe if you don't want me TO-
I thought you'd like to hear all about
my trip"
"Perhaps might, Tom, if Europe
hadn't been done brown by all my
friends, long ago and each one thinks
he has done such wonderful thing
that he must exhibit his knowledge
and his photographs to his ignorant
acquaintance. am so tired of 1t
'You were very good to write To
me, if you felt that way about it,
Man," said Tom humbly; "though,
to be sure, you didn't write very
ofton."
"Oh, I wrote to you because you
were such ON old friend OF the family,
and mother enjoyed your descriptions
of scenery so-and all that you know. "
"Why, if I had known that" Tom
replied, 81 would have written to her
instead. Of all sad words of tongue
or pen the saddcst arc these"
"Please, ma'am," piped up a shrill
voice behind Tom. will you look q
here for minute?'
Tom turned around suddenly and
spied very tiny girl standing in the
tall grass, holding a very big yellow
cat in her arms. She was thin and
bony, and the cat was fat and heavy,
so her task was by no means an easy
one.
"'Scuse me. Miss Man," the child
said, noticing Tom for the first time,
II didn't know you was engaged"
1--WE aren't yet, but hope to be
soon." observed Tom calmly. "Who
is this fair damsel, Nan?"
''She's little girl in my Sunday.
school GLASS;" said Nan, frowning at
him. "What is it, Milly, my dear ?"
"Please, Miss Nan, you was tellin'
your class on Sunday OF how fond you
was Of pets," began the girl. land ma
said for me to bring you over our cat
to see if you wouldn't keep it for us
while we goes to the city for q week"
ITO be sure will" cried Nan, gath.
ering the cat into the hammock with
her. 'Isn't he a big one, thought"
"He's got collar on, too, said the
girl, pointing proudly to the leathern
band about the animals neck. "It
says 'Munger's Cat on it-that's onrs,
you know. He's got two names, him.
self. Jim calls him 'Tom,' which !
don't think is very pretty, so I call
him Jenny"
Hes nice and fat" said Tom so.
berly. "He must get lots to eat"
'Sure he does" cried Milly enthu.
''He eats like house
afire, he does"
'Tve heard fire called 'devouring
somewhere BEFORE" said Tom
"What does he eatp"
"Oh, everything" said Milly proud.
ly, "and lots of it. He has fits some
times"
Dear mer cried Nan, II hope
not"
"1f your real good to him he'll out
grow them, l guess" vouchfafed Mil.
ly. 'He don't have 'em often"
'For all small favors let us be duly
thankful Well hope he'll postpone
his fit until after he's returned" said
Tom. "We'll be good to him. Good
BY, Nlilly," he added as a gentle hint.
II might as we'll take care OF it
said Nan with a laugh, as
he little girl ran off over the lawn.
'Munger's cat spends most OF its time
over here as it is, catching birds"
cts not very pretty, is it?" ssid
Tom, regarding the animal obviously.
But there's Q great doal of him."
II think he's splendid" said Nan
ndign lutly; land I'm going to take
him in and show him 10 mother. Don't
Iou want to come, too?" she asked, as
Tom rose.
''No, thank you. Two got to 20
lone, as mother doesn't know I'm
mt. go long, see you later"
Nan stood looking after him for q
minute or two. and then went in at
he little side door, with Munger's cat
n her arms. She expected to see Tom
gain In the evening. but he did not
zone, and she went to bed feeling odd.
y provoked with him. He ought to
snow bow nice 1t seemed to have him
back alter so long an absence, even if
he had been too excited to tell him