Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-10-03

cG&s1 f;%A] in it? Why should
MS;1x-S:uE she have been 80
iAl.L-:U startled on detect
$Ii:;SSAN:Y::,, ~ ing my presence in
HSsS the library?
Observation-Disclosures And then q de.
lightful, blissful feeling shot through
me. l staggered for moment like
one Observation-Disclosures with my
own happiness. said to myself a
few minutes since that if could but
detect the portrait on which Miriam's
attention had been fized ! would be
master of her secret.
Was that SO? I had found the por-
trait. Had it really made me the
master of her secret?
paused as put to m sslf the ques.
ton, and drew a deep breath. Then
I strove to answer it with other ques-
tions The master of her secret! Was
that secret love and was it love for
me?
Yes, I felt sure OF it. What other
answer could there beP She had loved
me all along. She had "let conceal
ment, like a worm in the bud, feed on
her damask cheek" l was in the
seventh heaven of delight. Mine,
after all, would be the privilege of
breathing that potent word which
would start my Galaten into life.
l descended to the drawing room
and found that not only had the argu-
men, ended, but that irascible old
Mowbray had departed-and, of
course, Miriam had departed with
hin.
"The old bear!" exclaimed.
"That's the ar imal he is. and not an
artichoke. He would be libel on the
vegetable kingdom By Jove, Miriam
must have lively time of it, one way
or the other. I must change all that
by and BY"
was already beginning to regard
her as my wife, and was mentally en-.
gagged in the prospective duty of CLIP.
ping my father.in. laws wings. when
hand was softly thrust into my arm,
and. waking from my dream, I saw
the bright eyes of Kate looking up
into mine. They were usually dancing
with a mlschievous light, but they
were serious now.
"Well, Bob," she asked, chow did
you get on? Have you said anything
to Miriam? You have given me the
right to ask you, you know"
"To tell the truth, Kate, I have
scarcely spoken two words to her."
"Oh. then was not guilty when
came upon you in the library of inter.
rupting an avowal. I felt very un-
comfortable at that time, for Miriam
looked awfully conscious and still
more awfully scarlet, and you looked
we'll, l don't know how you looked,
Bob. 1t was sort of expression
shall I say9"
"Please, Kate"
"Well, it WAS the sort of expression
you would expect to find on the face
of man who had Just picked up
parcel and wasn't quite sure what was
inside"
laughed.
'Your keen eyes don't miss much,
Kate. You have guessed somewhere
near the truth. When you came upon
me in tho library I had made a dis.
coverY, but it was only partial dis.
covery. I had found out that Miriam
Mowbray was greatly interested in
portrait. I could net al the time make
. out whose it was. I have since ex.
tended my knowledge"
"WellP" she asked eagerly.
''Now, Kate" I said, teasing her,
''that's where tho curiosity OF woman
comes in. You are as bad as the rest
Of your sex, declare. OF course you
are burning with curiosity to know
whose portrait it wss-confess now"
"Indeed, sir, I am not. I keep my
curiosity for better things. My wo.
mans wit is not so sluggish that it has
not already guessed your mystery"
cha hal" I laughed. ''You think
so, I'll forgive you if you have. Here,
I will tear this sheet from my pocket.
book. Oblige me by writing upon it
the name of the person."
"In whose portrait Miriam was in
terested?"
PRECISELY"
She took the paper and pencil I
handed to her and wrote upon it q
name.
She gave me back the pencil, but
not the slip of paper.
"Am not to hold the paper" I
asked.
"You shall see it," she answered,
folding it tightly up, latter you have
shown me the portrait"
Every we'll, Miss Distrustful," I
said.
ut was Miss Curiosity just now.
You are partial, Bob, to calling PEG.
pie hard names. You are as bad as
the rest of your sex, declare" she
said, pertly turning the tables upon
me for my language OF q moment or so
eince. "But, come, take me to see
this wonderful portrait.
1 took her to the library, opened
the album. and turned again to my
portrait.
"There, Miss PERT" said, pointing
to it triumphantly with my finger,
there is the portrait in which Miss
Mowbray was so greatly interested.
Will you have the kindness to hand
me over tina, slip of 2apeff"
Kate did not answer, but first looked
at me and then at the portrait Then
she closed the album and looked again
at me.
There was q look in her eyes such as
I had never seen there before. It was
OF wonder and yot Of pity-pity for
me, who considered myself the happi.
est man on earthl
But that was the way with Kate. If
she's woman of resource, she's o wo-
man Of surprises as we'll. With her it
is usually the unexpected that hap
pens.
81 have performed my part of the
bargain, Kate. have satisfied your
curiosity. Will you now have the