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

| fed.
The next day, as Nan was making
cake in the kitchen, she became aware,
rs she raised her flushed face from an
inspection Of the oven, OF the fact that
Tom was sitting in the open window,
swinging his feet against the side OF
the house.
GLOW are you?" he said affably. ~
thought this was Thursday, and the
cooks afternoon out"
"That's just the reason I'm doing
the baking, Tom," said Nan little
Grossly. "What did you come for
scrapings?"
"Your mother told me to amuee
myself on the porch; but l exhausted
everything, even the cat, and
came to look for you,
replied Tom solemnly. ~ had no
idea that Tom, alias Jenny, had such
fondness for sailed peanuts.
ooh, give me some, cried Nan,
sliding the cake into tho oven. II
just love them"
"sorry, but I only have two or
three left in nv pocket" said Tom.
laying some dilapidatel nuts on the
table. "I've fed most half pound
to the animal. My, but didn't he have
a glorious fit afterward, thought"
"He didn't?"
"To be sure" said Tom placidly.
"He went up and down and around
and around as il he were wound up.
I tell you, Nan, if man-and of
course it will be man-ever invents
a perpetual motion machine, he'll have
an able bodied cat in fit as the foun-
dation of it,"
81 think you're cruell Where is
the poor thing nowP"
"Resting quietly on the porch in
the shade, said Tom, in condescend.
ing tone. II resuscitated him."
"How?" queried Nan, trying to
continue to be severe.
"By Christian science. I just sat
still and pretended that the cat WASH t
having fit, and if you'll believe me,
Nan, he was sleeping peacefully in ten
minutes.
Nan stuck long straw into the
cake and said nothing.
"Say, Man." Toms voice sounded
a little anxious.
Nan looked hard at the cake, and
closed the oven door with exaggerated
care.
"Your mother says you're going to
have house party" ventured Tom.
TOO bad you didn't know I was 60
ing to be in town, isn't it?"
"Oh, don't know" said Nan, fan.
ming herself with her handkerchief.
"l'm afraid you and Harry Morford
wouldn't get on very we'll together.
However, you can come over here when
you want to-they're going to be
here over Sunday"
"You know can't bear Harry Nor
ford" said Tom, swinging his feet
with renewed vigor.
81 didn't ask him for your benefit.
You'll knock all the paint off the house
if you keep on kicking"
~ don't see what you see in him,
really, Nan" Tom went on moodily.
''He makes me tired"
81 don't have to measure my friends
by your tape line," sad Nan coldly.
"When I decide to do so I'll let you
know"
'Tm little hard O. hearing" said
Tom, flushing, "but I think I hear
some one calling me away" and he
dropped out OF sight upon the soft
grass below. Nan was surprised when
he vanished. He had never minded
what she said to him before, and she
pleasant. Still, he had no right to
dictate as to her choice OF friends, nor
to mistreat Munger's cat in that way,
and she did lot care if he never came
back. She caught herself listening.
nevertheless, as she went on with her
work, for his step on the gravel walk,
and could not help feeling disappoint.
ed that he did not return.
When her cake was done she had to
dress, and then it was time to drive
down to the 4.30 train in the old fash.
toned carryall for her guests. She was
not as glad to see them as she expected
to be. but as they were all talking at
once, and each one of the seven was
busy admiring the scenery and raving
over the woods and river, her lack of
enthusiasm was not noticed. She was
tired, and Harry Morford was unu-
sually wearisome in his efforts to en-
terrain her, telling jokes that Nan had
read in the comic papers weeks before,
mingled with bits Of small talk and
gossip in which she was not inter.
ested.
As they passed a turn in the road
Nan saw Tom on horseback, waiting
at one side for the noisy load to 60
by; and she laughed at Harry Nor
ford's joking for the first time.
"That's young Bradley, isn't it?"
he asked, removing his hat in Ian
guild bow. II hear he's come back |
from abroad to 60 into journalism"
HE has been foreign correspon-
dent of the News for year." said |
Nan, starting the old horse into trot
by tapping the reins, land has come
back now to take an editorship on
the staff"
"Indeed?" said Morford, with a
shadow of q sneer in his voice. ~
should not think he'd want to work |
when he could have a gay time and
live on his income"
"Tom is not lazy, and has too
muoh self respect to be idle." Nan in.
tended thisas home thrust. "There,
people. what do you think Of our lit.
tie cottagep"
She was glad to have her mother
come out to Welcome them as they
drove up, for it seemed as if she could |
not hold up her end OF the conversa-
ton any longer, and Harry Morford
was beginning to be provoked. She
reused herself now, and entered into
the fun. though her heart was not in
it. They danced, boated, played
cards and tennis, and she led them all
in everything; but she found no pleas
ure in it, and in her secret heart she
knew wby.