Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-03-14

6cient." Robert Mepsted felt quite o
glow of admiration at his unbending
sternness. He was behaving with
much more courage than he had
credited himself with. 1.-THE fact of
it is, Mary, life in the Albany, with
pleasant rooms and plenty OF work, Is
rather enjoyable. One has no cares,
no trammels, and"
"Aad no companion
The fact said Robert Mepsted.
with al effort, sis the comble de
joie."
She rose from the table AMI walked
again to the portrait.
"!ohe was the kinGest friend l ever
had" said Mary Westenhnnger. "How
good this is of her?"
"My mother" said Robert Mepsted,
rising and standing beside her, "was
always good. She was the only per.
son that knew OF our engagement.
81 am glad that nobody else knew.
We have been saved the congratula.
tons of our friends. And l want to
ask Won something, Robert. There il
no necessity for anybody ever to know.
is there:"
"No necessity at all, dear. would
rather keep it as pleasant secret, to
remember all my life. They were the
brightest of days, those, and l shall
never, never forget them"
SIT is worth coming here" she said
impulsively, ito hear you say so. l
should not have called if l had be.
lieved that. And J. thought that
perhaps there might be more such
days in the future"
'Tne stock Is exhausted" said Mr..
Mepsted. decidedly.
She took very slowly ring from
her finger. 1t was little reluctant
to move, being ring that studied ap.
pearance and liked an effective back
ground.
81 did not send this back" said
Mary Westenhanger, "pecause I did
not like to give it up. But I believe
that it is usual in these situations to
do So"
II have had little experience" he
said, "but if that is the rule let us
make an exception. L would rather
you kept it. 1t will be something to
remind you of me when--when we are
older"
Mrs. Long, looking in to see if any
thing was wanted, noted with some
disturbance that the two young peo-
pie were standing rather closely to.
gether. Mrs. Long coughed the cough
of warning and withdrew with an
apology.
"Will Lady Westenhanger be arch
longer?" said Mepsted, anxiously. He
felt that his reserve of sternness was
giving out, and to listen to her quiet
voice and to watch her eyes for many
moments longer would be fatal.
Mamma usually has good deal to
say to shopkeepers, but she will be
back directly"
"And then we shall say good.by
again. I suppose?"
Somehow, in spite of all this, I'm
not sorry that I've called" she said,
thoughtfully.
cit has been great delight to me-"
81 blamed myself for quarreling
with you before, Robert, but that now
now that this afternoon has hap.
pened. why, nobody can blanc me-"
"That's true. However long I live
I must always feel that my bachelor
hood is due to myself and to no one
else."
She looked round swiftly.
care you going to be a bachelor all
your 1ifa RohortS',
"Why, yes. OF course. I don't
want to marry anybody else-I mean
to soy, I'm comfortable enough as !
am. And dare say when we're TWEEN.
ty years older we shall meet some.
where and we shall decide that it's all
been for the best. I, as a bachelor,
you, as an old maid, will"
81 beg your pardon?"
II say that you, as an old maid,
will"
81 am afraid that you are peering
into the future, Robert, without your
glasses. shall marry"
The newspaper fell from his hand.
"But but you said that you did
not care for any one else !"
II don't see how that affects the
matter. I have proposal in my
pocket now"
"Show it 10 me-"
eff you say, please" said Mary
Westenhanger. And when Robert
obeyed she took from her bodice
letter.
"But this man is one of the most
fearful FOUNDERS in town." cried
Robert Mepsted, distraotedly. "You,
of course, said NO. at once, .dear?"
II thought it better to wait, Robert.
1t is not wise to be impetuous in these
matters"
"But surely, Mary you would never
dream"
He stopped, because his ,ndigna.
ton half choked him.
II do. sometimes. I dreamt once
that you and I were going to be very
happy together. But as that is not
likely to occur, why, an alternative
course has to be adopted"
He took her hand suddenly.
"Mary, you mustn't do this. eaid
I was happy, but that was oil brag.
L m miserable wltnOut you, ana I'm
Furnishing myself more than I can
bear. Let us see what we can do"
"Hadn't we better put our heads
together9' suggested Miss Weston.
hanger, shyly.
Mrs. Long explained the whole
affair the following morning to lady
friend who managed the rooms Of
Colonel Dunkerley at No. Z NJ.
81 could see it all, Mrs. What.is.it,
with 'alf an eye" said Mrs. Long, dis
contentedly. "There's him with the
Jump, as you may say, and way OF
looking at his coffee before he drank
it, as though he was, in q manner OF
speaking, lost in thought; there's
her, tall, good.looking. cheerful
girl, with tears in her eyes before