Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-03-21

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"a M NJ lila contiguous blu
GA INA WHs grass farms, each O
r&x,. HNA W generous acreag @
Wa NEs8A hM| Both men were de
y MEsls2A seended from goot
y1MlH'Z old Kentucky stock
NaH and both were ex
W tremely proud o
their unstained and honorable lineage
Esquire Israel Longacre, who got hi
title from having been at one time {
country magistrate, was about sixty
years Of age, of rotund figure ant
strong constitution.
He carried his years we'll, ant
although possessed of naturally kline
heart, was at times subject to violent
attacks of choler, during which periods
oftemporary insanity ho would neithe,
reason himself nor listen to the req.
soning OF others.
He married, late in life, q very esti
mable lady, and had one daughter-s
beautiful and accomplished girl who,
at the time of which ] write, was just
budding into womanhool.
The squire's wife had died four years
previous, andsince that time his house
hold affairs had been managed by his
only unmarried sister, lady of un
certain age, spare figure and vinegary
temper.
The squire-albeit all people and
all things we're usually subservient to
his will-had mortal dread of his
spinster sister, and n wholesome re.
speot for her sharp tongue.
She had absolute control of house.
hold matters, and as the squire never
interfered with her arrangements, the
pair got along very nicely together.
Both loved the beautiful girl who
had grown up to womanhood under
their eyes, and the heart of the old
squire could always DO approached
through Nellie, who was the image OF
her dead mother.
The daughter and her aunt-who
rejoiced in the name of Dorotheu
Longacre-never quarreled, and taken
altogether, the Longaore household
machine moved smoothly.
The Longacres' nearest neighbor
was Colonel Arson Shortrood, who at
one period OF his life rode ut the head
OF q valiant regiment of militia.
The colonel was widower of long
standing, his excellent spouse having
departed this life several years ago,
leaving to him, as legacy, boy,
now grown into manhood, who was
named Arson, junior, after his father,
and who was o model of industry and
sobriety.
The colonel's household goddess was
q buxom widow, Mrs. Abigail Sloan,
who was related to the head of the
household by marriage, being the only
sister of his late consort.
The colonel was ffty.five or there
abouts, was tall. angular and bony,
and disposed to be unrelenting and
unyielding in disposition.
The colonel and the squire had lived
neighbors for thirty years, and up to
about six months previous to the
occurrence I am about to describe,
were warm friends.
They fell out over trifling matter.
The colonel owned fine flock of
merino sheep, Of which he was very
proud. The squire was the possessor
of large mastiff dog, of whose in
telligenoe and good qualities he was
always boasting.
One night an animal, supposed to
be Il sheep.killing dog, broke into the
oolonel's fold, killed a valuable buck
and mangled several ewes.
When the doughty military chief
tain discovered his loss he was furious,
and stormed in true soldierly style.
"What dog could have done itT'
inquired the son, who had been at
tracted to the spot by his fathers
storm Of words.
"Why, that cur of Squire Long
acre's," bawled his father. "He shall
pay me heavy damages, OF I'll have
the law on him."
II don't think -" began the son.
"Well, don't think, then !" beloved
his father. "I'll do the thinking"
"But-"
"Shut up!" roared the colonel,
frothing at the mouth
And young Arson was silent.
The colonel hurried back to the
house for his cane, and in few min
utes was striding across the field in
the direction of Squire Longacre's
mansion.
"What's the matter with your
father?' asked buxom Mistress Sloan,
as young Arson entered the kitchen,
where she was at work, shortly after
the departure OF his sire.
"He's got one Of his mad spells on, -
was the answer.
"Thst's plain to be SEEM" shifted
the widow. "But what, in goodness
name, has brought it on?"
IA dog broke into the fold last
night, killed fine buck, and crippled
several ewes"
"For PHYS sakel Well, I never
That's enough to make a man mad
Whose dog was it?"
"He thinks it was Squire Long
aore's."
"Not Bruno?"
II believe he has only one dog"
"Well, l for one, don't think Bruno
will kill sheep. I know he will not.
and the squire is too neighborly and
too wise man to quarrel with, just
on a SUSPICION like that"
"Theyll quarrel, thought" said
young Arson. ''Father has gone over
there, mad, and the first word he ut.
tiers will start the squire"
"1tsIa great pity" commended
Mrs. Sloan.
"That's what I say" assented An
son.