Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-02-01

took his defeat so much to heart thai
Norah magnanimousiy gave way, and
would sit always working, sometimes
laughing. at others half crying, to OBJ
serve the impatient mans patience.
When Eric was more than common.
ly winsome, Major Armistead Away
said the same:
"Pity his father was scoundrel.
And Norah never demurred. 1t wal
the simple truth.
Eric was now six years old, tall,
thin, delicate, with his fathers hand
some features and black hair.
81 hope to goodness Digby won'i
begin to poster us" cried Major Arm
istead one evening. He was an ole
man now and inclined to peevishness.
Norah looked up quickly.
ut isn't seven years.
"They don't serve their full time il
they behave themselves. In prison
Digby would behave himself"
che will not trouble us, father"
81 don't know. Scamp enough fol
anything. He may think you will take
him back"
81 shall never do that, she replied.
CATER what passed between us he
knows I shall not"
81 hope not, Norah. I hope not,
for Eric's sake. Is that Eric cough
inga" he asked presently.
After listening attentively for few
moments Norah laid aside her work
and ran upstairs. where he still SLEPT
beside her own bed. The child wat
feverish. Next day doctor was called
in, and now began period of intense
anxiety, till one night the end seemed
imminent.
Major Armistead did not undress
at regular intervals he looked into the
room, and Norah shook her head des.
pondently. When the morning sun
broke through the clouds at 10 o'clock,
all the blinds in the little house we're
drawn down, and the light had gone
out of Norah's life.
A few days later she stood with her
father-white. haired and bowed now
beside the open grave. The gray
clouds hung low, and the October
wind blew chilly across the cemetery.
Henceforth she spent many hours
there, always alone, since the distance
was too great for Major Armistead to
walk. She always pictured Eric's
grave as kind Of bed, and himself
asleep, as che often used to watch
him.
II should like to put up handsome
tomb" said the old man. ut isn't
much, but it's all I can do for the
little chap. feel I must do some
thing"
"If we could make some other chill.
dren happy" Norah suggested. "That
is what I should like; to endow a cot
in children's hospital"
Major Armistead entered into the
scheme with immense enthusiasm.
"Of course," he said, presently,
"you must remember that you won't
have much to live on after ! am gone,
dear"
"That does not matter" she on.
swered. "Nothing OF that kind mat.
ters now. Nothing matters in an
empty world. There is nothing left
to live for"
~ will write to Ormond street and
inquire how much it wonld cost" said
Major Armistead. 1--WE will call it
Erlc's Cot
Two days later, going to tho ceme-
terry in the afternoon, Norah came to
sudden standstill few yards from
the grave, then hiding herself behind
some hesdstones, watched the shabby.
looking man who stood bareheaded at
its foot. In spite of his black beard,
and ;mustache, IN spite OF his white,
haggard. dissipated face. she recog-
nized him on the instant.
After standing there few minutes
he covered his face with his hands,
and presently, stopping, broke of one
of the faded flowers from the solitary
CROSS Norah had placed there.
Having stayed until he went away,
she also left the cemetery, hut on
reaching home said nothing to her
father. All the rest of the afternoon
she busted herself in various ways,
her father glancing at her from time
to time, wondering what transformed
and illumined her face.
Despite her troubles, she was q
beautiful woman. Her figure had de.
veloped, and albeit sad and grave, her
face had retained all its former charm.
Tonight it seemed to Major Armistead
like the face of an angel.
At 8 o'clock the postman brought a
letter, but when he would have broken
the seal she came to his chair, resting
a hand on his arm.
"From the hospital, Norah."
'Father," she said, ell have
thought of another way"
"Well, let us see"
II saw Digby this morning." she
faltered.
"Ah, I know the scoundrel wouldn't
leave us alone!' cried Major Armis.
tead.
"He did not see me. He was stand.
ing by the grave. Before he went
away he stopped aud-and broke off a
piece Of stephanotis. He is in very
low water"
''He deserves to bel"
Eyes, he deserves to be. But IL
am afraid he is sinking lower. He
looks utterly broken-degraded. He
can have no hope in life-nothing to
hal him
''Norahl" her father exclaimed,
"you're not going to play the fool !
You know you don't love the man."
T-1 don't know. Since Eric's
death feel differently about many
things. I am not certain about my.
self. see what he has fallen to, but
he is still young man clever-oh,
might there not be some chance for
him if. But I doubt my own
strength. I am not sure I can do it.
As l watched him at the grave the
thought flashed upon me. We talk OF
o memorial for Erici Could anything
be better than to save Eric's father,
body and soul ?"
sCroo late Nnrab mo jao.. H.