Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-09-19


in the skirt; for ones skirt didn't
show in ones coffin, and ii she was to
die sudden before styles changed, why,
the waist would do nicely for her to
be laid out in.
"I'm real glad I've got this to wear
to hight" she said. Not that there
was much consolation in saying such a
thing to 'Rastus; but she must say it
to somebody, Ho heard, however,
and answered Eyes" in nm absent way,
as he tilted his chin before the small
mirror that hung between the win
dove. With curiously agsrieved
feeling his mother noticed how care
fully he avoided shaving tho down
from his upper lip. and that he left a
suspicion OF side whiskers.
"Seems to me you're prinkin
moren usual" she ventured.
He colored. He had trick OF
blushing like girl.
81 haven't shaved since Sunday,
and here tits Friday. Getting hard
to suit, amt you, mother?"
Mebbe." she said, laconically.
A moon in its second quarter was
showing above the eastern horizon as
'Rastus walked across the lots after
helping his mother off. A few crick.
cts vibrated from the grass; sweet.
ness born of the first October frosts
lent to the air n subtle exhilarating
quality which gave him an added
buoyancy. Life seemed on this even.
ing to open before him radiant with
hope. When he leapta wall he was iii Il
wheel-worn lane leading from the
main road to the Harlow House, whose
windows were Hospitality alight. BE,
You'd, at the end of the lane, was an
other house, old.fashioned and yellow.
painted. There lived Mr.. and Mrs.
English, two childless, middle.aged
people. They were coming up from
their house now, AS he waited by the
fence in the shadow OF lilac bush he
could see them distinctly III the clear
moonlight--two somewhat bent fig
ures, stepping irregularly. Between
them walked another figure, with
youthful poise of head and shoulders,
and his heart gave queer little jump
at the sound OF girls laugh.
elf I haven't stove my thumb into
this cake," Mrs. English was saying.
"Never mind, ma. Turn 1t 'tother
side to when you hand it in, and
nobody'll notice." suggested her hus.
band.
The musical girl laugh sounded
again.
"Let me carry it, Aunt Martha"
With thrill of satisfaction 'Rastus
saw the napkin covered plate change
hands. The slim, quick stepping
figure was ahead of the others now.
AS she reached the gate he seized the
coveted opportunity, and moved for
ward, awkwardly snatohing of his hat.
"Good evening, Miss Holland. Let
me open the gate for you"
Never did gate latch so long refuse
to lift; and when she had passed
through was it not to pause and turn
back with pretty "Oh dear!" How
lie blessed the rose branch that caught
her skirt, and SO held her for his re.
leasing. "Thank you," she said, de.
murely, looking at him with the moon
light in her eyes. Old Nell came up
at a brisk trot, but his mother was
alone, sitting very erect and holding
the reins far apart.
"The Blake girls couldn't come.
Miss Betsey had bad turn last night,
and Miss Harriet didn't want to leave
her. So you see you could have rode
down we'll enough. I know you've
spoiled your new shoes a-trottin'
through the wet grass cross lots"
"Well, you won't have to ride home
alone" said 'Rastus, happily, as he
helped her out. What were new shoes
in comparison with that interchange
of glance from a girls eyes? 81 don't
believe the Harlows were very much
after all, mother. When I
got here every window was lighted.
We're carly, too"
One by one, in twos and threes. and
merry family loads, the guests arrived /;
and there was talk and laugh and in
terchange of kisses among the women /;
an awkward standing aloof or scraps
Of neighborly chat among the men,
until the elder masculine element
drifted to the kitchen, the younger to
the loug hall and the sitting-room
circle was strictly feminine.
With the first clatter of cups and
plates, heralding coming refreshment,
the company's attitude of constraint
lessened; biscuits and preserves and
as many kinds of cake as there were
present, proved wonder.
full impetus to sociability; and when
coffee was served, steaming hot and de.
fragrant, the last stiffness was
swept away. Some of the IN arried
men even wandered into the sitting
room and looked respectfully at the
tableful of such tin articles as go to
fill the shelves of well.stccked pan
try; the younger people intermingled
freely; games started; girl with an
linnet-like voice seated her
self at the atshmatic melodeon and
sang from the Gospel Hymns" The
"tin wedding surprise" was
q social success.
Lou Harlow, bustling about among
the guests, was more busily hostess
like than Mrs. Harlow herself. "Sarell
never mistrusted until the last min.
ute," she was telling everyone.
"When we suggested her fixing more n
usual for the evening, she said she
just knew something was up"
eyes, it was q real surprise until
then," corroborated Sarell Harlow,
her usually quiet face very animated.
II didn't suppose anyone would re.
that Will and had been mar
ried ten years to-day. It's real pleas
ant to have ones friends SO rememb ar
ing"
Mrs. Greer, taking inventory of the
tin things OH the table, smiled being.
nantly upon the speaker. She had
found but one dipper among the pile,
and naturally felt the prestige OF be.