Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-12-11
An Early Bird.

} I'll explain--though you don't deserve
any such consideration from me, really.
Now listen to this. Every morning,
before breakfast, Joan wanders off by
herself through the park toward the
shrubbery, and soon afterward, by an
odd coincidence, Captain Moston also
Strolls a,Vav Int ;"."-;-I,- - ~ -
posite direction. Now, doesn't that
strike You as being somewhat signi-
ficant? While you are Laying in bed
unless you have amended your hab-
its of late no doubt he is improving
the golden opportunities. You recol-
le:t uncle's adage, that women are apt
to guage mans affection by his per-
sistence, especially where - But
the waltz is over, and here comes the
crowd. My poor Tom, truly I pity
you!"
And with mock k-solemn shake of
her head she was gone.
1 mOoned up into the billiard room,
where subsequently was badly beaten
by my l5-year-old cousin Harold in a
"hundred up game. His fukes were
phenomenal
"Say, Tom, you're bit off color to-
night, aren't you?" he exclaimed pat
ronizingly. "Never saw you make
such rotten show in my life. But
what d'you think of my play, ell? I've
come on lot lately, haven't 1? Fact
is, Captain Moston's been tipping me
q few wrinkles the last day or two.
Jolly clever chap, the captain, you
know"
| L offered no comment-audibly.
The youngster entered into a glow
ing eulogy of the captains many splen-
did accomplishments and good quail
ties, rattle to which had neither the
desire nor the patience to hearken.
Incidentally, however, he happened to
mention that the bedroom of the gen
tleman in question opened out of the
same gallery as mine ne--was, indeed,
next but one to it. Later, when 1
passed this particular room on my way
up to bed, chanced to observe that
the key projected from the lock on the
outside of the door. Ere I fell
asleep 1 had settled upon ruse de
guerre.
Waking soon after daybreak,
dlessed hastily and slipped out into
the corridor. Listening at the cap
tlin's door, I could hear his hea,y
regular breathing within; he was sti
fast asleep. My fingers sought the
protruding key, and softly, warily,
turned it, tho bolt sliding into ito
socket without sound. Now, I we'll
kne that oil tho apart,,,onta !" my
unrle's house were fitted with patent
fastenings, each one having its special
key, no one key opening any other
lock than it's own, and | fattered my
self upon tn tactical use to which |
hal been enabled to put my know.-
edga. Ola certainty there would be
no Captain Moston at the rendezvous
that morning. Chuckling over the
success of my stratagem, thrust the
key into my pocket and hurried down
stairs.
Half an hour afterward, from the
embrasure of the library window, /
stood and watched Joan issue from
the stone porch, cross the terra,e
and wend down by the shrubberies-
exactly as I had been led to expect.
Myself unseen, 1 followed after, until
she entered the ornate wooden chalet
near the tennis court. In few min
utes she reappeared with bicycle,
which she trundled down to the level
gravelly path beyond. Here she
waited, tapping the ground vexelly
with the toe of her boot. glancing this
way and that at intervals, with growing
impatience. I thrust through the
bushes behind her.
"How late you are!" she cried, turn
ing round at the noise; then, seeing
me, she stammered confusedly: ooh,
Mr.. Varcoe, II expected thought
it was some one else!"
"That's little disappointing for
both of u.s." answered, biting my
lip. "It was some other person you
hoped to see-eh?"
II said-expected."
"Don't you think it amounts to
about the same thing" 1 hazarded
suavely, "under the circumstances"
"Not at all why need it? Still, I
must confess wish you had not come
just now. didn't want to see you,
nor you to see me-"
Iswung round as if to leave her.
"a girl never looks her best when
learning to cycle" "she went on. Zone
always feels so helpless, SO awkward,
so very ridiculous an object at first
That's why I practise out here before
the other folks are astir. And now
you've found it out and have come to
laugh at me-"
'T declare not" said 7, returning
to her side. 81 hadn't even the
faintest idea that you were qualifying
for feminine IxiOn-"
''There! Isn't that poking fun at
me? Really, it's too bad! Why, Ber'
tha told me that you yourself were al
enthusiastic cyclist almost as expert
a rider as Captain Moston. You ought
not to chaff or discourage beginner
for 1 do so want to learn.
Again she peered round in search
of him who, to my certain knowledge,
would never put in an appearance that
morning.
"How annoying!" she CALCULATED,
pursuing up her lips. "What can be
keeping him? 1 wouldn't have given
him those three dances last night if l
had thought he would have failed me
now. That was the condition.
"a pleasurable one. surely" l
murmured, trying vainly to recOllect
more than one Of the three dances
mentioned. "To be Of service to You
in any way, to be with you, alone. and
in"
ooh. must it not be delightful"
cried Joan, in ecstasy. 81 can imag-
inc nothing more glorious!
The exclamatio struck me as being
somewhat incredible. Looking up in
surprise, I found that she had not
been paving heed to my words at all;
r. H., ,orta1 she stood gazing with