Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-06-05
had made up his mind that you
must halnnn IN thn rnnn Of m vths y

why she had never before noticed
what provokingly complacent smile
her tiance's was. ''But you know you
were to have been here at 4.3O," and
then she sat down on stool at her
grandmother feet.
"Dick, will you ring for tea?"
smiled the old lady, softly stroking her
darling's curly head, and then, turn
ing to the silent figure on the hearth
rug, observed that she had never seen
so extraordinary likeness before be-
fore between brothers.
1t appeared to Nellie that Dick
seemed anxious to change the subject
but when Grannie was once launched
Oh topic it was not easy to arrest
her, and presently she was giving her
opinion on the mysterious tie existing
between twins, and the wonderful love
they had for each other, Dick endeav-
oring meanwhile to enter into half
whispered conversation with his fancee,
an endeavor that was distinctly fail
~rss
"And how long are you going to re-
hi"Ah III 1NoshcNoi dShco tuo oNt
lady at last, smilingly looking at Jack,
as he turned over some prints on the
table. "'The season here, if there is o
season, is almost over"
Jack glanced ut his brother before
replying, and it was Dick then who
answered for him, airly remarking
that an hours stay ought to be sufi-
cient, if it was business that had
brought him there.
Nellie looked from one to the other,
and wondered at the uneasy expression
on the face of her fiance-wondered
still more why she had ever thought
him good looking.
Whatever the nature of Jack Vere-
ker's business at Rostrevor, it was not
finished quite as soon rs Dick ap-
peared to think it would be, for two
weeks passed and he was still at the
quiet seaside resort. Mrs. Joyce was
hospitality itself, constantly inviting
the two brothers to luncheon and din
ner at the little hotel where she had
put up, but Jack seldom made his ap-
pearance.
1t was evident to Nellie that it was
she whom he avoided, and considering
her hatred of him it was strange how
indignant she was at the thought.
His eyes haunted her continually
she found herself perpetually longing
to bring that look to his face that ii
had worn when she told him he was to
"forget," and then she was always
comparing him, unconsciously, with
his brother, comparison in which,
strange to relate, it was her fiance that
suffered.
"Jack is coming up tonight to say
goodby," remarked Dick one evening
at dinner, and Nellie was certain there
was relief on his face, but she allowed
her grandmother to say the necessary
polite things, and only longed for the
meal to be over.
1t was easier far, she told herself,
to climb to Rostrevor Stone in the
gathering darkness than to meet the
gaze of those gray eyes, easier the
stiffest accent than to utter formal
goodby to the man who had shown hel
her own heart!
She was engaged to Dick, and Dick
was Grannie's 8 favorite, and the Joyces
never broke faith--but she must be
away when Jack came tonight.
Rostrevor Stone is more easily
climbed in broad daylight than in the
dusk of late autumn evening, and
presently Nellie, whose thoughts were
far distant. found herself embracing
Mother Earth.
Her fall, coming so unexpectedly
together with the intense loneliness ot
the scene, caused her to close her eyes
for q moment, and then--then most
wonderful thing happened. Strong
arms were suddenly placed around her
her auburn head was pillowed on 9
broad chest, and in tone of ineffablt
tenderness voice whispered in her ea'
three little words--but three word:
which made all the world seem glori
fed.
my little girl" it was all he said
but Nellie lay still with cosed eyes
wondering could heaven hold greate
rapture than this.
Jack" the violet eyes opened, ant
reminded him of his treachery to hi
brother, and the next moment the tw'
stood facing each other in the dusk
and an anguished cry burst from him
"God forgive me, 1 never meant yo'
to know, looking into the sweet youn!
face, which now reflected his owl
misery, "but am going away, and
forgot myself"
,, "It was not your fault" she mur
INJURED, while despite the pain of tn
awakened there thrilled through he
the exquisite delight of loving and be
ing loved. "But take me home nov
to Grannie, and do us shall try to d
Z, forget"
"It is the second time you hav
told me to do so-then as now. I al
the wrong man-it is the fate in tn
life of some.'
Life itself is wrong, think" sn
cried, struggling for moment agains
temptation to be true to her heart a
all costs. "But there-let us go home
/ am tired"
"Have you heard the latest! eN
\ claimed one gossip to another 81
. months later. "You know the firm {
I Vereker & Co.? Well, it turns out this
one of the nephews of the head of tn
firm-Dick Vereker-has been fc
a months defrauding his uncle, and try
ing to put it all down to his brothe
Jacks account, taking advantage
Il the likeness between them. The fe
> low was engaged to pretty heiress
Ireland, and thought to have got ne
o before anything was found ont b'
4 the bomb has burst, and everything
'' known
e "And the girl is heartbroken,
course?"
It "By no means, for this morning hi
h marriage is in the papers; she has col
II soled herself with the brother
e ..T,t tL, ,v,v of women all over I'll