Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-06-19

"VNNCht heNt W Vtii leu SlON.
ut takes good stuff to abide that
kind of handling" said Bale. "The
good stuff's the better for it, But it's
no use trying it on Stag. As matter
of fact, you can't have the good stuff
without it, but it's pity to treat all
sorts alike"
He was making parable of the
matter in his own mind, and he walked
on thinking of it in a sore hearted and
rather empty-headed fashion. He
passed the frowsy town and came out
on the road TO Quarrymoor, with its
almost instant hint of country odors
in the darkened air. 1t was late
spring weather, almost summer, and
the smoke veil hung high and thin.
The stars shone through it vaguely,
and dew was falling. He walked on
for an hour, clean into the country,
not knowing or caring where his feet
led him, and suddenly he was aware
that the moon had risen, broad and
full, and that nightingale was sing
ing.
"Why, Bale, old lad!" a CHEEKY
voice called out. "What brings you
here?"
"There's nightingale in the copice
yonder," said Bale. "Listen"
They kept silence for minute, and
the birds song, which had been
checked at the sound of the footsteps,
began again. The newcomer tidgetted
a little, and after minute or two said:
cts q pretty music enough. But
who'd ha' thought of your caring for
it, Bale? Going home again?"
eyes," said Bale. "At least-I
don't know about home. I shall drop
in at the Sir Ferdinand"
"Ah!" cried the other, "striding on
again with Bale at his side, II should
think that was more in your line"
"Well, yes," said Bale, 81 suppose
it is. Shall we set ourselves to walk
toward glass?"
"Why, no." said his companion.
"Not tonight. I've better work ON
hand. You've always been trust
worthy sort of chap in way, Bale.
You can keep secret?'
"I've kept one Or two," Bale ans
wered.
"Why," said the other. 1.-THE
secrets this, Bale. I'm going to get
married."
"Oh!" said Bale. you've squared
the old lady, have you?"
eyes. I've squared the old lady,
and I'm off now to the top of Hill Road,
my lad, to carry the news to the young
'un."
"The young lady?" said Bale.
"The young lady," said his COM
panion. "She's heen rare and down.
hearted this six months past about the
old woman's opposition. She'll cheer
up above bit when break the news
to her. And look here, Bale, old lad
You and me have always had liking
one for another. There's a bit of q
difference in our stations in life, but
I've never made difference on that
account. Have /, now? Come! Have
II"
"No," cried Bale; ''you never have. "
"When a mans married." said the
other, "he's got to let his wife have
something of say about the company
he keeps. Now, sometimes you are n
most extraordinary racketty chap, Bale.
You know you are. Selina's got bit
of down ON you, old lad."
"Don't you trouble about me,
George" said Bale. II know what
Miss Rice thinks about me, and know
what I think about Miss Rice. We're
never likely to trouble each other"
"Why?" said the lucky lover, check
ing his walk suddenly and facing
round. "What do You think about
Miss Rice?"
"Oh! cried Bale, "don't let's have
any Misunderstanding. I've the very
highest opinion of Miss Rice. She s
made up her mind that I'm a wastrel,
and she's let me see her opinion. She's
quite right, George-quite right. I
am wastrel. I'm no fit society for
her, and if, as a married woman, she
makes up her mind as I'm no fit COM
panion for her husband, why, all L say
is, her will be done. I shall never
think the worse of her. lisa woman's
business to keep her own man straight.
Well, here's the Sir Ferdinand. Good
night, George, and good luck"
"Not yet," returned George. "We
haven't got to the bottom of what l
wanted. Try aud be bit steady, Bale.
That'll bring Selma round; and I'd like
to see an old chum at the fireside now
and then, don't want to lose you,
Bale"
"Oh, we'll! Well talk O. that an
other time. Neither Miss Rice, as she
is, nor Mrs. Truman, as she will be,
wants me about her. Good night,
George. We shall meet tomorrow.
How Bale Tolley, who had gone to
the bad this three years, went head
long to the worse from that evening
forward, is not worth telling, and yet
was told in Thousand households.
There was good choice of blackguard
society in the neighborhood for any
man who cared to seek it, Bale found
the worse, and played the uncrowned
king among it. His name grew to be
| DyWOTu. hnAlOVS phio ohto "Hh
their sons against him. Only the old
woman who had sometimes "moth-
cred" him in his lonely and miserable
childhood had ever sympathetic
thought about him.
Poor Bale." she would say to her.
self, for she hardly dared say it to an
other, Bale was so Aagrantly sinner.
Hes got the very look of his father on
him. 1t might be printed on his back
and be no palmer reading. Ruined
daredevil. It's wrote large all over
him. But he's beautiful figure of a
man to look at yet, an if iver a child's
heart was j. the right place, that child's
was when he was child"
George Truman and Selma Rice
we're cried in church, but of this Bale
knew nothing, for he did not mix with
church going people. But George and
Selma were married, and that fact
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