Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-06-05

before her, ike culprlt, stoou I'LL as-
tonished young man.
"Good heavens, though" - and
then Nellie stopped short, suddenly
realizing how impossible it was to ex-
plain to this stranger that it was for
another man those kisses had been in
tended.
'I am the young man, 1 perceive.
You have mistaken me probably for
nv brother" he remarked with n
gravity that was highly commendable
under the circumstances, and thinking
in his own mind what lucky fellow
was Dick.
Nellie made frantic effort to re-
cover her lost dignity, but merely sue
ceeded in appearing what she was-a
horribly embarrassed little girl!
"You-you should have stopped me
in time," she began, reproach peeping
from her violet eyes, and then she
tried to glare at the wretch as she saw
that his gray eyes were twinkling.
"I apologize; but, you see, you took
me by surprise, and when l realized
that was victim of blunder it was
too late. The-the mischief had al
ready been done"
Nellie drew herself up to her full
height, which, to tell the truth, was
nothing very startling, and regarded
the culprit with what she intended for
chilling hauteur.
"Then, since the mischief" with
an emphasis which limited at resent.
ment, sis irreparable, the only thing
now to be done is-to forget it,"
Jack Vereker looked down at the
winsome face, at the long flashed Irish
eyes and the rosebud of n mouth, the
sweet, soft lips that just now had
pressed his, and he wished it were
possible to obey her. He was no
Gladys man"-into his lonely life
women did not enter-and he had not
known till now the thrilling power OF
q kiss.
"Your wishes are commands" he de-
clared, with curious look in his ex-
pressive gray eyes, "and now permit
me to introduce myself and explain
my presence here am Jack Vereker,
and have Just come from London to
see my brother on business, and fail
ing to find him at his hotel, came on
here, where they told me I should be
certain to see him."
"He was to have been here now,'
said Nellie, struggling with the shy.
ness which was fast overpowering her.
81 am Nellie Joyce, Mr.. Joyce's
granddaughter"
$50 I presumed. And now, Miss
Nellie, will you not shake hands witt
me on the strength Of our future rela
tionship?"
Nellie was furious with herself fol
the color which, in spite of her efforts
to look cool, would persist in invading
her cheeks; yet was she not accus
toned by this time to being pointed
out as Dick Vereker's tiancee?
II see no necessity for doing so,
she answered, taking refuge in an at
titude of defiance, and telling hersel
that she hated this man, ''for an
quite sure we shall never be friends.
"And why not? What have
done?"
"You know what and thel
again she stopped short, for the curious
smile on his lips and the odd look il
his eyes were things that could ut
longer be ignored.
"But I must ask you to remind m,
what 1 have done; my memory has be
come perfect blank
Nellie flashed swift, wrathful lool
on him; theu she turned and fled ig
ANONYMOUSLY, and in the seclusion o
her bedroom sat down to think owe
the situation.
What wretch lie was, to he sure,
nasty, conceited-well, no-he didn'
look conceited exactly. And then sh
wondered what Dick would say whel
he heard of it--as hear of it, of course
he would.
Reflections of this kind were NJ
J longer endurable, so. changing thei
nature. Nellie bounded to her feet
and carefully inspected herself in til
mirror, to see if her hair was tidy.
1t was not, of course--being of tina
rebellious order of chevelure, whic
laughs at combs aud brushes--yet 70
all that, those latter reflections gav
her more comfort than the others, an
she congratulated herself Oh havin
had on her pale blue
1t was so necessary to create {,
vorable impression at first, she tol
herself gravely. for when one wa
about to enter family in the aggre
sivc capacity anything at all
law--first impressions mere distinct
valuable.
''My dear Nell," exclaimed Dick a
hour later, as the young lady entere
her grandmother's private sittin.
room downstairs, II have been wal
ino fnr Won f,,r n,arl,, ma ,,, ,nl -,