Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-09-25

to the Aquarium and the Crystal Pal
ace," he said, with little chuckle,
"and, by George, I'll take her doll!''
He was up and off in minute and into
cab before the cabby was well
awake. 'Take me to the best toy
shop in town." he shouted, jubilantly,
to the astonished driver, "and be as
quick as you can"
SO off they ratified, and before many
minutes had passed strapping big
fellow, blond, his face splendldly
tanned, was wandering around look
ing at the mysteries of modern toy
shop.
81 want DOLL" he said to little
woman who addressed him, quite un-
conscious in his new enthusiasm, of
her lily concealed smile, "a very big
doll-in pink think, I prefer it.
When he was at last satisfied, he bore
his bundle to the cab and placed her
proudly beside him on the seat.
'And now to South Kensington
Square" he called to the driver. When
prim little maid answered his ring at
the bell of the imposing, but cheerless
house, she was surprised into spas
modic and hysterical little giggle, for
there stood young man, ''and such a
nice young man," she afterwards told
the housekeeper, holding in his arms
u gorgeously bedecked doll almost his
own size. She came very near shut
ting the door in his face, according to
her own confession, but he asked so
sweetly for Mrs. Mclean and Miss
Copleigh and presented two such we'll
appointed cards, that she thought bet
ter of it, and showed him, doll and all,
into the dull and ghostly state drawing
room. The sight of the room nearly
sutficed to cool his ardor, still when
the maid had gone, he looked about
him for the best vantage ground in
which to place his beauty. At length
the big shiny green satin sofa was d.
cided upon and there he sat her down,
her skirt spread to its full dimensions,
her arms Outstretched Us II i'll greeting
to her new mistress.
He was standing in front of her in
rapt admiration, his hands behind him.
'"That'll fetch her." he said aloud, and
then startled by rustic behind him,
he turned quickly. A tall, slight girl
stood in the doorway. She was gowned
in black, and her exquisite clearness
of skin and soft golden hair were shown
with marvellous effectiveness. They
stood looking at one another, their
eyes almost on a level, for some long
seconds.
"Good morning." she said at last,
and her voice was as soft and sweet as
her eyes. 81 suppose you are Mr..
Tarrion?" and she came forward with
both hands outstretched.
Poor Teddy was more out of counte-
nance than before.
care you Mrs. McLain?" he man
aged to stammer, blushing through
his coat of tan like school girl.
Peal after peal of the gayest kind
OF laughter echoed through the room.
ooh! oh! oh!' the girl gasped at last,
"don't you know who I amp" and
then, catching sight of the big, pink
gowned doll on the ofa, she went off
in more gales of laughter, so delicious,
so irresistible, that Teddy, never 10th,
joined her, and they didn't stop until
their breath failed them.
cit was awfully good of You to
bring it," SAID Ethel Copleigh, "aud
really, I must confess at eighteen, l
love them almost as much as at eight.
But, tell me, didn't father ever tell
you anything about me?"
"Not a word," answered Ted, Gun
til the night before he died, and even
then he only spoke of you as his lit
tie girl, and I thought you were six
or eight thereabouts.
"And so you brought me doll?"
smiled the girl.
"And I was going to take you to
the Crystal Palace" he said sadly,
and then he added quickly: "But will
you come for drive, instead?"
"Mrs. McLain is awfully conven-
tional," she said, "and she won't be
home until Just IN time for tea, and
I wouldn't dare go without asking
her."
So, Notwithstanding his assertion
that he, and he alone, was the one to
be referred to, they remained at No.
90 South Kensington Square, and by
the time Mrs. Nolan arrived were
chatting as gayly, as intimately, as II
they had known each other lifetime.
After the schoolmistress' first shock
aud surprise at his youth were over,
all went smoothly, for Teddy's easy,
winning courtesy and frankness were
not to be resisted.
As Teddy told them, his extreme
youthfulness as guardian couldn't be
helped any more than could the grown
up condition of his ward; yet, certainly,
he could have helped going away from
No. 90, thinking about Ethel Copieigh
through all the hours Of that night,
and he could have helped taking her
to the academy the next morning and
for a drive in the afternoon. and he
could have helped, if he had tried very
hard. all the things that happened in
the next three weeks. For it must be
known that Teddy Tarrion saw more
of Ethel Copleigh than was exactly
good for either of their hearts. One
fine day. early in May, out it came.
"Ethel," he said suddenly, "this
kind of thing can't go on. It's absurd,
and it really ought to stop"
"Oh. dear!' she said, in mock dis
NAV cam such nuisance? Because
IL / am, You really needn't take me
about 40 much" Her brow was puck
cred alluringly.
"My sweetheart" he said, coming
close to her, ''can't You understand?
7 only want to give mp the guardian
shin to certain extent. Iwsnt you
In marry me-"