Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-05-08

could land wonldD do, with Bella en-.
gagged to me, did he cough, and pass
sentence.
81 never in my life, Mr.. -"
(glancing at my card) "Marribone,
heard anything more absurd or i'm.
practicable than your proposition. |
have nothing more to say. Good
morning"
When was outside I held my senses
just sufficiently to rush back to Great
Russell street. Some one else got my
seat, of course; hulking, raw, young
Scotsman, also Bart's man. l waited,
however, till lunch time, and then told
her all.
"Poor Phil" said she. "I--Pm
afraid it is all ovar!"
We are again among the Greek gods
and goddesses. She cried gently as she
spoke.
"But you love me?" 1 asked in n
boiling rage against fate.
"Yes, I love you" said she, chok.
ingly.
every we'll, then, shall win you
yet. Bella, always love me and things
will right themselves.
The kiss we then exchanged seemed
our last, Tor, though I saw her in the
afternoon, she never appeared again in
the reading-room.
wrote to her and received one let.
ter in reply as follows:
"My Very Dear Phil-Papa forbids
me to correspond with you in any way,
and I must, alas, obey him. I can
only repeat what you know. You arc
enshrined in my heart. Let us pray
that the future may be brighter for us
both.-Your Fond Bella"
Sweet, sweet letter, in spite of the
despair it indicated!
For the ensuing fortnight was like
one bereft of half his senses. tried
to work-could not, and ran down in
health at gallop.
I learned that Professor Whitcombe
was cold hearted, scheming monster.
He worshiped rank and mon ey, though
he taught the pursuit of the noble, the
true, and the beautiful. Hypocrite |!
1t was plain had nothing to hope for
from him.
Then my father compelled me to see
our doctor-he and they nll were SO
alarmed at my personal appearance,
plus cough.
The upshot was TINT in mid-Decem.
Der was in the Bay OF Biscay, bound
for Australia. 1t was my only chance,
said the doctor. He little knew. One
word from that philosopher fellow and
I would have been Hercules in five
minutes.
However, the Rubicon was passed.
Ihad written "goodby" to Bella and
received no answer.
Landing at Melbourne, at once
made arrangements for going up
country, to present certain letters to
a cattle owner, Mr.. Grant, among
whose acres and quadrupeds I was
supposed to have the best possible
chance OF regaining health.
And here I settled down.
1t was less than eighteen months
afterward that I received an awful
note from Professor Whitcombe. in
forming me that his daughter was
married to ''distinguished colleague,
in every way able to insure her happi.
ness" That was how he put it. I was
further requested to see both the alb
surdity and impropriety of continuing
to address letters to Bella at her faith.
er's house.
My own people confirmed the mis-
cradle news. They didn't know the
particulars. but they had seen Bella's
name in the Times.
Once more l had fit of raving, but
it passed, and then 1 set to work tc
make money, the only aim that seemed
left to me.
Under advice from Mr.. Grant hat
already bought a good block of land
row prepared to stock it.
In three years I was worth G1O,OO(
and scant JOY the knowledge of
forded me.
This, however, was nothing to wha
happened in the fourth year. Golt
was discovered all along our line o
country, and an expert I had told mi
was millionaire. So it proved
After a vast deal of excitement with
fnanciers and company promoters,
cleared ont of the country fabulously
rich, considering my antecedents.
But though rich, I wasn't happy
being one OF those fellows, sometimes
enviabe and sometimes to be pitied
who, having once desired thing, ar
never happy until they have got it.
Moreover. my heart had gone wrong
what with the excitement and IN.
rather rackety, desperate way OF llv
ing latterly.
The first thing I did in town, afte
greeting the old folk, was to consul
old Jensen of Bart g. TO my disma
he agreed that my heart was realI
> very wrong.
"What has done it?" he asked.
disappointment" l replied. care
lessly, as my thoughts recurred t
Bella.
"By the way" he added, "there's
downright clever woman specialist
would strongly advise you to see. "
"You say; that" exclaimed, aston
ished, for the dear old chap knew a
,, about my other case, and also had, /
> the old time, expressed his contemr
, for the fair sex as medicine women.
81 mean it, Marrablc, l seriousl
g assure you," he replied, with cur
! Gus little cough. "She's written re
- markable little monograph. Here,
/ have it by me-"
:. He showed it to me, and bris
glance proved that the writer at lea'
knew her subject. "Mrs. Il. Parson!
h NJ. D." was her name.
Then with n shrug l promised Jer
: sen would see the lady. heave
. bless the old chap. And what exceller
luck it was my thinking to go to hi
Z for advice.
i. | was inwardly somewhat amuse
the next morning, when called
IL, ,t-oat and ioinel n couDle