Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-06

OF q star seemed 10 splash into the
waves.
1t was a golden August evening,
moonless but radiant, with the balmy
air full of fragrance OF new made hay,
mingling not unpleasantly with the
salt breath of the sea, and the sky all
glorious with the dolphin.like hues of
the dying day, and Miss Moore, sitting
on the hotel balcony in her floating
robes of white India muslin glrded
with scarlet, and scarlet verbenas in
hor hair, made an exceedingly pretty
adjunct to the scene. She was bru-
nette, With brilliant complexion, all
cream and crimson, jet black hair,
straight and glossy as an Indians and
eyes whose melting brilliance was like
the dusty glow of tropic stars.
No wonder that little George Crane
the enthusiastic boy of eighteen, was
madly in love with her-no wonder
that he hung on her slightest word as
an East devotee hargs on the
priests oracular utterances.
"Slowly, Pauline, when I am at
your side" he said, little reproach.
fully.
Pauline laughed and turned the dia-
mond and opal ring carelessly around
on her fingers.
"You are only child George" she
said, little disdainfully.
~ am year older than you
Pauline"
Pauline reached up to tap his flushed,
beardless cheek with her fan.
"a girl of seventeen is equal to q
man oftwenty.se any time George.
You're nice little cavalier, and you
dance the polka delightfully."-, but you
see you are not fairly out of the top
and ball phase yet. Now there's Gus.
tavus Melville, he's a man, and your
cousin Harry Livingston, cavalier
sans penr, ct sans reproche.' Major
Livingston's majestic eyes are enough
to set any woman's heart in q blaze"
She spoke abstractedly. looking out
toward the sea, and apparently un-
conscious that she had any auditor but
the far off waves and the mantline
twilight.
"Pauline!" calculated the boy,
passionately, II may be young in
years, but you have taught my heart
premature development. You have
no right to speak to me thus after
playing with my affections all the
summer"
Pauline glanced up in astonishment.
Finished coquette that she was, she
had hardly expected this outburst
from the most insignificant of all her
victims. She had encouraged George
Cranes too boyish attentions simply
because it pleased her to n AXE cap.
tive of the pretty boy, and now she
was as much taken by surprise as
would be the fisherman if writhing
trout should suddenly find voice to
remonstrate when the hook was being
twisted out OF his quivering jaw.
"My dear George, you are talking
nonsense, che said lightly.
"Nonsence! Is it nonsense to tell
you that I love you--that my heart
has passed irrevocably into your keep.
ing that life will be desert without
you?"
"Yes-very absurd nonsense! Go
back to school, George, or college,
for, dear child, I should as soon think
of marrying little Tony Warwick who
has just got out Of merino frocks!"
George Crane was silent. Pauline's
lightly spoken words of ridicule cut
him to the heart.
'Pauline," he said, almost sternly,
edo You think you have treated me
honorsbly?"
Pauline yawned.
"Honorablyl what big word for
the occasion! One must smuse ones
self at place like this, and you GER.
tainly ought to understand the differ.
ence between q mere, harmless liirta.
tion and real. sober earnest. Now,
George. do be sensible and leave off
teasing me, that's a good boy"
George turned away.
81 see Mr.. Melville coming this
way. You will excuse me, Pauline?"
"Oh, certainly"
Pauline drew deep breath of relief
IS her youthful swain walked away
toward the star lighted beach.
"Who would imagine that the little
fellow would have laid it 80 seriously
to hearth she murmured softly as she
extended Ii ly white hand toward
Mr.. Melville, who with half dozen
others had sauntered up the piazza
steps.
"You are looking grave. fair tragic
queen!" said Melville, drawing his
bamboo chair a trifle closer to her. 1"
"May one OF the humblest OF all your
slaves venture to ask why?"
''Did you ever kill or MAIN q but.
terHy?" demanded Pauline suddenly.