Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-01-22
YOUNG LOVES AWAKENING,
1t Came just In Time to Prevent the Step
That Is Not Easily Rctraced.

IL came just In lhhe 10 Prevent tue step
That Is Not Easily Retraced.
Years ago. said Cleveland
man, Il made Il long stay in an
English county. | visited one of my
relatives, who owned small estate
near big manufacturing town,
and, being Il young fellow with
plenty of time on my hands, | staid
on much longer than | originally
Intended. made number of ac-
luaintances, and among them Il
family named Jerrold, father, moth
er and daughter. They had neat
little place IL few miles from where
I was stopping, and l became quite
well acquainted with them. So
well, in fact, that l fell in lovo with
the daughter. She was IA fine, big
girl, with very black hair and very
red cheeks and Il voice that could he
heard across Il ten aero field She
could ride like the wind and walk 70
miles witlADut Il murmur.
"Well, she sort of carried me
away with her impetuoSity. | be-
came u frequent visitor at their
home and everybody made me wei
como. One day had fairly made
up my mind to pop the monentous
question, Miss Laura was more fas-
cinating than ever, despite her bois-
ferrous ways, that | never could
quite forgive, and the day was one
of those lovely ones i'll early May,
when nature seems ut her very best.
1t was jus; Il little chilly, but the
sunshine tempered the raw edge OF
the atmosphere delightfully."-. Laura
and | went out for Il walk. When
we came back, lett her in the house
and went out to look for her father.
/ had fully determined to ask him
for her hand.
Laura told mo l would probably
find him at the stables, and | started
in that direction. ! had left my
light top coat in tho hall, and Us |
started across the big lawn ! felt
chilly and turned back to get the
coat | made no noise in entering,
and was j"st taking down the gar
mcut when | heard my name called.
Tie speaker was Laura, al! she
WAS in the morning ,ocm, rs they
c.llrt ii, just b"t.; OF the hail.
Laura : N.iCe WAS 80 penetrating
that could rut help hearing every
v.,I,i -" sald. should not have
li.t,i,,i, ll.t for tho life of me |
Co,l',n t II, ip il.
'Iet. heard her say, I've
hl""p,l :.iIl sure. He's out to the
-l"b.p.. I.,., leo. ,:.S ion You, Pop
pen, AID I'm lie gets your leluc-
tAlt cth III he'll ato NE. Now,
Whit are va going 10 u.ler him as
Ky V Gt'liA- lol tlcnE
II nrlnN IL uNn!ur of words
,Lat / loll Ii t ciutl., and 1Ecn Larl-
Ia laughed,
"'GDi. Z 20 turn over the Bnmble-
comb cu!llAg stock, are yCut We'll,
you arc IL sly old pepper. Never
mind, 10 vent LnOw the difference.
And are you sure that the letters
you received are I'LL straightt
"ThCre was more talk that l could
not under stand, and then Laura
spoke again:
" Rich daddy, ell, and nice town
house and society relatives. That s
all right. Anyway, it's better tnan
genteel poverty over here. Don't
you he afraid. He shan I slip away.
II didn't wait to hear any more,
but tiptoed out. l didn't try to find
her father, who | suppose was lying
in wait for me on my return from
tho stables, but just as soon us
could decently do so | rode back to
my relatives, and day OF two later
started for home. Laura's daddy
was Il choleric old fellow who had
been in the army, and didn know
what sort of Il row he'd kick up il
he saw me escaping But | got away
safely with loves young dream very
rudely shattered and have always
thought l had very narrow es
80. -Lleveland Plain Dealer.