Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-01-29

Indeed, | am not on sufficiently soci-
able terms with any of your gentle
man boarders to have n quarrel" p"
Saying which, Lucy Hilderburn, u
slight, delicate girl of eight
cen, walked ont of the room with even
more than her wonted dignity of man
ner and carriage,
"Nevertheless, Notwithstanding"
pursued Mrs. Collins, resuming her
ironing, which had been Interrupted
by the young ladys entrance. "I do
believe there's been misunderstand-
in between those two, and real pity
it is, for he did admire her amazin'ly.
He couldn't conceal it. And 'twould
been good thing for her, poor
child! Only they seldom knows what
is good for 'em, these young things,
and she's a-lettin' her pride stand in
the way of her happiness now
pride, indeed' sneered Miss Jane
Humphries, Mrs. Collins nice and as
sistant, u tall, red-haired, stylishly.
dressed damsel os fve-and- thirty.
ord like TO know what right girl
who earns her livin' by givin' music
lessons ut fifty cents an hour has to be
proud and as for Mr.. Sangster. |
don't believe he ever had u serious
thought about her. The idea of an
intellectual young man like him fancy
ing girl simple enough to be afraid
of ghosts. He was only amusin' HIM
self, playin' .on her vanity, and she's
found that ont and is just poot'n' on
airs now to try and pull the wool
over her eyes, rs the sayin' is"
''La, Jane, l. don't know where
you eyes kin be, if you didn't see
how fairly wrapped up in her he was
about two weeks ago; and as to her
havin' 40 right to he proud, cause
she's poor, / b'lieve it's for that very
reason she is proud poor little heart!
He's in real good business, Mr..
SangSter,' Mrs, Collins presently
added, in musing tone, "and is a
splendid young man, anyhow-just
the best person to take care of that
poor little strugglin' sensitive orphan
girl. I'll see if | can't mend matters
between 'em."
'Iou'l better he mindin' your own
business, / think, Aunt Martina"
said Miss Jane, with spiteful laugh
and sidelong glance at her own
highly-frizzel and powdered reflection
in the little square Of looking glass
that hung against the kitchen wall.
''Never you mind, Jane" persisted
warm-hearted Mrs. Collins: "I'il
manage it some way. You say she's
afraid of ghosts, poor ]amb!'
And all that night she lay awake
revolving different schemes for the
reconciliation of her two Iavorlte
boarders.
The following evening the kind
hearted landlady tapped at the door
of the scantlyGnrnished fourth-story
room occupied by Lucy Hildebnrn,
and from which now proceeded
melancholy strain
Studying your piano of nights,
again?' queried Mrs. Collins, re-
proachfully, when the girl opened the
door.
YES replied Lucy, whose voice
had II fearful infection. despite her
efforts to conceal it, and whose eyes
were suspiciously red. 81 am very
busy just now, anl must put all the
time | can to study
"Well, but you mustn't forget what
the doctor told you about overworkin'
your BRAIN" said Mrs. Collins.
"However,' she added, "I won't de
tain you longer'n l kin help. I'm
come to ask favor. I'm goin' to
the theatre this cvenin'. So is Jane.
Sos everybody i'll the house, b'lieve;
and the girl has gone to bed with
toothache. so I'm goin' to ask You
to give an eye to the furnace. I've
just put on fresh coal aud opened the
lower doors: but will You please go
down ut about eight o'clock and close
the doors?"
Certainly" asscnted Lucy, upon
which Mrs. Collins produced lam
tern. saying:
just take this down with you.
The cellars all dark you, you know"
Lucy took the lantern, closed the
room door, and returned to her piano,
while Mrs. Collins walked away,
chuckliug to herself:
That lantern'Il so ont Just i've
minutes after she sets it down. and
she'll find herself all in the dark.
And she's afraid of ghosts, poor
lamb. But what ii somebody who
amt ghost should happen to be go
in down there about the same time,
and be obliged to strike match in
more'n one sense of the word"
And even while inlulging in this
pleasing reelection. Mrs. Collins
tapped at door on the second floor.
Her summons were responded to by
1t pleasantlooking young man, who
just now. however, wore q very lie.
jected countenance.
La! Mr.. Sangster, didn't expect
to find you at home this evening"
~ didn't feel like going out to-
night" replied the young man in a