Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-06-10


calamity were already certainty! Ten
to one she may escape, and then you
are not marrying her entirely for her
pretty face. are you?"
THAT enters somewhat into my
thoughts!" Edgar answered satirically.
at all events, I will never marry a
woman whose seltwill and obstinacy
deprives her of her beauty"
"She acted entirely from sense of
duty, Edgar
miserable cant. Her duty if you
come to that, was plain enough before
her! In this case, it was simply to
obey my wishes"
'Indeed! She certainly thought
otherwisen'
VERY well. She will never have
the chance to think otherwise again!'
he said hotly. "Anl that you may
tell her, if you choose!'
Doctor Gray stood on the hearth
rug for some time after his brother
had left him, gnawing his mustache in
great perplexity Of mind.
Most people would say no was
right" he murmurel, "and yet can t
but think that she was altogether and
entirely so, under the circumstances.
Brave girl! Poor, poor child And
she will be heartbroken for him."
Miss Lettie got we'll soon, but Miss
Nellie had very hard time indeed !;
and had it not been for James assidu-
GUS care, watchfulness and untiring
devotion, she would hardly have re-
covered at all. The twin sisters al
most worshiped the noble girl who
had come to their relief at such peril
to herself; and when she, too, sickened
with the disease Miss Lettie thanked
heaven that she was we'll enough, with
old Becky's assistance, to minister to
her needs.
Norman Gray had watched the
patient, willing nurse with attentive
eyes, and had detected III her face the
first sign of approaching trouble. He
loved Jane Elverton with deep and
tender affection, without her having
the least suspicion of the fact, and
many time he had wrthed and chafed
at his brothers. arbitrary, imperative
way, and her docile, sweet tempered
to his will But it was
with n secret CONSERVATION and dis
may that he first heard her decision
with regard to going to the house on
the hill, and lie more than half wished
that Edgar would have carried his
point; and 1t was, therefore, with a
heal tsickening alarm and distress that
he now saw the penalty OF her action fall
upon her, and blamed himself thou
sand times day, in spite of his reason,
that he had not used his authority as
n physician to forbid it. However,
with the philosophy that comes with
the experience OF his profession, he
did not seek to combat the inevitable,
but tried by every means in his power
to allay the severity Of the disease.
The twin sisters were badly mark ed;
Jane, not at all. When she recovered
from the illness which had showed
such malignant unkindness to her
friends in their old age, her lovely,
youthful face was more beautiful, soft,
and blooming than ever.
1t was six months after that she
stood in Mrs. Grays parlor, looking
out OF the window at the moonlight
falling on the lawn. 1t fell, too,
on her own graceful figure in the
warm, crimson dress, and on the silky
curls of chestnut hair that dropped
over the forehead and around the lit
tie shelllilke ears, lying in thick mass
at the back of the pretty, dainty head.
She was charming. Even Edgar might
have thought that she had sacrificed
none of the beauty requisite to can
,lidate Tor the position of his wife.
He was not seen very often now in
his mothers house. His business de-
close attention, and he had
found it convenient to take rooms in
town. They were expecting one of
Jhcse infrequent visits to night.
Jane and he had often met since her
return to her aunt's house, but moth
ing of their past relations had been
alluded to by either. She treated him
with perfect friendliness and good
as one entirely justified in
his line of conduct; but at the least
mint of the old dictatorial manner
which previously she had listened to
with attention. she froze instantly,
lisregarding his opinion with the
most complete Indifference. OF late,
here was certain air of proprietor
ship in his manner towards her, and
even when it was shown in solicitude
or her comfort, she resented it with
bride and secret anger. She was
linking of this when he entered the
DOM this evening.
"Ah, Jennie, is that you?" he said,
coming over to her, his hand
'ome face glowing from his rapid
walk through the frosty air. GLOW
,cry pretty you look in that red
GOWN! After dinner, 7 want You to
'ome out bicycling-will you? The
'oad is in splendid condition, and it's
bright moonlight, as you see."
"Thanks, Edgar! But I have prom
sed to read to Aunt Eflie."
"Tut, tut! She will not keep you
. prisoner this glorious night! You
would enjoy spin.''
"Well, I don't care to CO." she
'aid, walking towards the fire. eve
,een out walking to day, and prefer
o remain indoors now."
lie frowned, and bit his mustache.
However, he felt that he was treading
N delicate ground-and was careful
Il consequence.
"But won't you come to please
nc?" he said softly. "You know I
ant get over very often, and 1 wish
80 much!"
"Why should I do this, or any
hing else to please you?" she asked
olily.
"Well, maybe you think there is no
esson now why wo should wish to
,lcaso each other. But there is,