Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-05-20

For the sake Of pcrspicuity I have
thought it best to allow several per-
sons to contribute their quota to the
narrative.
Mss Esther Morgan, whose account
prelules the sketch, was one of my
pupiIs-a bright girl of fifteen, and
the daughter of General Glake Nor
gan, who was among the number OF
distinguished patrons uf ''Lavender
Institute Hewas MIN much given
to hospitality, and his person was al
most as plethoric rs his purse. AL
though advanced in years, he was far
from being either dull or lacking in
acuteness.
His house was rendezvous for the
wits of the day. Around his board
gathered noted personages of the
press, tho stage and the pulpit, as
we'll as rising artists in music OF on
canvas.
1t was the morning of the 10th of
November, when L overheard Miss
Esther Morgan excitedly relate these
facts:
MISS ESTHER MORGAN's STATEMENT.
GLOW did it happen? Well, that is
the most curious part of it all. You
have no idea how worried papa is to
think that he should be so cleverly
managed! OF course, it is great
loss--over sixty thousand dollars
but I believe he hates the way in
which it was done as much as the loss
of the money. He was so clevery
bamboozled. Why, it was only last
week when papa was ridiculing young
Mr.. Bronson, the author, because his
pocket was picked coming out of the
theatre"
Here chorus of her companions
impatently demanded the facts.
"Of course, girls, forgot you
didn't know how it was done. Well,
you see, papa went down to safe de-
post concern yesterday morning to
get his bonds. The interest was due,
and he intended to take them to
another bank and draw it. The bonds
were put up in largo envelope.
Papa, taking the envelope in hand.
started to walk to the bunk. L can
just see his dear, old, benevolent
spectacles, beaming beneficiently on
mankind, just as man with a big
lot of money in his possession ought
to beam.
eat IL corner he spicd nu apple
stand, Oh which were piled the incest
Bellenower apples no over saw. He
is passionate'y fond of apples, and
Belellowers especially. or course,
he stopped and asked the buxom old
woman the price. He forgot all about
the bonds; his mind was intent only
upon securing his precious Belle.
flowers. lie don't remember where
he laid down the envelope containing
the bonds, but supposed he urcon-
sciously placed it on the stand while
selecting tho fruit. A handsome
young man, neatly dressed, with
pair OF gold spectacles perched on his
nose, and grave face, reached out
his hand and becomingly addressed
papa.
Papa says he thought it was one of
the new gentlemen he met ut his last
whist party. He felt rather ashamed
of himself for forgetting the mans
name. The face seemed familiar, and
the greeting was so hearty and gentle
manly that papa set his wits to work
to recall the namo or profession.
"The stranger spoke Of u new pic
ture which papa had recently bought,
and praised papa's article which ap-
peared in one of the late magazines.
"Of course that pleased him, and
he insisted upon the stranger calling
soon to see still later addition to his
art gallery. The young man was de-
lighted, and promised to cCme. They
shook hands, and tho young man
turned down tho corner. The old
woman meantime had put the apples
in paper-bag and papa fumbled in
his pockets after the money to pay for
them. He reached out his hand for
the bonds.
"They were gone!
"Imagine papa's face! Although it
was such serious loss, L could not
help laughing outright when papa told
me. L just saw the blank expression
ON his face, the child-like, perplexed
look that must have spread over his
features. I couldn't help it, girls
indeed L couldn't. 1t was awful in
me, I know, and papa looked black
as night, yet
Here Miss Esther was again assailed
with question:
"What did your father do?"
"Do? Why, he shouted for a
policeman, and they ran around the
corner after the thief. Of course,
there was nobody in sight that looked
like the man; l expect he was miles
awayr'
Another avalanche of interrogations
followed, some relevant and 9th ers
quite the contrary.
The only other notable fact adduced
was that General Morgan had placed
the matter in the hands of experienced
detectives.
MADAM DALToN's STATEMENT
'T was the principal OF the Laven-
ucT IuStltutc, tuc luUSi ScItCJ luuleS
college in the city. Its charges were
proportionately nigh.
admission to the Lavender Insti-
tute was almost the equivalent of
patent OF nobility. | tolerated moth
ing common or shabby. The LaveD.
der was the par excellence Of cdu-
cational institutions.
"About three o'clock, on the after
noon of the twentieth of November, !
Sarah, tho maid who answered the |
door bell II allowed no men about |
Institute), announced the
presence of gentleman in the parlor,
to SEQ me on business.
81 went down, ami u person intro.
Iluced himself rs Paul Belot.
Somehow he gave me the impress
sion OF one unused to fine society, nor
did it appear that lie was altogether at .
home il his shining blacl: suit ot
proadcloth.
"He proceeded. very abruptly. to