Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-09-08

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Walter Fielding. of all men, tickle.
AS Nora stood by the table, in her
pretty pink morning dress, her brown
hair rolled back from her face, and
rosebuds in the braids, almost any
one would have called her beautiful.
But Kate Marshall was more than
beautiful. She was n slender, grace
full girl, with an cxquisitely fair face.
dark, luatrous hair, and dark blue
eyes, that mirrorcd every changing
emotion.
Nora had grown mp half to love her
in her sunny moods, half to fear her
when she expressed distrust of dear
est friends. This morning Nora felt
MS IL she almost dislikcd Kate for
speaking 20 of Walter Fielding. She
almost dreaded to leave home, though
she said to herself, again and again.
it was not through any fear Of trust
ing Walter in her absence.
When her lover came that evening
he demonstrated mt first, but when No
RI told him that her aunt was ill., and
needed her, he promised to try and be
contcntcd, if she would write to him
every other day.
AS for me-" he said laughlingly, II
shall not limit myself l might send
you letter in the morning. and he so
forgctful as to send another at night"
Nora blushcd and thought it would
be a mistake she could easily forgive.
Just then Kate passed the door.
Nora called her in, saying:
"lIern is Cousin Kate. too lamcntinS
that she must ctay alone. l had not
thought before that | was of so much
consequence. Now 1 shall put her I'M
der your especial care, Walter and
you must not let her get lonesome"
Walter promised, and Kate thanked
him with merry smile that glowCd
into beauty on her bright face.
When he went away Nora followed
him out OH the porch, where lie lin
gercd to bid her tender goodbye.
Kate stood by the open window I'M
til they parted, and she heard Nora
coming back through the hall.
Nllc tHItN HtlStll VII ioVuSC 90
Nora tnt,.cd the room, and, half sup
pressing a yawn, she said
"Wcll, If it takes all lovers so long
TO say goodbye heaven save me from
lover"
Nora FASTENED to explain.
ut will be two months before we SOC
each other again, dear Kate, and l
had so much to say to him. didn't
think you would be waiting for nc"
"Oh that doesn't matter! You know
always wait for you, and l had n
good comfortable place here on the
lounge. But look, Nora, your dress is
damp from the night air, You must
come up stairs right away"
And Nora followed her cousin up to
the pleasant little room which they oc-
cupicd together.
| Kate was soon nestled down among
the snowy pillows, but Nora fingered
longer than usual before the little
dressing table, taking down her hair
before the mirror
Isn't it strange that he can think
my face really bcautiful?" she said
partly to herself and partly to Kate.
"AIcn always think The women they
love tn" mos, beautiful on carth.'
said Kate, with little accent Of bit
tcrness. ",rhc only question in my
mind is how long man will love one
wOman?'
"Now you are thinking Of what l
slid this morning. said Nora. II am
tempted to be angry with you"
"Wcll, we will let time show, my
dear Nora. | am sure hope Walter
Fielding will prove himself above sus-
plcion, but it doesn't answer to trust
everybody too much out of sight"
II couldn't love any one could not
trust to the end of the EARTH" cried
Nora. "lt Walter cannot he true to
me in absence. | should not cry over
his detection"
Don't get excited. Nora" Kate re-
piled. softly, "for may be mistaken,
of course"
And -,ora kissed her cousin in token
of amty.
For the first few days of her absence
Nora had each day n letter; then, only
one for two or three days; then, one in
n week, and finally, they ceased alto
gcthcr,
Hates gossipv letter referred very
pleasantly to Walter, and to the pains
he took to come and see her daily.
you see he is IN obcdicnt lover, sc
we may take 1t for granted he will
make n Submissive husband
But for two weeks Kate had not
mentioned his name, and Nora began
to grow homcsck.
Just at dusk, one evening. when she
had been absent a month and was sit
ting alone in her room, the servant
came to her door to say that a gentle
| man wished to see her in the parlor,
Going hastily down. she found her
self taken and held close in her lovers
arms.
For I could no longer wait to sec
you, darling: and. besides, l am tired
Of entertaining your cousin. Aren't
you almost ready to come homc?'
Her Aunt Everett was so much bet
three days more they were ut home.
Her mother met them at the door
and held Nora in a fearful embrace
I'VE feared everything. Nora, he
cause we got no letters. hut am quite
content to have you safe home again
kate showed us the letter you wrote
her." continued Mrs. Everett "ir
which YOU said You had been mis-
l taken in thinking you loved Walter