Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-01-13

make out your programme according
~"
II NJ afraid that visit to Europe did
Belle good deal of HARM" said Mr..
Austin to himself that night as be sat
alone in his own chamber.
Next day came, and with it Family
Ives.
Alter dinner Mr.. Austin, Clara and
Fanny were sitting in the parlor,
when Belle entered, dressed for u
drive.
rs Alfred here? Oh, dear! I hur-
ried so, l WAS afraid he would be wait
ing for me. Alfred is going to take
me for a drive, Papa Austin; he
wants to show me all the improve
ments that have been made here since
my last visit. I suppose they are prec-
ious few, though; you are dreadful ly
slow here i'll the country.
ugh" exclaimed Belle, glancing
out of the window as Alfred drove up
to the gate.
"What is it, Belle?' asked Clara,
rising and crossing over to the win
dow, followed by Fanny.
"Ugh!" repeated Belle; "did any
one ever see such a team? Why,
Papa Austin, those are the same old,
detestable nags that you have had
ever since I can remember"
Now, if there was one thing in this
world that raised Mr.. Austin's
"dander" quicker than another it was
to speak deprecatingly of that team,
and he said in sharp voice:
"What did you remark about my
horses, miss?"
ooh. nothing OF any consequence"
said Belle, carelessly, as Alfred
entered.
"Clara, yon must bring Fanny
down to the city the first time you
come, and I will drive you both out
four-in-hand. You never saw me drive
finland, did you, Papa Austin?"
"No, miss; it is something I would
not care about seeing any young lady
doing" said Mr.. Austin, severely.
ooh, what al antediluvian idea, to
be sure! But those nags out there,
can't help looking at them. I
wonder what any OF my fashionable
friends would say, Alfred, to see me
driving behind such team. Now,
I'll tell you what it is, Papa Austin,
without Joking, if you don't sell those
horses you'll lose on them"
Clara and Fanny could not suppress
q litter. Alfred tried to keep from
laughing, and, glancing over at his
father, he saw indications of q storm
and he said, tenderly:
"Come, Belle, my love, or we won't
get over half the ground to-day"
AS soon as Belle and Alfred dis
appeared, Mr.. Austin, who was chok-
ing with rage, rushed from the room
and ont into tho open air.
"My horses are old nags! What an
outrageous girl, to be sure. No
wonder her father wants to get rid of
her; but he won't put her over on me.
No, sir! Those who don't like my
horses, don't like me. And Alfred,
what fool he is making of himself; I
believe he is in love with the girl al
ready; and only last week he was raw
ing about Fanny. But it's just like
the men nowadays, such q depraved
taste. Well, it's all my own doings;
I've got myself into n pretty mess
and how under heaven am going to
get out of it?" and Mr.. Austin walked
up and down the garden path like
mailman.
A week passed away, and Mr..
Austin hoped against hope; but no
change for the better came over
Belle.
Friday morning of the second week
came.
"Where are you going to-day,
Alfredo" asked Belle, when they had
all assembled at breakfast. ...>
"I'm going fishing, my dear"
"Fishing? Oh, may Clara, Fanny
and l go along?"
eyes, if you can get ready within
an hour"
"Of course We can. Clara and
Fanny, you must make haste and We
will have an awfully jolly time"
"No; Clara shall not go. I do not
approve of young lndies going with a
fishing party of young men. Anyway,
tomorrow. will be Saturday, and Clara
has her household affairs to attend
to-" said Mr.. Austin, his face purple
with suppressed passion.
Household affairs! Fudge! Clara,
take my advice, Che sooner you. get
over attending to household affairs the
better for yourself. That's the way
women are made slaves of. Now, I
never atterd ed to household duties in
my life; and, what's more. never
shat. Well, I'm sorry, Clara; Fanny
and 1 will have to go without you.">
MIR. Austin, his face livid with pas.
sion, rose from the table and left the
room without word.
:, "By Jove, Belief" said Alfred,
"yon've put your foot in it this time"
81 know it, and, take my word for
it, before many hours I'll receive my
congo"
Belle was right. Before dinner she
received summons from Mr.. Austin
in his cozy little library.
"Belle," said the old gentleman, as
that young lady entered the room,
"be seated, my dear. There has been
something in my mind since you came
here which I think it is my duty to tell
yon."
81 am ready to hear what you have
to say, sir"
"Well, my dear. I think it is right
that you should know that Alfred is in
love with Fanny Ives. Now, my dear,
don't feel bad about it, and you know
Alfred is not to blame; he has beea
Fanny's companion from childhood"
"What! Alfred in love with tina,
milk -and-water blonde. Humph
There's no accounting for some peo,
ple's taste. Well, don't care. You
know there's as good fish in the ca
as ever was caught but what will
father say? know he'll blame me;
and you know I'm not to blame, Mr..
Austin"
"Now. nv dear, don't let that