Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-10-19
! s tella's Summer Trip
BY Ella NJ. Hess.

| lounge.
"You have much to be thankful for,
dear Stella" she said softly. Your
hcalth--a beautiful face"
What is the good of my beauty?
Whom do l see now? No one but DR.,
James, and he is old and stout. and
knows our poverty too well to think
of me-
At this juncture Mrs. MOnito, a
quiet, ladyllke woman, entered the
room. and looked from one to the other
Of her daughters.
What is the trOuble?' she asked
Mamma, Stella Is tired and wants
to go to the seaside" Meta said soft
ly. Poor Stella is weary of this life,
and l think had better give her Uncle
Locrime's gift, and then she can have
her way"
"Nettaw exclaimed the astonished
mother.
yes: my money increases very slow
ly, and perhaps, after all, may not
get better
At the girls last birthday their
mothers brother had given each 500.
Stella had bought some handsome
finery with her money, but Meta, who
had been for years crippled by fall,
laid hers aside, hoping to save enough
to take her to some celebrated physi-
clan. Buoyed up with that hope she
had painted little pictures for the
stores. and saved each dollar care
fully, but Stella's constant repining
was wearing, and she determined to
give up her hope and let her have her
long looked for trip.
do you really mean it. Meta 2"
Stella questioned eagerly.
Yes"
Then I will tell you what I'll do
you dearest of sisters! shall be sure
to make conquest, and when l am
married l will take you to France, to
the physician va wish to see
At that moment some one tapped at
the door, and a moment later Dr.
Il lines, Il tall, rather stout man of
about fOrty-tive years of age, with Il
grave, kind face, entered.
Two weeks later Stella MOnitO was
| boarding in an aristocratic resort.
Time went by, and her letters home
| We're not very frequent. Finally one
morning the postman brought one that
ran thus:
"My Dear Mother and Sister, am
about to be married and bid adieu to
life of poverty forever. Mr.. Leland,
my future husband. is immensely
wealthy. He owns a magnificent res
idence in the city and one on the Hud
son. But there is one thing which l
am sorry to mentiOn-he does not wish
| me to acknowledge my relatives after
! marriage. or course | shall not forget
you, mother and Meta, and shall re.
| turn the money which brought me
here at the earliest opportunity. My
face has been my fortune. Stella"
Mrs. MOnitO covered her face with
her hands.
"My child has forsaken mew she
cried
Meta could hardly utter word of
| consolation. What was there to say?
She knew her sister worshlped at the
shrine of wealth. and cared not how
! many hearts she broke if she only
| reached her longed-fOr goal.
| A few weeks later DR.. James made
| lem a visit which was not strictly
| professional.
Meta he said. sitting down beside
her, your sisters summer trip has
! won her a husband l read the mar
riage notice in the paper yesterday.
Now, l have Il favor to ask of you.
. tired of being alone in the world
[ want wife to take care of, and
| there is no one else who would please
me but you. l have loved you ever
| since you We're that high'-with mo-
| ton Of his hand-"and If you will
have me l will take you to France to
the physician you have set your heart
on seeing. If they cure you shall re-
| jo.ce; if they do not, l shall love you
all the more
Meta looked up in his kind eyes in
surprise - his words We're so uncx-
pected.
mo. no. she ried II will not
take advantage of your generous offer.
l will never be a burden to any man"
And all the arguments he could use
would not induce her to change her
| mind
The days wore slowly on. A letter
came from Stella;
"My Dear Sister i am ashamed
| that | have not been able to return
| your money, but the truth is, though
my husband is immensely wealthy,
and l am dressed in the richest of
| gowns, and waited upon like queen,
have not penny of money under
my control Everything | have is or,
dered and paid for afterward, but by.
, and-by | shall contrive way to get il
| for you
[ Poor Stella the mother sighed
! 81 am afraid that in the end she will
| think her summer trip failure
And her marriage. too" reJoned
Meta. "as all marriages not based on
true love prove"
Il have some good news for YOU"
! DR.. James cried. as he entered the
room followed by strange gentleman
Put away your letter, Meta. and lis
ten"
Meta did his bidding. and the stran
| ger introduced himself as a lawyer
| He informed that an uncle of Mrs
| Monito's had died and left her heiress
to his wealth-a goodly sum.
Several weeks later found Mrs. Mo
nito and Meta en- route for England
! Dr. James's nephew intended to cross
the ocean. and the doctor had intrusted
them to his care.
God grant your dearest wish may
! h. granted. Meta" he said to her