Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-01-12

ril III " hIIstlI NllNl o"Niil'N
bic with any sort OF discomfort. his
LiDe was between his teeth and he had
been notified of a raise in his salary
that very week; nevertheless the
the chair could not hold him in its
padded embrace. and he got up and
paced about the room in the regulation
style of the Gagged panther; his pipe
had gone ont long age, and as for the
salary, what to him was salary.
He felt in the breast pocket Of his
coat and drew out Il letter. or rather
a note. which he read with a scowl
corrugating his brow. Then with a
succession OF angry jerks, he tore 1t
across and across and dropped the
pieces, fluttering on the hearth a
moment later he gathered the pieces
in a heap, and, striking match. set
fire to them. AS the flame gradually
died out from the rustllng finder a
thought seemed TO strike him and he
felt in his breast pocket again. This
time he took ont pocket book and
extracted a small package wrapped in
tissue paper from a special compart'
ment this also he laid on the hearth,
and, with the same expression OF an
cry determination on his face. struck
another match and held it to the
paper. 1t did not burn as freely as
the other for a minute. but suddenly
it flared up so that he had to start
back to avoid the flame. The next in.
slant there was nothing on the hearth
but ashes and a particularly unplcas.
ant smell permeated the room.
Percival drew deep breath and re-.
NAMED staring moodily at the black
cned fragments on the hearth for sew
eral minutes. Then, with what seemed
to be an effort. he rose and began to
whistle. What did it matter. after
all? What did anything matter? No
girl was worth moments worry.
In accordance with this decision he
sat down again and struck a third
match with which he lighted his pipe.
He puffed away with preternatural
calm for little while and then took
the evening paper from the table and
turned to the theatrical advertise
ments.
Il might as well enjoy myself" he
said That's probably what she's
doing. I'll simply devote the rest Of
my existence to having a good time.
If she ever hears of me at all 1t will
be as a light.hearted man about town.
Let's see what is on. No, I'm not
going to afford her the satisfaction Of
seeing me droop into an early grave.
My harp doesn't hang on any weeping
willow tree. I'll tune her up and pick
out rag-time tunes"
The paper dropped to the floor and
he continued with melancholy eye
on the engraving of Napoleon at st.
Helena. which hung on the wall: 'I'll
dissipate; that's what I'll do-till the
and future fears-whoop 'er up Eliza
Jane | believe I'll drink a bottle of
beer before ! go to bed tonight, just
as a starter. They will go to her and
tell her what I'm doing. and then may
be she will be sorry. don't know,
though, why should care whether she
is sorry or not. | don't suppose
really do. My mind is naturally dis
turbed now. just as it would be if |
suddenly broke myself of any other
habit. In week l shall be wonder
ing what ever saw in her and shall
be ahead SO much experience. | sup
pose every man has to go through it
once, just as puppies get the distemp-
er, and | ought to be thankful that
found out in time how callous and
frivolous women can be. I've had all
| want of them that's one thing sure"
He got up and walked about the
room and then suddenly sat down
again with an impatient exclamation.
81 don't see why can't simply dis
miss the matter from my mind and
let it go at that" he said. II won't go
out; that's one thing dead certain. 1t
would be a confession of weakness to
seek distraction. | wonder If she
won't write and ask me to come again.
| guess it's too soon for letter, but
she might send messenger. Then |
could coldly express my regret that I
that it would perhaps be better that
our correspondence should cease.
That would settle the matter and it
would be a satisfaction to know that
it was actually settled. l guess it's
settled, anyway.
81 wonder how that trial balance is
coming out. Mosicr is going to get
fooled on this guess. They want to
get some ink that won't clog on the
pens the way the last did. | don't
believe in the economy of buying
cheap ink. There's going to be plenty
for us to do between this and Christ
mas with the ANNALS and the holiday
shipments, and it won't let up with
the new year. Well. shall be glad
to have plenty of work to take my
mind off this business. Work. That S
what there is before me now. Good
honest, hard work and no fooling
Not that | wouldn't have worked just
as hard for her. There was our home
to work for then. Now it will be just
money grubbing. Well. I'll grub to
beat the band"
He laughed a harsh. sardonic and
dissyllable laugh, the sound Of which
reminded him of villain in black
cloak whom in happier days he had
guyed from gallery seat. He felt
that he had misjudged that villains
art, but at the same time he ceased
his soliloQuy and lit his pipe again.
1t was easier to stop talking than to
keep from thinking, and his thoughts
went wandering off to the little home
they two had planned. There prob
ably never had been a house built
just exactly like it. and there prob
ably never would have been. but it
had grown very familiar to him in
the first halfwaking hours OF morning
particularly the room where they
would sit together. Her face!