Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-08-24
A Perlsct little Paragon
BY Elton Harris.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS;


second coachman when he come by his
accident and died, and my lord puts
me in here. But she is terribly clever,
Is my girl; tits just wonderful what
she know of book learning, and that;
and she ought to wed some one SINH
lar, to understand her, like. Why,
even my lady notices her learning.
"A perfect little paragon she is, Mrs.
Hale Says she; which you know what
that means, | SUPPOSE
Now this was Il clever move on the
good wOman's part, for personally she
had not the least idea, beyond that it
was something llnttcring to her ono
eve lamb, nor, it is to be feared had
jim Quest, the handsome young game
keeper, much greater knowledge. But
he did not display his ignorance; he
only leaned his broad shoulder against
an apple tree and stood thought fully
rubbing the muZZir of his gun with
one brown hand, picturesque figure
enough, in his rough shooting coat and
leather CATERS.
What is that Morris, the school
master, doing. always coming for Il
walk in the park:' was the result of
his reflections.
Mr.. Morris is 4 most superior per-
son, Jim, any one can see that by the
way he looks at you through his
glasses;' and Mrs. IIalc's rosy, tell
tale face showed some Ella tiUn. ".Nnd
my lord has 10 objection to respect
able people, known as such, walking
here"
"IIe had better mind that l don't
break his superior neck for him. that's
ALL" was Jim's unchriStan rcjOindrr,
as, after a last fruitlcss glance at all
the neat little curtaincd windows, he
shouldered his gun to depart
All through the past summer the riv-
airy between the sober schoolmastcr
and the young keeper had been grow
ing. Both wanted Elizabeth. Mrs.
Halc's lovely daughter, and only one,
In the ordinary course of things, could
win her. AS jim whstlcd to his dogs
and set off across the park he turned
over the word Paragon" in his mind.
~ N''o 'iI oN'l'lliNISh NolN, III COIl-
GUIDED, and evidently meant that he
was not good enough for Ellie, while
old Reading, Writing and Arithmc-
TIC" as he called his rival, was n per-
son of consequence in the village, ard
1t would be regarded rs great rise
Il life for Elizabeth to become his
wife, even though she was so vastly
clever and a paragon, whatever that
meant, to boot.
He little knew that Ellie, sitting sew
ing behind those curtains, had been
listening with miSchievous smile,
or that when he had gone her pretty
head was cautiously advanced to
watch him; while, when William Nor
ris came for his evening stroll later
on, and stopped to discuss the weather
with her mother, she did not take the
trouble to look out, and gave little
sigh.
There were great shooting parties
up at 1.-The house that year, and Jim
was so busy that he had neither time
to brood over his troubles nor look in
Mt the lodge except once, and then he
found Mr.. Norris there, drinking tea.
zone of the-er-undcr keepers to
speak to you, | think, Mrs. Hale"
quoth he, blinking viciously at jim
through his glasses; and from that dag
war was declared.
1t was really hard upon Jim. but if
he were sometimes n trihc morosc,
the poor dear fellow behaved very we'll
on the whole; and when he Was out
with the guns one day, and William
Morris. in one of his strolls, got right
into the firing line, and received
dose of small shot in his scholarly
shoulder. it was Jim who dashed to
his rescue.
Great Scott! if it amt poor Read
Ing, Writing and Arithmetic. h
cried, raising the hurt and frightened
schoolmaster "Well, learning don't
keep you out of mischief. that's clearw
And it was Jim who helped to carry
him to Il cottage near, found doctor
and heard that the injuries We're not
serious, and then he bethought him of
the inmates of the lodge at the great
gateS-if indeed one was ever absent
from his thoughts-and set off across
the park toward it. If Ellie cared for
Morris-and he drew Il deep breath at
the thought-he would save her
fright; she should know the truth at
once. But he had still some way fur
Their to go when Ellie herself, her curly
head hatless, her face white, came fly
ing toward him, then stopped with
wide, incredulous eyes.
"Oh, JIM she gaspcd, as it really
on? They said You We're shot. Oh.
dear" and she broke into tears. Nor
did she pay any attention to his tale
about William Morris, for when it
was finished she merely repeated.
"And you are sure you are not hurt?"
what could 1t matter to paragon
If I was?' said he gruflly, but with
beating heart.
Il don't want to be paragon, and it
Is not my fault" she sobhcd. feeling
for her handkerchief. "All | want is
to-be-happy, ana | am not"
mo more am |, sweetheart. but
am only second keeper" he said hon
estly. Morris is a rare learned chap.
though-but no matter. And If tits
best for YOU, | mean to bear it." and
he set his teeth hard
Ellie had found her handkerchief by
this time. and was ticrccly dabbing her
eyes. but she paused to cast n fright
ened glance up into his bronzed face,
while, as those blue eyes met his. the
scales seemed to fall from them. and